The carob plant is a flowering tree commonly found in the Mediterranean and Middle East. But if you live in USDA Growing Zones 9 and 10, you can bring this marvel to your space.
When mature, carob plants produce edible pods that can be used as a chocolate substitute. The pods are perfect for baking as they’re rich in natural saccharine and protein. You can enjoy the dried pods or use them to make a hot drink or bread.
Here is everything you need to know about the carob plant, including identifying it in nature and growing the seeds or starts in your backyard.
What We’ll Discuss
Meet the Carob Plant
The carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua) has a long history. This plant is also known as Saint John’s bread because Christian mythology tells a tale of St. John the Baptist eating the pods while he was in the wilderness.
The edible seed pods grow up to 18 inches long. The tree itself can grow up to 50 feet tall.
The plant has dark green, compound, oval leaves with long, twisted pods off the stems. The trunk is twisted and reddish brown. Even if you don’t use the seed pods, these trees make a beautiful addition to an outdoor space.
Carob plants have either female or male flowers, meaning they are dioecious, though some are hermaphrodites. Typically, the red flowers bloom in small clusters in the fall, followed by the dark brown pods.
There are over 110 cultivars, varieties, and types of carob trees.
How to Plant Carob
Seeds should be started in the fall for spring planting.
You can buy seeds from reputable sellers online at places like Amazon or collect them from another plant. Some local specialty retailers might also carry them.
The seeds have a tough outer shell to protect them from harsh weather conditions and to keep them dry, so you’ll need to scarify them before planting.
You might also want to soak them in water for 24 hours before scarification.
What Is Scarification?
Even though this harsh outer layer is excellent for protecting the seed, it can slow germination. Scarification is when you intentionally damage the seed’s outer layer to facilitate germination.
The seed isn’t ruined through this method; it encourages moisture to enter the seed to spark the sprouting process.
Grab a sharp knife and make a shallow slit in the seed shell without cutting all the way through. If you don’t want to use a knife, nick the shell with a nail file or rub it with sandpaper.
Sowing Carob Seeds
Fill four-inch seeding containers with a high-quality seed-raising mix. Sow the seeds an inch deep into the mixture.
Germination occurs between 70-80°F, so you might need to use a heating mat. Keep the soil moist as the seeds germinate.
Depending on the temperature, moisture, and light, the seeds will germinate in 12-40 days. Once the seeds germinate, move them to a spot with six hours or more of light.
Once the seedlings are at least four inches tall with several levels, harden them off and plant them outdoors in the spring. Space them 15 feet apart.
Growing Carob Tips
Carob plants need full sunlight, with at least six or more hours per day.
Soil and Watering
Carob plants can also survive in poor, calciferous soil. It has become an important plant in its native range for filling tough areas, such as windbreaks, and to protect from soil erosion.
This plant prefers well-draining soil and doesn’t tolerate acidic environments. Test the pH of the soil before planting. It should be between 6.2 to 8.6.
The carob plant is also drought-resistant and can survive periods without water. Water during the summer and fall to ensure healthy fruits. Drought will stunt its growth and make the pods small.
These plants are ideal for xeriscaping.
Fertilizer and Pruning
Fertilizer is unnecessary for the carob plant if the other growing requirements are met, but giving your plant a little extra love with manure is possible. Use well-rotted manure around the drip line twice a year.
If you have depleted soil or your tree seems to be stunted or isn’t producing many pods, apply fertilizer. Use a citrus/fruit fertilizer with an NPK of 8-3-9 to feed. Check the instructions on the label before adding to the soil.
Pruning is like fertilizer; it’s not essential, but it can help you maintain the growth so there’s no overcrowding. As a carob plant is extensive, it’s possible to leave it to grow naturally, which gives it a wild look.
But, if you want the tree to have a particular shape, you’ll need to begin pruning in the early stages of growth. It’s good to wait until the tree has established its root so you can prune without restricting light and air.
You should always remove weak, diseased, or damaged branches.
Carob Tree Pests and Diseases
The main pests for the carob plant are squirrels, carob moths, and scale insects. Squirrels are adorable creatures, but they can cause a lot of damage. There are a few tricks that can help you manage a squirrel invasion:
- Plant flowers like lilies, marigolds, hyacinths, and daffodils
- Place chicken wire or stakes near the plant
- Install netting over the seeds
When the fruits are young, be vigilant, as the squirrels will be extra interested. For more tips on squirrel control, visit our guide.
Carob moths (Ectomyelois ceratoniae) and navel orangeworms (Amyelois transitellav) are also troublesome on these plants, primarily in California. The adults are silver, gray, cinnamon brown, or white, with a snout-like projection on the front.
The females lay eggs next to rotten or wounded areas on the fruit. When the larvae hatch, they begin eating the fruit, ruining it.
Remove damaged fruit immediately and harvest fruit as soon as it’s ripe. This will go a long way toward avoiding these pests. If treatment is required, use a product that contains spinosad or Bacillus thuringiensis ssp. kurstaki.
Scale insects can breed all year in warm climates. Common symptoms of scale insects are small bumps on the surface, eggs under the leaves, and a sticky honeydew substance covering the plant. You might also see yellow leaves. Visit our guide to learn more about scale.
Diseases
Root rot is a frequent problem for carob plants that are overwatered. Typically, you will see yellowing, wilted, distorted, and dropping leaves.
If the disease has progressed extensively, it could kill your plant. That’s why you must be careful when watering. If it hasn’t progressed, reduce watering dramatically until the plant recovers. Then, be careful to water less in the future.
Harvesting and Enjoying Your Carob Plant
Carob pods are ready to harvest when they turn from green to deep reddish-brown. This typically happens in late summer. If you rub the pods, the seeds should move around when they’re ripe. This is when you know it’s time to harvest.
If you aren’t sure, just let them ripen and fall to the ground on their own. Grab them quickly, the critters will be coming for them, and they will rot if they sit on the ground for too long.
Put the seeds in water and cover them for a few hours. Then, boil them for 10-20 minutes and leave them to cool. After the seeds are prepared, the seeds can be eaten raw or mixed in a baking recipe. Roasting for 10 or 15 minutes brings out the cocoa flavor.
You can grind the seeds into powder in a coffee grinder and carob powder is made out of the fleshy inner wall of the pod.
