Coffee Plants : How to Grow & Care
Considering that coffee culture has a very wide place both in our country and in the world, it can be regarded as quite normal that the coffee plant: how to grow and care is among the most curious subjects. But, of course, those interested in coffee are not limited to this. At home, school, work, important organizations, or when we want to take a short break by staying by ourselves, coffee, which accompanies many of our memories, has a great place in our lives. Yet, despite this, we wouldn’t be wrong to say that many questions about coffee are curious and still have not been answered.
Since the 16th century, it has been grown, prepared, and consumed in many corners of the world, following different tastes. But how does the coffee that adds flavor to our tables grow? After what processes does it meet with us? Today, coffee, which plays an important role in world trade, is the seed of the fruit, which belongs to a tree species that usually grows in tropical climates, and humid and light-filled environments. Therefore, if conditions such as light, humidity, and temperature are provided, trees can be grown in many regions without human intervention.
How Is Coffee Grown?
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The tree, whose length varies between 5 and 7 meters, is a tree whose leaves are always green and never evergreen. On the other hand, the tree is not a type of tree that gives fruit immediately. For this reason, much effort and patience must be required in coffee cultivation. Suppose the necessary environmental conditions are provided, and critical care is taken. In that case, the tree gives its first fruit about five years after planting and continues producing these fruits, called coffee, for approximately 25 years.
The berries take a long time to grow on the tree branches, which blooms crimson after ripening but before fruiting. First, the green fruits turn yellow and then orange in the ripening process. On the other hand, a fully ripe berry takes on a dark red color. There are two seeds in the fruits of the tree. As you can imagine, these seeds are those delicious beans that meet our cups after a long adventure.
After Which Processes Does Coffee Meet With You?
The berries take a long time to grow on the tree branches, which blooms crimson after ripening but before fruiting. First, the green fruits turn yellow and then orange in the ripening process. On the other hand, a fully ripe berry takes on a dark red color. There are two seeds in the fruits of the tree. As you can imagine, these seeds are those delicious beans that meet our cups after a long adventure. It should be noted that perhaps the most important point determining the flavor and quality of the bean is when the fruits of the tree are harvested. While some of the fruits on the tree are still raw fruits, an important part is composed of ripe fruits.
To collect raw and ripe fruits, wait for them to mature enough. Then, of course, to obtain a more productive result, each fruit should be carefully examined at certain time intervals, and if there are any ripe ones among them, they should be collected. For this reason, it is important to apply the necessary care to the trees and the fruits that the tree gives without skipping cultivation. Since it has reached sufficient maturity, the fruits that have been collected from the tree must first be separated from their seeds. The fruits can be kept in water, and the seeds can be separated by themselves. On the other hand, various machines can separate the seeds in the fruits in a very practical way.
How Many Coffee Plants Do You Need to Grow Your Coffee?
A coffee cup made with beans produced and gathered directly in your backyard would be a dream come true for every coffee lover. We could experiment with various roasting and brewing methods all day on our little coffee estate! Because of this, many of us can only cultivate a few coffee plants at a time. How many plants are necessary to produce enough coffee to consume daily?
Each year, coffee bushes produce around 2,000 cherries, resulting in about 4,000 beans. After roasting, this quantity of beans yields one to two pounds of coffee. Consider how fast a two-pound bag of coffee will be consumed by yourself. To produce enough beans to satisfy your coffee consumption demands, you’ll likely need at least 20 plants!
How To Grow A Coffee Plant At Home?
Plants may be grown in your backyard with a little time and effort. It will be explained in detail in the next article how to cultivate a plant and what you should do with it once it is ready to be harvested. You’ll need to set aside a certain area in your home for your coffee plant before you can start growing it. Plants can be grown inside and outdoors, so whether you live in a studio apartment or a huge garden, you have alternatives. Avoid placing it in direct sunlight if you want to grow it inside. It needs indirect light. Make sure you have enough room for the plant to develop if you wish to grow it outdoors since these plants may become pretty big.
Mostly, it is recommended that you cultivate your plant inside rather than in the garden. Coffee plants may be unable to thrive in climates other than the tropics because of the extreme swings in temperature. In addition, your plant’s development may be greatly slowed by seasonal changes such as low humidity, freezing temperatures, high heat indices, etc. Fortunately, providing the plant with the light, water, and moisture it needs to thrive inside is extremely simple. However, you can grow it in a greenhouse if you control humidity, sunshine, and temperature.
Care For Plants Coffee
To begin cultivating your coffee at home, you’ll need an arabica coffee plant’s seedlings, cherries, or green coffee beans. If you can’t locate a nursery that sells potted coffee plants, you’ll have to settle with fresh-picked coffee cherries or green coffee seeds. Remember that a roasted bean is unlikely to produce a coffee plant. Therefore, planting may begin after you removed the beans from the cherry or bought green coffee beans alone.
You’ll need the correct soil for your first few attempts at planting. Considering where arabica coffee plants grow naturally, you’ll see that they do best in humid, hilly areas with plenty of water. For the plant’s roots to go deep, your soil must be nutrient-rich. Ideally, the soil should have a pH of about 6. Overflowing pools of water are bad for the plants, so ensure it has sufficient drainage before plants. It is feasible to cultivate a plant at home, even though these plants are not native to the United States. With a green thumb, it may be easier for you to cultivate a cup of coffee. However, getting the hang of growing coffee in the optimal circumstances might take a few attempts if you’re a novice.
Coffee Tree Care
Trees care can be done the same way as other plants. Because trees are planted in pots as seedlings, they need to be watered more. Moisture rates in the soil should be controlled during the day, and water needs should be met. Putting Seedlings in pots in a sunny area will prevent damage and growth of trees. When the berries are ripe, they are mostly hand-picked. Then, the grains are separated from the shells by soaking or drying. The seeds that emerge as cores are dried, sieved, and ready for sale. Before being offered for sale, green coffee is roasted at 200-250 degrees.
Roasted seeds lose about 25% of their weight. As a result, it loses about 65% of its first fruit form until then. A medium productivity garden yields 250-500 kg per hectare; today, Brazil‘s most productive fields are. Here, 5-6 tons of product per hectare can be obtained from some areas. This ensures that Brazilian coffee is increasing in the market day by day.
Summary Of Coffee Care & Grown
The beans we reach different aromas from each other are mainly grown in tropical climate regions. The soil, the water it receives, sunbathing time, and humidity change the taste and smell of coffee. For example, if it is grown in the shade of banana trees, its taste will be more aromatic, while beans grown on the slopes of volcanoes have an ash scent. The orange or tropical fruit flavors we get in some coffees come from the characteristics of the soil where it grows.
You’ll need to establish a regular plant care regimen if you want your plant to thrive. To keep the soil from becoming too dry or too wet, you should water it just enough. A pebble tray filled with water may also be used to keep the humidity level up. The fertilizer’s pH should be checked around once every several months, and it should be fertilized if necessary. Pruning in the spring is also beneficial for the plant’s development.
Once it reaches 2 feet tall, you’ll need to report your plant, which is something you may do in the spring. During the first year, you should say the plant when it reaches a height of 8 inches and then again when it reaches a height of 24 inches. Repotting should be handled with care. Placing a little plant in a big pot is not suggested since the roots require growing space while putting a huge plant in a small pool is OK. First-time vegetable producers often assume they can eat as much as their plant produces. Many plants, like coffee, take years to develop and yield little fruit. When your cherry plant blooms, it’s thrilling. One plant can only generate so much.
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