If you are a coffee enthusiast, you might like to know if it is possible to grow coffee from a seed. The answer to this question is yes! It’s just a question of conditions and commitment. Anyone can grow their own coffee plant at home with a little patience and preparation. In this article, we will tell you how to grow coffee from a seed.
What you need for growing coffee from a seed at home
Coffee plants grow both indoors and outdoors, so you can grow a coffee plant whether in a small apartment or a sprawling backyard. The important factors in growing a coffee plant are having 4 to 5 hours of sunlight (not direct), nutrient-rich soil, a temperature of 60-80 Fahrenheit, damp soil, and patience!
The basics of growing coffee from a seed in the home
Bad news: if you want to buy coffee seeds, plant them, and wait until they are ready to be harvested, you should wait for 8 to 10 years. But there is another way for those who don’t like this time-consuming process; you can buy an already-potted coffee plant. These plants will mature and begin producing fruit in 3-4 years. But if you still like to grow coffee from a seed, we will tell you how to do it.
How to grow coffee from a seed
If you don’t live in the tropic regions, we suggest you grow your coffee indoors temperatures in other regions are usually too volatile for coffee plant growth. The growth of a coffee plant may be significantly affected by varying humidity levels, cold weather, intense heat indexes, and other seasonal changes. Thankfully, when growing a plant indoors, giving it the necessary light, water, and humidity is easy.
The first thing to do is to look for seedlings, cherries, or green coffee beans of an arabica coffee plant. It might be a little difficult to find potted coffee beans, so you should find freshly picked coffee cherries or green seeds. Keep in mind that you can’t grow a coffee plant from a roasted bean. You are ready to start once you have extracted the beans from the cherry or purchased green coffee beans.
Fill your initial pot with the right soil. Arabica coffee plants naturally grow in tropical, mountainous regions that receive high humidity and significant water. Use soil that is rich with nutrients that allow plant roots to penetrate deep. The ideal soil should have a pH close to 6. Ensure the plant has proper drainage.
You should get into a coffee plant care routine that fosters your plant’s healthy development as it grows. Water your coffee plant in a way that the soil stays slightly moist and don’t let the soil get too dry or too wet because it is not good for the plant. To help maintain humidity, you can use a pebble tray and fill it with water. Every few months check the pH level of fertilizer and fertilize the plant when needed. The best time for fertilizing a coffee plant is from March through October, every two weeks. Decrease the fertilization frequency to once a month from November to February. Another thing you can do to help your plant grow is regular pruning every spring.
Repot your coffee plant as it grows. It’s better to repot the plant in the springtime when it becomes taller than 2 feet. Repot the plant for the first time when it grows about 8 inches high. The second time will be when its height nears 24 inches during the first year. Make sure you repot the plant when it’s needed. Although roots need space to thrive, putting a very small plant in a very large pot is not recommended.
Final thoughts on growing coffee from a seed
As you can see, it is possible to grow coffee from a seed. The process of planting the seed is not time-consuming, but growing the coffee plant requires a lot of care and attention. It might take you 10 years to harvest coffee from the coffee bean you have planted. But if you are really serious about growing a coffee plant on your own, you can give this rewarding experience a try and enjoy the adventure!
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