The Root System of the Carob Tree
One of the most important secrets of the carob tree's ability to withstand the hot and dry summers of the Mediterranean is its strong root system that extends deep into the soil. Sources report that the carob has a taproot that goes deep and its roots can reach up to 15-20 meters in suitable conditions.
Read MoreAfforestation and Rural Development with Carob
The carob tree is a species that has been used as both animal feed and food source in the Mediterranean countryside for centuries and can survive with little input. In recent years, the tree is not only for its fruit; It is seen that it has started to be mentioned together with rural development titles such as reforestation of degraded areas, providing additional income to forest villagers and branding of local products.
Read MoreEstablishing a Carob Orchard: A Planning Guide
A carob orchard is a long-term investment that can yield for decades after it is established, but returns its first income after a few years. The basis of a successful garden is therefore planning before the sapling enters the ground: the right location, the appropriate variety and pollinator layout, sensible planting spacing, water plan and a realistic yield expectation.
Read MoreSoil Requirements for Carob Tree
Carob is known as a "contented" tree with low soil selectivity. It can grow in many different conditions, from rocky slopes to dunes, from calcareous soils to poor and shallow lands. On the other hand, it cannot withstand water-holding, heavy and airless soils and high ground water.
Read MoreHow Many Years Does the Carob Tree Bear Fruit? Yield and Lifespan
Carob is a long-term tree that requires patience. In gardens established with grafted saplings, the first product usually begins to be obtained a few years after planting; commercially significant yields usually come after the sixth or seventh year. The tree reaches full yield in its 20s and can last more than a hundred years in good conditions.
Read MoreIn Which Climate Does the Carob Tree Grow?
Carob is a Mediterranean tree that loves heat and light, is drought tolerant but sensitive to cold. It grows best in regions with cool but not cold winters and hot and dry summers. According to scientific sources, mature trees begin to be damaged at temperatures below –4 °C and can withstand up to –7 °C at most.
Read MoreCarob Production in Turkey
Turkey is a country located within the natural distribution area of carob and is home to both wild and grafted carob trees on the Mediterranean and Aegean coasts. According to sources based on TurkStat data, Turkey's carob production increased from 16,256 tons in 2019 to 24,561 tons in 2023, and the production area expanded significantly in the same period.
Read MoreHow to Plant Carob Saplings?
Carob is a long-lived tree, and the success of the garden over the decades largely depends on the steps taken during the planting phase. A planting at the right time, in suitable soil, with a tubular sapling with undamaged roots; The lifeline given afterwards and regular care in the first years ensure that the sapling holds and develops healthily.
Read MoreWhen and How to Harvest Carob?
Carob harvesting is a largely manual labor job that usually starts at the end of summer on the Mediterranean coast and lasts throughout autumn depending on the region. When the pods ripen on the tree and begin to dry, they are dropped from the branches with long poles and collected in nets or covers laid under the tree. Harvesting at the right time directly affects both the quality of the fruit and the next year's product.
Read More