Where do cashew trees grow in the US? Since cashew requires a frost-free tropical climate, planting in the United States is limited to extreme south Florida, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. There is no commercial production in the United States, though cashews are grown in botanical collections and some home landscapes.
What states grow cashews?
Nut Trees That Can Grow in the Northwest States
- Walnut. Walnuts need deep, rich, well-drained soil and adequate soil moisture. ...
- Hazelnut. Some people call them filberts instead of hazelnuts. ...
- Chestnut. The 1904 chestnut blight marked the beginning of the end for the famed American chestnut, Castanea dentate, which once dominated the forest of eastern North America.
- Chinquapin. ...
How to grow cashew trees in your backyard?
How to Grow Cashew Trees in Your Backyard
- Get to Know Cashew Trees. Cashew trees ( Anacardium occidentale) originate from the Caribbean Islands and Brazil, but nowadays, they’re grown throughout the world’s tropical regions.
- Growing Cashew Trees. ...
- Caring for Cashew Trees. ...
- Common Pests and Diseases. ...
- Harvesting Cashews. ...
Are cashews a tree nut or a legume?
In either case, other nuts such as cashews are considered tree nuts, and can be avoided or embraced as desired. Cashews are a nut, grown on trees throughout the world's tropical zones. The peanut is the only common "nut" that's actually a legume. Although it's a true nut, rather than a legume, the cashew does grow in a rather unusual fashion.
Where do cashew trees grow in the US?
Since cashew requires a frost-free tropical climate, planting in the United States is limited to extreme south Florida, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. There is no commercial production in the United States, though cashews are grown in botanical collections and some home landscapes.
What state produces the most cashews?
MaharashtraTop Ten Cashewnut Producing States: 2017-18RankState NameArea1Maharashtra191.452Andhra Pradesh186.783Odisha193.994Karnataka129.076 more rows•Apr 14, 2021
Will cashew trees grow in California?
Cashew trees are most commonly grown in this fashion in south Florida, but they may thrive in southern California if nurtured. The commercial harvest of cashews requires a long-term commitment, as it typically requires eight years for the plants to produce an economically significant harvest.Mar 21, 2016
Can you grow a cashew tree in Texas?
They are hardy in USDA zones 10 through 11 and they're sensitive to cold temperatures. Unfortunately, only the areas near Brownsville, Texas fall into USDA zone 10. Thus, if you're not from this area, cashew wouldn't grow successfully.
Can you grow a cashew tree in Ohio?
You certainly cannot plant them in your yard or garden and expect them to survive. They need the hot and tropical weather above 50 degrees Fahrenheit or they will not live through the winter. Well, if you live in a cooler area like I do, you can grow a cashew tree indoors.Dec 12, 2016
Can you eat the cashew apple?
The cashew apples, which are edible but highly perishable, are collected. The cashew nuts, still in their shell, are removed from the ends of the fruits and may be dried in the sun, depending on the manufacturer's process.Nov 19, 2020
How big does a cashew tree get?
The cashew tree is large and evergreen, growing to 14 m (46 ft) tall, with a short, often irregularly shaped trunk.
Can cashews grow in Oklahoma?
A member of the Anacardiaceae, or cashew, family, Chinese pistache (Pistacia chinensis) is a common non-native fruit tree that grows in Oklahoma. The tree grows to 35 feet in height and has a similiar spread.
Can you grow cashews in Houston?
Hardiness Range It will sustain damage at 30 to 32 degrees Fahrenheit, so do not plant outside if you have a history of freezes in your area. Unfortunately, only a very, very small area of Texas, near Brownsville, falls into USDA zone 10, so likely cashew will not work in your area.Sep 10, 2013
Do they grow cashews in Mexico?
But if you simply wish to munch on cashew nuts, you can find them in almost every native market throughout Guatemala and in many areas of Mexico and Honduras.Jul 7, 2011
Do cashew trees grow in Arizona?
Best time to plant: Anytime of the year unless it's in the middle of winter. Sun: Full sun anywhere in the U.S. Winter: Will tolerate frost and temperatures down in the high teens. No winter protection in the Arizona area.
Can you eat the cashew fruit?
When ripe, the whole thing falls off the tree, and the bottom part is gathered for processing. The false fruit (called cashew fruit or cashew apple) is edible, but it is very perishable. It is often left to rot, but can be eaten raw, cooked, or used to make a liquor called feni.Jan 26, 2007
Why are cashews so expensive?
Roasting the cashew nuts to destroy the toxins is dangerous as well, as the toxins are released into the air. After the toxins are removed, the cashews must be graded and sorted. The entire process is labor-intensive as well as hazardous, which helps explain part of why cashews are so expensive.
Are cashews bad for you?
Like most nuts and seeds, they’re good for you in moderation. Roasted and salted cashews may contain high levels of added fat and sodium, which are...
Can you grow cashews in the United States?
Only in areas with tropical climates, like southern Florida, Puerto Rico, and Hawaii. Most of the continental U.S. gets too cold in the winter for...
Are cashews hard to grow?
In a warm, tropical climate with well-draining, sandy soil, cashews are pretty easy to grow. They’ll need fertilizer during the growing season (whe...
Where are cashews grown?
In 2019, four million tonnes of cashew nuts were produced globally, with Ivory Coast and India as the leading producers. As well as the nut and fruit, the plant has several other uses. The shell of the cashew seed yields derivatives that can be used in many applications including lubricants, waterproofing, paints, and, starting in World War II, arms production. The cashew apple is a light reddish to yellow fruit, whose pulp and juice can be processed into a sweet, astringent fruit drink or fermented and distilled into liquor.
Where is the largest cashew tree in the world?
The largest cashew tree in the world covers an area around 7,500 m 2 (81,000 sq ft) and is located in Natal, Brazil. The fruit of the cashew tree is an accessory fruit (sometimes called a pseudocarp or false fruit).
What is a cashew tree?
The cashew tree ( Anacardium occidentale) is a tropical evergreen tree that produces the cashew seed and the cashew apple accessory fruit.
How tall does a cashew tree grow?
The tree can grow as high as 14 m (46 ft), but the dwarf cultivars, growing up to 6 m (20 ft), prove more profitable, with earlier maturity and greater yields. The cashew seed is commonly considered ...
How big are cashew trees?
The cashew tree is large and evergreen, growing to 14 m (46 ft) tall, with a short, often irregularly shaped trunk. The leaves are spirally arranged, leathery textured, elliptic to obovate, 4–22 cm (1.6–8.7 in) long and 2–15 cm (0.79–5.91 in) broad, with smooth margins. The flowers are produced in a panicle or corymb up to 26 cm (10 in) long; each flower is small, pale green at first, then turning reddish, with five slender, acute petals 7–15 mm (0.28–0.59 in) long. The largest cashew tree in the world covers an area around 7,500 m 2 (81,000 sq ft) and is located in Natal, Brazil.
Why are cashews more widely traded than cashews?
Cashew nuts are more widely traded than cashew fruits, because the fruit, unlike the nut, is easily bruised and has a very limited shelf life.
How to remove astringency from cashews?
Cashew apple juice, however, may be used for manufacturing blended juices. When consumed, the apple's astringency is sometimes removed by steaming the fruit for five minutes before washing it in cold water. Steeping the fruit in boiling salt water for five minutes also reduces the astringency.
Where do cashew trees grow?
The cashew tree is grown around the world in the tropics and as such it favors warm conditions where it can receive a lot of sunlight year round. The tree will grow best if your climate matches this description.
Where can I find cashews in the winter?
Only in areas with tropical climates, like southern Florida, Puerto Rico, and Hawaii. Most of the continental U.S. gets too cold in the winter for cashews to survive.
Why are cashews not viable?
Cashews sold for consumption, even raw ones, are not viable because their protective shell has been removed. Always wear gloves when handling the seeds, so you do not touch them directly. Cashew seeds contain irritants similar to poison ivy, that can cause itchy skin. ...
How hot can cashews grow?
Cashews can’t sustain in areas with heavy rainfall or wind but can thrive in extremely hot temperatures up to 50 °C (122 °F). Because of this, tropical areas that are very warm and receive medium levels of rainfall are ideal.
How to grow cashews from seed?
1. Plant your fresh cashew seed in sandy soil. Sandy soil ensures a lack of water logging. Avoid clay based soil and whatever type of so il you use, ensure that it allows for free flowing irrigation as water-logging can lead to damaging the tree.
How much sunlight does a cashew tree need?
Ensure your tree has access to at least 6 hours of sunlight per day . Cashew trees thrive in warm, sunny climates and if the tree doesn’t receive this much sunlight then it will grow slowly and eventually may not even flower. Ideal locations for growing cashew trees include:
How to support a tree when it is young?
Support the tree with a stake. This is particularly important while the tree is young and if you live in a windy climate. Without doing this, it’s possible that the tree will be blown over and die. Staking up your tree is easily done with the right supplies.

Overview
Cultivation
In 2014, rapid growth of cashew cultivation in Ivory Coast made this country the top African exporter. Fluctuations in world market prices, poor working conditions, and low pay for local harvesting have caused discontent in the cashew nut industry.
The cashew tree is cultivated in the tropics between 25°N and 25°S, and is wel…
Etymology
Its English name derives from the Portuguese name for the fruit of the cashew tree: caju (Portuguese pronunciation: [kaˈʒu]), also known as acaju, which itself is from the Tupian word acajú, literally meaning "nut that produces itself".
The generic name Anacardium is composed of the Greek prefix ana- (ἀνά-, aná, 'up, upward'), the Greek cardia (καρδία, kardía, 'heart'), and the New Latin suffix -i…
Habitat and growth
The species is native to Northeastern Brazil and Southeastern Venezuela, and later was distributed around the world in the 1500s by Portuguese explorers. Portuguese colonists in Brazil began exporting cashew nuts as early as the 1550s. The Portuguese took it to Goa, India between 1560 and 1565. From there, it spread throughout Southeast Asia, and eventually Africa.
Cashew nut and shell
Culinary uses for cashew seeds in snacking and cooking are similar to those for all tree seeds called nuts.
Cashews are commonly used in South Asian cuisine, whole for garnishing sweets or curries, or ground into a paste that forms a base of sauces for curries (e.g., korma), or some sweets (e.g., kaju barfi). It is also used in powdered for…
Cashew apple
The cashew apple, also called cashew fruit, is the fleshy stem of the cashew fruit, to which the cashew nut is attached. The top end of the cashew apple is attached to the stem that comes off the tree. The bottom end of the cashew apple attaches to the cashew nut, which is encased in a shell. The cashew nut is the true fruit, and is considered a drupe.
The mature cashew apple can be eaten fresh, cooked in curries, or fermented into vinegar, as we…
Nutrition
Raw cashews are 5% water, 30% carbohydrates, 44% fat, and 18% protein (table). In a 100 gram reference amount, raw cashews provide 553 Calories, 67% of the Daily Value (DV) in total fats, 36% DV of protein, 13% DV of dietary fiber and 11% DV of carbohydrates. Cashews are rich sources (20% or more of the DV) of dietary minerals, including particularly copper, manganese, phosphorus, and magnesium (79-110% DV), and of thiamin, vitamin B6 and vitamin K (32-37% DV) (table). Iron, potas…
Cashew nut oil
Cashew nut oil is a dark yellow oil derived from pressing the cashew nuts (typically from lower value broken chunks created accidentally during processing), and is used for cooking or as a salad dressing. The highest quality oil is produced from a single cold pressing.