Coffea arabica also known as the Arabic coffee, is a species of flowering plant in the coffee and madder family Rubiaceae. An evergreen shrub with opposite pairs of glossy, dark green leaves. Once plants are a couple of years old, small, white, fragrant flowers are produced; these are followed by green fruits that ripen over several months to red “cherries”. Each fruit contains two seeds (coffee beans) and under ideal conditions it should be possible to harvest enough for a cup of home-grown coffee.

Description & Information

• Name: Coffee – Arabica
• Common Name: Coffea arabica
• Native: south-western Ethiopia

Planting Instructions

• Remove the small silver skin around the seed if there is one
• Soak the seeds in warm water overnight – use a Thermos flask to keep the water warm (25-30ºC)
• Sow the seeds onto the seeding compost in propagator to keep a constant temperature
• Cover the seeds with about 1cm of the compost
• Keep the compost moisturised evenly during the entire germination time
• Keep in a semi-shady place, protected from the noon sun
• At room temperature, germination should be around two months
• The sprouting seedlings can be re-potted to small pots or Jiffy pellets

Cultivation tips

• The soil should be slightly moist and never dry out completely – daily spraying/misting
• Direct sunlight should be avoided, especially around noon, since it could burn the leaves
• The young plants cannot take temperatures below freezing and will not do well in temperatures that stay consistently below 18ºC. Keep them away from drafts in the winter
• Coffee plants prefer bright, but indirect, light. This means that they should be placed near a window but not directly in the window itself
• If you choose to prune your coffee plant, the best time is early spring.
• Your coffee plant can blossom after a couple of years and develop fruits

15 Seeds: £3.75 inc P&P

15 Seeds in Gift Card: £6.75 inc P&P

Planting

1. Seeds

2. Remove outer shell

3. Soak overnight in warm water – consider placing the seeds into a thermal mug or flask to keep the seeds at a warm temperature, around 25-30ºC.

4. Drain – remove the seeds from the warm water and leave to drain for a few minutes before planting.

5. Seed tray or propagator with drainage holes – ensure the seeds are sown into a container with drainage so that the soil/compost doesn’t become waterlogged.

6. Fill seed tray with seeding compost – use a general seeding compost and fill to just below the top of the cells – leave room for a thin layer of compost to cover the seeds.

7. Sow seeds into compost – use a planting tool or pen to create small shallow wells and drop in the seeds.

8. Cover with a couple of mm compost and water.

9. Cover and place in room temperature environment – maybe place on a window sill but keep away from draughts. Shoots should start to appear within a couple of months.