The right way to grow Vanilla Beans

Though frequently forgotten and often associated with being boring and plain or tasteless, the flavor of vanilla beans is really quite the opposite. In fact, vanilla is an exceptionally helpful and flexible food and is responsible for enhancing the flavor of most foods. Today, cooks use Vanilla Beans in an array of delicious recipes for desserts, appetizers, beverages, breads and even main dishes.

Vanilla beans can only be grown from a particular variation of orchid plant, and it takes half a year for growers to entirely pollinate and then ferment the Vanilla beans for cropping. A major percentage of the planet's vanilla is often known as Bourbon Vanilla or Madagascar Vanilla and is grown in Madagascar and its nearby islands. However, if you’re ambitious enough you can grow a vanilla orchid in your own home, all you need is the plant’s root.

Once you've bought the plant’s root, you will need to recreate the perfect growth conditions for the plant. The vanilla bean (Vanilla Beans, Vanilla Beans Recipe), like most plants, is susceptible to light, heat, and moisture. So it will need these items in moderation. You'll need a pot, a touch of manure, water and your vanilla bean plant root.

The ideal environment to cultivate a Vanilla bean plant is somewhere with indirect daylight, a generous quantity of humidity and away from intensely cold temperature. You must also be sure the pot you use has good drainage so adding some rocks to the bottom of the pot will help. The flavor of the vanilla pod that is produced will actually depend on the soil used and the climate the plant is exposed to as it grows so growing the plant in top conditions is crucial. Ensure the planting environment is warm and wet, as the plant will need this to ideally develop. During its maturing stages, be sure to add a post to the pot so the plant’s vine has a good support structure.

If the conditions are right, flowers will begin to bloom on the vine and this is your cue to start hand-pollinating so that your plan will grow vanilla beans (Vanilla Beans, Vanilla Beans Recipe). You can pollenate your plant by taking pollen from another area of the flower and putting it near the nectar where the stigma is found. Once the plant is pollinated, long and greenish pods will start to grow. Once the pods reach between 7 and 9 inches long, remove them from the plant and lay them in direct sunlight to dry them out. Be sure to cover them at night. The final product will be somewhat wrinkled and dark brown in color.

Once your beans are dried, you can slice open the pods and take out the beans to be used in all your recipes. It’s such a handy ingredient and should be a staple in all kitchens. Although it is advantageous to grow your own ingredients, cultivating vanilla beans is a very lengthy process and is reserved for people with a lot of patience because the orchid is a very delicate plant. For this reason, many cooks choose to purchase their vanilla beans from a specialty store or even online. Be sure to look for Bourbon Madagascar Vanilla Beans if you decide to purchase your supply. These are the beans with the best flavor and are most suited for cooking.