Dear Sir
cultivation and processing in vanilla happens in these farms.
(1) Niligiris Biosphere- Ooty,coonoor , silent valley area-Mannarkad, Gudalur areas
(2) Shimoga in Karnataka known as shimoga vanilla farms
(3) Trivandrum orchid belts , Trichur and palakkad sectors
(4) Pollachi and mettupalayam of coimbatore districts.
the demand for natural vanilla is on the higher side. There are two important species of vanilla viz. V.planifolia and V.pompana. vanilla is cultivated in varied types of soils from sandy loam to laterites.it is usually established by planting shoot cuttings.
If possible cuttings with 18 to 24 internodes should be used as they come to flower earlier than shorter cuttings.being a climbing vine requires support for growing.
It flourishes well in partial shade of about 50 per cent sunlight and low branching trees with rough bark and small leaves are grown for this purpose.
The months of June July, August-September are ideal for vanilla cultivation.
When immature, the bean is dark green in colour, but when ripe yellowing commences from its distal end. This is the optimum time for harvesting the bean. If left on the vine the bean turns yellow on the remaining portion and starts splitting, giving out a small quantity of oil reddish brown in colour, called the Balsam of Vanilla.