Multi-purpose tree crop. The St. John's Bread of old. Alternative to chocolate. Excellent fodder. Good on marginal soils, suited to dry alkaline situations. Used in soil erosion. Has deep taproot. Scarify seed. Can be eaten as a dried pod and is now a popular powdered drink as a coffee substitute or chocolate alternative. When John the Baptist lived in the wilderness he ate honey and locust which we now know as carob. So the tree is a hardy long lived medium sized tree. One male tree is needed for about each eight free trees so if planting carob seed you will be able to thin out plants once they are mature. To plant seeds they are best scarified by filing the coat until the white seed inside shows or using the hot water treatment and soaking overnight before planting. Plant seeds in a deep pot as a long tap root will develop and plant out before it is 100mm high or use a deep planter bag to allow larger growth. The tree is good in an orchard situation or wind break. The pods will be much loved as a stock feed but protect the tree whilst it is small. The tree likes a well drained soil and will even do well on rocky slopes. Carobs large round leaves have made it a desirable street planting in my home town of Kyabram in northern Victoria and in the main street of Murgon in Queensland. Trees may take 7 years to mature.
Seed count: 8/g.
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