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The Complete Guide and Care Tips for Coffee Tree Plant
Growing coffee tree plants is a fantastic way to add some flavor to your garden while also enjoying the fruits of your labor! These plants are not only aesthetically pleasing, with their shiny leaves and unique shape, but they also offer the opportunity to grow and enjoy your very own coffee beans.
Imagine waking up in the morning, stepping outside into your garden, plucking fresh coffee beans off the tree, and brewing a warm cup of joe – it’s an experience unlike any other! Whether you’re an avid gardener or simply looking for a new hobby, growing coffee trees is an exciting and rewarding adventure.If you’re interested in growing your own coffee trees or want to learn more about how to care for them properly, our guide has got you covered.
From choosing the right location for planting to nurturing young seedlings until they mature into full-grown trees that produce delicious beans – we’ll walk you through everything step by step.
With just a bit of patience and dedication, you can enjoy one of life’s simplest pleasures straight from your backyard.
So what are you waiting for? Start brewing up some ideas on how best to incorporate these unique plants into your outdoor space today!
What is a Coffee Tree Plant?
The coffee tree plant, also known as Coffea arabica or Arabica coffee plant, is a tropical evergreen shrub that belongs to the Rubiaceae family.
It is native to Ethiopia and grows up to 6-7 feet tall outdoors under ideal conditions.
Where Can You Grow Coffee Tree Plants?
Since these trees thrive in warm climates, they are best suited for USDA zones 9-11.
However, if you live in colder regions where temperatures drop below freezing during winters, you can still grow them indoors or in greenhouses.
Coffee Tree Plant Care Tips
- Sunlight: These plants require plenty of sunlight; therefore it’s best if you place them near windows or areas that receive direct sunlight.
- Soil Requirements: The soil needs to be well-draining with a pH level of around 6.0-6.5 since these trees do not like waterlogging conditions.
- Watering: Water your plant once every week and ensure the soil remains moist but not wet as overwatering can lead to root rot.
- Fertilization: Use fertilizers that contain high nitrogen content such as fish emulsion or seaweed fertilizer during spring/summer for healthy growth.
- Pruning: Trim the branches that grow towards the center to promote air circulation and remove any diseased or dead branches whenever necessary.
- Pests and Diseases: These plants are susceptible to spider mites, mealybugs, and scale insects.
To avoid pests, you can use a neem oil spray every week or two.
In case of diseases such as leaf rust or coffee berry disease, remove infected leaves/berries immediately.
Coffee Tree Plant Harvesting
The coffee tree plant takes around 3-4 years to start bearing fruits.
The berries ripen gradually from green to yellow/red color when fully matured.
Harvest the berries by handpicking them when they reach their peak maturity level.
After harvesting, it’s best if you process them within 24 hours for maximum flavor retention.
How to Process Coffee Beans?
The processing method depends on whether you want wet-processed (washed) beans or dry-processed (natural) beans:
- Wet Processed (Washed) Coffee Beans: Remove the fruity pulp using a pulping machine then soak them in water for one day before washing away any remaining flesh.
Dry the beans under direct sunlight until they reach 10-12% moisture content level before storage.
One popular method of processing coffee beans is through the dry process, also known as the natural method.
This involves sun-drying harvested coffee beans along with their fruity pulp until they reach a moisture content level of around 10%.
Once they’ve reached this stage, a de-hulling machine is used to remove the husks from the beans.
The result is a rich and fruity flavor profile that’s reminiscent of dried fruit and berries.This process can take several weeks to complete, requiring consistent sunshine and warm temperatures for optimal results.
However, many coffee drinkers believe that it’s worth the effort, as dry-processed coffee often has a more complex taste than other methods.
Additionally, because there’s no need for water during this process (unlike in wet processing), it can be more environmentally friendly and sustainable overall.
In Conclusion: A Delicious Reward!
Growing coffee tree plants requires patience but offers enormous rewards once these trees start producing fruits that can be processed into delicious coffee beans.
With proper care and attention, you can expect these plants to provide you with an abundant yield each year.
