Not cold-tolerant, it requires high temperature in the growing period, and generally grows in tropical and subtropical regions. Originated in northeast Brazil, within south latitude 10. /kloc-was introduced to Asia and Africa in the 6th century, and now it has spread all over East Africa and South Asia. Countries with large cashew planting area in the world include India, Brazil, Vietnam, Mozambique and Tanzania.
Fruit is a kind of nut, shaped like a thick bean, sometimes more than 2.5 cm long and strangely shaped. The fruit stalk is three times larger than the nut. The fruit stalk is reddish or yellow and has two skins (or shells). The shell is thin, slightly elastic, firm and smooth as glass. Olive green before maturity and red after maturity.
Growth habit of cashew nuts
Cashew nuts have strong adaptability and are warm-loving and strong positive tree species. Drought tolerance is not barren, and it has certain wind resistance. It is advisable to grow below 400 meters above sea level. The requirements for soil are not high, except for heavy clay and limestone, it can grow in red soil, sandy soil or rocky mountain with soil organic matter content less than 1%.
Cashew nuts are not cold-tolerant, and high temperature is needed in the growing period. The average monthly temperature is 23-30℃, and it blooms and bears fruit normally, but grows slowly at 20℃. The temperature below 17℃ is vulnerable to cold injury, and the temperature below 15℃ will cause serious injury and death. The annual sunshine is more than 2000 hours, and the annual precipitation is 1000- 1600 mm, which is not suitable for planting in areas where the groundwater level is too high or there is water in rainy season. The flowering period avoids rainy days.
The peak growth period is generally in the early rainy season. The main root of 4-5-year-old trees is 5 meters deep and the lateral roots are developed, and the lateral roots of 6-year-old trees are about 7 meters long. It blooms 2 years after planting, bears fruit in 3 years, and enters the full fruit period after 8 years, which is 15-25 years.