Vanilla bean

[Rosyrain]

I am going to put this thread in this section because of the fact that vanilla is used to flavor foods, so I am sorry if I made the wrong section choice. Has anyone ever tried to grow their own vanilla, and were you successful doing it? I would like to grow my own because it is expensive to buy at the store, but I wonder if it is worth the effort because I never hear of people talking about growing it.

 

[Chuck]

I am going to put this thread in this section because of the fact that vanilla is used to flavor foods, so I am sorry if I made the wrong section choice. Has anyone ever tried to grow their own vanilla, and were you successful doing it? I would like to grow my own because it is expensive to buy at the store, but I wonder if it is worth the effort because I never hear of people talking about growing it.

Vanilla can grow in only a few places and is very labor intensive. That is why it is so expensive, second only to saffron.

 

[Esther Knapicius]

To me vanilla is not really expensive in the store compared to how often it is used, and it stores well. You really use very little of it, and it lasts a long time. If your a cake baker every day, and make many cakes every day, then perhaps it would be an issue. I rarely bake so rarely use it. there is also vanilla you can get shipped in from Hattie, it is slightly different, a bottle of that lasts quite some time. there are some spices you have to just bite the bullet with and buy it.

 

[grouie]

Vanilla essence is available here in tiny bottles which last forever. A friend of ours had a farm for this plant and at that time it was a rage everywhere to market the beans. Now no one is talking about it.

 

[IcyBC]

I have not tried growing vanilla and I don't think I can either since our summer is short too, if we ever have a summer It would be interesting to grow.

 

[claudine]

I've never tried to grow vanilla, I think it's very dfficult to do it. To be honest, I don't even know what the plant looks like. But I wear vanilla perfume almost every day

 

[Trellum]

I am going to put this thread in this section because of the fact that vanilla is used to flavor foods, so I am sorry if I made the wrong section choice. Has anyone ever tried to grow their own vanilla, and were you successful doing it? I would like to grow my own because it is expensive to buy at the store, but I wonder if it is worth the effort because I never hear of people talking about growing it.

I have heard it's really hard to grow it, but it must be nice to have your own vanilla beans at hand when you need them! I have seen a few recipes that call for that, couldn't help to wonder where in the world I'd be able to find a super makret that sold that, lol. Not where I live, that is for sure.

 

[Rosyrain]

Vanilla beans are easy to find in the grocery stores around where I live. I guess a lot of people around here use them for cooking and baking. They are just wildly expensive is all.

 

[Pat]

I use vanilla extract to cook but would not think about growing it. I doubt if my weather is warm enough for this plant.

 

[zigs]

It's an Orchid, so it would need the right type of symbiotic fungus on the roots, plus you'd have to hand polinate it as it needs a very specific bee to do so in the wild.

Bottle of the extract costs about £4 here, I love it