Vanilla is a tropical climbing vine of the orchid
family, grown for its pleasant flavour. Vanilla is one of the costliest spices
in the market after saffron and grows with the support of bark of trees. There
are than 40 species of vanilla exist. However, only three of them are
considered as important ones. Vanilla
planifolia Andrews is the variety widely cultivated on large scale. This
cultivar (variety) has more commercial value for its vanillin. Vanilla vine is
a perennial in nature which belongs to the family of "Orchidaceae"
and genus of "Vanilla". Madagascar is the top producer of vanilla in
the world. Usually, Vanilla plants start the first yield after 3 years of
planting and continue to give the yield up to 12 to 14 years. Generally,
vanilla crop is grown as an intercrop in the fields of ‘coconut’ and ‘areca
nut’. As India is concerned, Indian exports of vanilla multiplied rapidly and
accounted for approximately 2% of world vanilla exports. In India, Karnataka tops
the country's vanilla cultivation followed by Kerala and Tamil Nadu states. The
vanilla vines can be grown in indoors, greenhouse even in pots and containers.
The initial investment for the cultivation of vanilla is little when compared
to other spices. Vanilla also can be grown hydroponically. Continue Reading Here.
