Growing Coffee Trees a Project

Koffee_Kosmo

I have started a project to sprout some green coffee beans
The beans were given to me from a farm located in the Northern NSW area

So far I have placed the green beans in a container with enough water that barely covers them [see photo one]

After a couple of days (today in fact) I observed that one bean has sprouted [see photo 2 & 3]
One will also observe that some beans have a bright green tinge starting to envelop them

As more beans spout I will then transfer them to soil and post my progress again

GaryatGala

Mine has not sprouted yet. I wonder how long beans can keep for germination before it's no good? Had mine sitting around for 5 months sealed before attempting to germinate them in spring time. How long did it take before yours started sprouting KK? Gary at G

Koffee_Kosmo

GaryatGala wrote:

Mine has not sprouted yet. I wonder how long beans can keep for germination before it's no good? Had mine sitting around for 5 months sealed before attempting to germinate them in spring time. How long did it take before yours started sprouting KK? Gary at G

The beans that I used came from Coffee Prince and would be over a year old or closer to 2 years old Gary, the first bean that sprouted was 4 days in water I have been told that one can also use water soaked cotton wool to germinate seeds I also have a Styrofoam box - one normally used for grapes, to plant the spouted beans already prepared KK

GaryatGala

Great to know AM. I'll sit tight for the time being and wait. Will provide feedback based on the mediterranean climate here if it all works through the growing period. Got another set of beans i can germinate in cotton wool KK. Will try that. Gary at G

sidoney

That sounds like fun! I like plants. I wonder if there are any that would grow around Sydney.

Koffee_Kosmo

sidoney wrote:

That sounds like fun! I like plants. I wonder if there are any that would grow around Sydney.

Yes they will Crema member Thundergod has a few trees growing in Sydney and currently cultivating KK

sidoney

Thanks! We already have citrus, stone fruit and more here. I'll have to find a spot that would suit it.

Koffee_Kosmo

sidoney wrote:

Thanks! We already have citrus, stone fruit and more here. I'll have to find a spot that would suit it.

They like it amongst other trees similar to a rain forest KK

Koffee_Kosmo

I have 2 surviving coffee trees of three ( one died ) They have been in small pots for a year or so Time to upgrade them to a new home I purchased some Garden Go / Easy Go tubs on wheels - these are to help a gardener move light stuff around However I decided to modify them and turn them into mobile pots for the Coffee trees Each holds 3 potting mix bags - The potting mix I selected has slow release fertiliser mixed in [attach=1] Front view [attach=2] See the wheels on the rear As they are sealed units I had to drill holes on the bottom for drainage [attach=3] Draniage holes drilled [attach=4] Geo fabric installed for ant control KK

Koffee_Kosmo

Continuing on I placed some rocks on the bottom to assist in drainage and give the EasyGo some bottom weight stability [attach=1] Then I added the potting mix X 3 bags [attach=2] And planted the coffee plants [attach=3] After a good water I then added some sugar cane mulch to help in water retention [attach=4] KK

Koffee_Kosmo

The freshly planted coffee trees in new deep pots that can be moved at the gardeners discretion [attachimg=1] Ohh The potting mix I used [attach=2] KK

sholayer

KK The trees are looking great, A note about a photo just above - you installed geofabric "to assist in ant control". I know nothing about ants etc but spoke to a horticultural advisor when I realised I had a problem with my tree. I have a 5 yo growing inside and it sometimes gets hit with mealy bug, ants are very useful in controlling this, they actually run around the tree eating the mealy bug. Do you have any ideas for budgies? - my new budgie is shredding the lovely new growth. :pan Chris

Koffee_Kosmo

Hiya Chris The ants can still climb up the side of the pots, no one can stop that I just don't want them to get an easy ride :angel: For your budgie I suggest you see a vet However we have a lovebird peach face and it loves to shred newspaper and he also likes to shred his cloth cage covers as well Here is an updated photo of the coffee trees after the repotting [attach=2] Here is a photo of the peach face [attach=1] KK

Koffee_Kosmo

A quick photo update New shoots sprouting on the coffee trees since repotting them [attach=1] [attach=2] KK

Lacehim

Nice KK. I have one planted in the yard, and some baby ones have sprouted around it (I tipped a few handfuls of unwanted black cherries on there for mulch), and I have one in a pot at the front door which is looking good. I scored a food processor with a plastic blade for $5 at the school fete today so I can finally process the 600gm of home grown beans that I've already processed last year. I just need to remove the parchment and they are ready to roast! 🙂 I got these beans from a neighbour who has 2/3 mature trees. Also I read that leaving the parchment on the beans is actually better for them during storage, and they can last a lot longer! 😉 A few days ago I roasted a very small batch that only came from my trees in my yard (over 2 years may I add). Can't wait to try them! They roasted very well in the KKTO, and must only be around 75gm.

askthecoffeeguy

my parents in law on the sunny coast have a mature tree about 3m high in their backyard which gives off many kgs of fruit each year - never got around to harvesting it though!

Lacehim

askthe coffeeguy wrote:

my parents in law on the sunny coast have a mature tree about 3m high in their backyard which gives off many kgs of fruit each year - never got around to harvesting it though!

If they let me know when they are red and ready for picking I can easily pop over to take them off their hands! 😉

RichardM

Lacehim: my maturing trees are doing well, but the one you gave me is up to 8 leaves now. I probably should put it outside.

derrilex

I'll jump on the back of KK's thread and map the progress of my plants. I started by soaking the beans as per KK until a little sprout came out. Then Potted them out into seedling trays. See what happens. I've planted about 30 Yirg seeds and 20 Pshite seeds.

Lacehim

I'm going to try some tree in my aquaponics set up when I get it running. Should be interesting. The bigger tree I have out the front has some cherries on it, but it's about to have a massive flowering! Should be interesting. 🙂