LE BIZZARRE - ARABICA COFFEE |
||
UK/EC Only - This is an indoor variety in most European countries and in the UK a superb collection of coffee plants can be seen at Kew botanical gardens. Coffee is grown widely in South America and Africa and a warm conservatory is best for successful cu This is an indoor variety for the UK and a superb collection of coffee plants can be seen at Kew gardens. Coffee is grown widely in South America and Africa and a warm conservatory is best for successful cultivation and they make a nice houseplant and a great talking point. The beans are picked red, dried and then roasted for use in the kitchen and Arabica beans are the best quality - much better than Robusta which is used to 'pad out' cheaper coffees and make a false 'crema' (the cream on top of an espresso). Each pod contains 2 coffee beans and the plants can reach several metres in height. These untreated coffee seeds can be sown all year. To grow coffee from seed, soak the seeds for 24 hours indoors on a windowsill. Plant them in a mixture of vermiculite, some sand and if possible, about 15% coffee grounds. Sow 1.25cm down. They can take some weeks to germinate on a windowsill with 70% sun, ideal temp should be 25-30c. Keep them moist at all times, watering a little everyday. After 8-10 weeks, place in full sun at temp 20-30c and water little and often, keeping the soil damp and making sure the roots get a good soaking once a week. |
