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Fruit Partial Shade OK Frequent water

Cacao

Written by the GrowByCity Editorial Team · Updated April 2026
2 min read

Source of chocolate. A warmth-loving plant that does best between 24°C and 30°C, cacao adapts well to tropical and subtropical conditions but cannot tolerate frost. Give it partial shade, though it appreciates some direct light and frequent watering — it is a thirsty plant that dislikes dry soil, and expect to harvest in roughly 1095-1825 days. Patience pays off — once established, it produces reliably season after season with proper care.

Harvest 1095-1825 days
Temp Range 18°C — 35°C

Quick Answer: How to Grow Cacao

Cacao takes 1095-1825 days to harvest. It grows best in 24–30°C with partial shade ok and frequent watering. Cacao is not frost tolerant — wait until after the last frost to plant. It can be grown in 350 cities worldwide.

Find the best time to plant Cacao in your city →

Growing Requirements

☀️
Sun
Partial Shade OK
💧
Water
Frequent
❄️
Frost
Sensitive
📅
Harvest
1095-1825 days

Temperature Range

24-30°C
-10°C 45°C
Optimal: 24–30°C Tolerates: 18–35°C
Tropical suitable: Yes
Cities growing: 350 of 350

Growing Tips

💡

Expert Tips

Needs constant warmth, humidity, and shade. Only viable in true tropical climates. Wait until soil warms to at least 24°C before transplanting outdoors — cold soil stunts growth and can invite root rot. Consistent moisture is critical. Mulch with straw or compost to retain soil moisture and keep roots cool during hot weather.

Quick Facts

  • Grows in 350 of 350 cities
  • Available in 7 regions worldwide
  • Temperature range: 18°C to 35°C
  • Optimal growing: 24°C to 30°C
  • Harvest in 1095-1825 days

Did You Know?

  • 🌱 Cacao loves the heat! It thrives in tropical and subtropical climates year-round.

Step-by-Step Growing Guide

Cacao (Theobroma cacao) is a tropical understory tree requiring year-round temperatures between 65–95°F, high humidity (70–100%), and protection from direct afternoon sun — it is truly one of the most climate-specific crops on earth. It grows only between 20 degrees north and south of the equator. Plant in deep, well-drained, humus-rich soil with a pH of 6.0–7.5; organic matter is critical. In true tropical climates, plant in filtered light under a nurse tree canopy. Water frequently — cacao needs consistent moisture but not waterlogging. Apply balanced fertilizer monthly during the growing season and potassium-rich fertilizer as pods develop. The tree is cauliflorous: flowers and pods grow directly on the main trunk and large branches, not on new shoots. Hand pollination by midges occurs naturally in tropical environments but may be needed in cultivation. First harvest typically occurs at 3–5 years. In temperate climates, cacao can be grown as a novelty greenhouse plant but will not fruit without specialized conditions.

Common Pests & Problems

Witch's broom disease (Moniliophthora perniciosa) is a devastating fungal pathogen that causes broom-like vegetative proliferation and pod death — no home remedy; it has devastated the Brazilian cacao industry and requires removal of all infected material. Frosty pod rot (Moniliophthora roreri) causes pods to turn brown, shrivel, and fill with a white powdery spore mass — remove and bury or burn all infected pods immediately. Cacao pod borer (Conopomorpha cramerella) is the most widespread insect pest in Southeast Asian production, with larvae tunneling into pods and consuming seeds — use bagging of developing pods and biological control. Phytophthora black pod disease causes black, rotting pods in wet conditions — ensure good drainage and airflow, and remove infected pods promptly.

Harvest & Storage

Cacao pods take 5–6 months to ripen after flowering. Ripe pods change color from green or red to yellow, orange, or burgundy depending on variety — they should sound hollow when tapped. Cut pods from the trunk with a sharp machete or pruning saw; never pull, which damages the cushion where future flowers will form. Split pods open and extract the beans surrounded by white mucilaginous pulp. Ferment beans in wooden boxes or banana leaf bundles for 5–7 days, turning daily — fermentation is essential to develop chocolate flavor precursors. After fermentation, dry beans in the sun for 7–14 days to 7% moisture, turning regularly. Dried beans store in burlap sacks in a cool, dry location for several months before processing.

Popular Varieties

Criollo is the rarest and most prized cacao type, producing white beans with complex, nutty, low-bitterness flavor — it accounts for less than 5% of world production and is highly susceptible to disease. Forastero is the workhorse of the chocolate industry — highly productive, disease-resistant, and producing the bulk cocoa flavor that most mass-market chocolate is based on. Trinitario is a natural Criollo-Forastero hybrid that combines Forastero's yield and disease resistance with some of Criollo's flavor complexity — most fine-flavor chocolate production uses Trinitario types. 'Nacional' from Ecuador is considered a distinct type producing uniquely floral, jasmine-noted cocoa prized by artisan chocolate makers.

Where to Grow Cacao

Cacao can be grown in 350 cities across 7 regions worldwide

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Europe

80 cities
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Asia

79 cities
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North America

78 cities
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Africa

39 cities
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South America

39 cities
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Oceania

19 cities
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Middle East

16 cities

🌍 Europe (80 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Aarhus, DK hard
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Amsterdam, NL hard
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Ankara, TR hard
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Antalya, TR hard
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Athens, GR hard
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Barcelona, ES hard
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Bari, IT hard
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Belgrade, RS hard
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Bergen, NO hard
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Berlin, DE hard
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Bilbao, ES hard
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Bologna, IT hard
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Bordeaux, FR hard
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Bratislava, SK hard
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Brussels, BE hard
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Bucharest, RO hard
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Budapest, HU hard
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Catania, IT hard
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Cologne, DE hard
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Copenhagen, DK hard
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Corfu, GR hard
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Cork, IE hard
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Dublin, IE hard
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Dubrovnik, HR hard
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Edinburgh, GB hard
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Florence, IT hard
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Frankfurt, DE hard
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Gdansk, PL hard
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Genoa, IT hard
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Glasgow, GB hard
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Gothenburg, SE hard
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Hamburg, DE hard
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Helsinki, FI hard
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Heraklion, GR hard
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Istanbul, TR hard
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Izmir, TR hard
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Krakow, PL hard
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Kyiv, UA hard
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Limassol, CY hard
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Lisbon, PT hard
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Ljubljana, SI hard
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London, GB hard
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Lyon, FR hard
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Madrid, ES hard
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Malaga, ES hard
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Marseille, FR hard
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Milan, IT hard
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Munich, DE hard
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Naples, IT hard
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Nice, FR hard
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Nicosia, CY hard
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Oslo, NO hard
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Palermo, IT hard
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Paris, FR hard
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Porto, PT hard
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Poznan, PL hard
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Prague, CZ hard
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Reykjavik, IS hard
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Riga, LV hard
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Rome, IT hard
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Seville, ES hard
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Sofia, BG hard
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Split, HR hard
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Stockholm, SE hard
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Strasbourg, FR hard
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Stuttgart, DE hard
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Tallinn, EE hard
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Thessaloniki, GR hard
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Tirana, AL hard
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Toulouse, FR hard
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Turin, IT hard
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Turku, FI hard
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Valencia, ES hard
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Valletta, MT hard
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Verona, IT hard
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Vienna, AT hard
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Vilnius, LT hard
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Warsaw, PL hard
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Zagreb, HR hard
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Zurich, CH hard
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🌏 Asia (79 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Ahmedabad, IN hard
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Almaty, KZ hard
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Bali, ID hard
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Bandung, ID hard
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Bangalore, IN hard
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Bangkok, TH hard
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Beijing, CN hard
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Busan, KR hard
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Cebu, PH hard
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Chandigarh, IN hard
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Chengdu, CN hard
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Chennai, IN hard
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Chiang Mai, TH hard
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Chittagong, BD hard
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Chongqing, CN hard
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Coimbatore, IN hard
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Colombo, LK hard
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Da Nang, VN hard
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Dalian, CN hard
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Davao, PH hard
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Delhi, IN hard
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Dhaka, BD hard
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Dharan, NP hard
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Fukuoka, JP hard
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Galle, LK hard
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Guangzhou, CN hard
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Hangzhou, CN hard
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Hanoi, VN hard
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Harbin, CN hard
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Ho Chi Minh City, VN hard
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Hong Kong, HK hard
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Hyderabad, IN hard
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Incheon, KR hard
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Indore, IN hard
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Islamabad, PK hard
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Jaipur, IN hard
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Jakarta, ID hard
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Jeju, KR hard
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Johor Bahru, MY hard
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Karachi, PK hard
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Kathmandu, NP hard
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Kochi, IN hard
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Kolkata, IN hard
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Kuala Lumpur, MY hard
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Kunming, CN hard
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Kyoto, JP hard
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Lahore, PK hard
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Lucknow, IN hard
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Manila, PH hard
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Mumbai, IN hard
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Nagoya, JP hard
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Nanjing, CN hard
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Nha Trang, VN hard
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Okinawa, JP hard
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Osaka, JP hard
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Pattaya, TH hard
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Penang, MY hard
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Phnom Penh, KH hard
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Pune, IN hard
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Sapporo, JP hard
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Seoul, KR hard
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Shanghai, CN hard
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Shenzhen, CN hard
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Siem Reap, KH hard
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Singapore, SG hard
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Surabaya, ID hard
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Surat, IN hard
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Taipei, TW hard
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Tashkent, UZ hard
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Tbilisi, GE hard
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Tokyo, JP hard
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Ulaanbaatar, MN hard
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Varanasi, IN hard
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Vientiane, LA hard
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Visakhapatnam, IN hard
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Wuhan, CN hard
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Xi'an, CN hard
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Xiamen, CN hard
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Yangon, MM hard
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🌎 North America (78 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Albuquerque, US hard
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Anchorage, US hard
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Atlanta, US hard
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Austin, US hard
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Baltimore, US hard
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Baton Rouge, US hard
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Boise, US hard
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Boston, US hard
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Bridgetown, BB hard
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Buffalo, US hard
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Calgary, CA hard
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Cancun, MX hard
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Charleston, US hard
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Charlotte, US hard
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Chattanooga, US hard
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Chicago, US hard
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Denver, US hard
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Des Moines, US hard
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Detroit, US hard
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Edmonton, CA hard
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El Paso, US hard
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Fargo, US hard
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Fresno, US hard
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Guadalajara, MX hard
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Halifax, CA hard
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Hartford, US hard
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Havana, CU hard
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Honolulu, US hard
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Houston, US hard
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Jacksonville, US hard
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Kansas City, US hard
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Kingston, JM hard
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Knoxville, US hard
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Las Vegas, US hard
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Little Rock, US hard
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Los Angeles, US hard
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Louisville, US hard
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Lubbock, US hard
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Madison, US hard
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Memphis, US hard
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Mexico City, MX hard
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Miami, US hard
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Milwaukee, US hard
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Minneapolis, US hard
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Monterrey, MX hard
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Montreal, CA hard
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Nashville, US hard
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New Orleans, US hard
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New York, US hard
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Oaxaca, MX hard
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Oklahoma City, US hard
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Omaha, US hard
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Ottawa, CA hard
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Panama City, PA hard
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Phoenix, US hard
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Pittsburgh, US hard
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Portland, US hard
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Puebla, MX hard
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Quebec City, CA hard
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Raleigh, US hard
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Richmond, US hard
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Sacramento, US hard
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Salt Lake City, US hard
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San Diego, US hard
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San Francisco, US hard
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San Jose, CR hard
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Santo Domingo, DO hard
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Saskatoon, CA hard
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Savannah, US hard
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Seattle, US hard
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Spokane, US hard
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St. Louis, US hard
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Tampa, US hard
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Toronto, CA hard
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Tucson, US hard
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Vancouver, CA hard
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Victoria, CA hard
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Winnipeg, CA hard
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🌍 Africa (39 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Abidjan, CI hard
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Accra, GH hard
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Addis Ababa, ET hard
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Algiers, DZ hard
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Antananarivo, MG hard
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Arusha, TZ hard
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Bamako, ML hard
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Bloemfontein, ZA hard
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Cairo, EG hard
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Cape Town, ZA hard
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Casablanca, MA hard
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Dakar, SN hard
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Dar es Salaam, TZ hard
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Douala, CM hard
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Durban, ZA hard
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Entebbe, UG hard
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Fez, MA hard
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Freetown, SL hard
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Harare, ZW hard
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Johannesburg, ZA hard
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Kampala, UG hard
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Kigali, RW hard
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Kinshasa, CD hard
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Lagos, NG hard
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Libreville, GA hard
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Lilongwe, MW hard
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Lome, TG hard
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Luanda, AO hard
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Lusaka, ZM hard
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Maputo, MZ hard
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Marrakech, MA hard
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Mombasa, KE hard
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Nairobi, KE hard
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Ouagadougou, BF hard
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Port Louis, MU hard
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Pretoria, ZA hard
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Tunis, TN hard
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Windhoek, NA hard
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Zanzibar, TZ hard
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🌎 South America (39 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Arequipa, PE hard
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Asuncion, PY hard
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Barranquilla, CO hard
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Belem, BR hard
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Bogota, CO hard
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Brasilia, BR hard
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Buenos Aires, AR hard
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Cali, CO hard
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Campinas, BR hard
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Caracas, VE hard
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Cartagena, CO hard
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Concepcion, CL hard
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Cordoba, AR hard
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Curitiba, BR hard
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Cusco, PE hard
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Fortaleza, BR hard
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Georgetown, GY hard
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Goiania, BR hard
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Guayaquil, EC hard
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La Paz, BO hard
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Lima, PE hard
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Manaus, BR hard
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Medellin, CO hard
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Mendoza, AR hard
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Montevideo, UY hard
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Paramaribo, SR hard
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Port of Spain, TT hard
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Porto Alegre, BR hard
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Quito, EC hard
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Recife, BR hard
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Rio de Janeiro, BR hard
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Rosario, AR hard
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Salvador, BR hard
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Santa Cruz, BO hard
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Santiago, CL hard
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Sao Paulo, BR hard
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Sucre, BO hard
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Trujillo, PE hard
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Valparaiso, CL hard
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🌊 Oceania (19 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Adelaide, AU hard
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Alice Springs, AU hard
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Auckland, NZ hard
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Brisbane, AU hard
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Cairns, AU hard
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Canberra, AU hard
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Christchurch, NZ hard
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Darwin, AU hard
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Dunedin, NZ hard
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Gold Coast, AU hard
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Hamilton, NZ hard
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Hobart, AU hard
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Melbourne, AU hard
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Noumea, NC hard
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Perth, AU hard
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Suva, FJ hard
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Sydney, AU hard
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Townsville, AU hard
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Wellington, NZ hard
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🕌 Middle East (16 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Abu Dhabi, AE hard
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Amman, JO hard
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Baghdad, IQ hard
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Beirut, LB hard
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Doha, QA hard
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Dubai, AE hard
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Erbil, IQ hard
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Jeddah, SA hard
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Kuwait City, KW hard
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Manama, BH hard
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Muscat, OM hard
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Riyadh, SA hard
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Sana'a, YE hard
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Tabriz, IR hard
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Tehran, IR hard
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Tel Aviv, IL hard
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✓

When should I plant cacao in my city?

The best time to plant cacao depends on your local climate zone. It thrives in temperatures between 24°C and 30°C. Wait until after the last frost in your area. Check your city's planting calendar on GrowByCity for exact dates.

Can I grow cacao in winter?

Cacao is not frost tolerant and cannot survive winter outdoors in most temperate climates. In tropical areas (USDA Zones 10+), it may grow year-round.

Get Cacao Seeds & Plants

Ready to start growing? Find Cacao seeds and starter plants online.

Shop on Burpee Search on Amazon

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Frequently Asked Questions about Cacao

When should I plant cacao?

The best time to plant cacao depends on your local climate. Cacao grows best in temperatures between 24°C and 30°C (can tolerate 18°C to 35°C). Cacao is not frost tolerant, so wait until after the last frost in your area. Check your city's planting calendar on GrowByCity for exact planting months.

Can cacao grow in tropical climates?

Yes! Cacao can grow in tropical climates. It's successfully grown in tropical cities like Abidjan, Abu Dhabi, Accra. Cacao requires partial shade ok and frequent watering.

How long does cacao take to grow?

Cacao typically takes 1095-1825 days from planting to harvest. It requires partial shade ok and frequent watering. Needs constant warmth, humidity, and shade. Only viable in true tropical climates. Wait until soil warms to at least 24°C before transplanting outdoors — cold soil stunts growth and can invite root rot. Consistent moisture is critical. Mulch with straw or compost to retain soil moisture and keep roots cool during hot weather.

Find the Best Time to Plant Cacao

See the planting calendar for Cacao in these popular cities:

London, GBMumbai, INNew York, USParis, FRSingapore, SGSydney, AUTokyo, JPToronto, CA

Last updated: March 2026 · Climate data from NOAA, FAO, USDA

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