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growing  -  Coffee


       There are over 100 species
       of Coffee, but the two most
       important commercially are
       Coffea arabica, and Coffea

       canephora (syn. robusta), both
       indigenous to Africa. Only
       Coffea arabica is self fertile.
       WHY - The coffee beans of        BENEFITS - The coffee beans, the cherries,
       course! It is also a very attractive   the fragrant flowers, and the beautiful dark
       plant to have indoors. The tree   green foliage of the trees.  Delicious home-
       produces highly fragrant flowers,   grown roasted coffee and all the benefits of
       and bright pink-red ‘coffee      caffeine.
       cherries’ that are edible too.   PROPAGATE - Coffee trees can be grown

       HOW TO PLANT - I’ve only         from seed, or cuttings. Pre-germinate the
       grown coffee trees in large 1m x   seeds by soaking them in water for 24 hours.
       1m pots, and they are now 7 years   Then sow the seeds in damp sand or in a
       old, and have produced coffee    good seedling mixture. Transplant when
       beans for 3 years. Fill the pot with   they are about 30cm high, into rich soil and
       soil and compost, and water      water well.
       moderately. Place in indirect    WHERE - Coffea arabica trees can be bought
       bright light, or in light shade,   at Margaret Roberts’ nursery in de Wildt,
       protected from frost. They some-  and for seeds you can contact the Editor.
       times suffer from mealybugs, but   Coffee trees are fruiting now and the seeds
       otherwise are maintenance free.   are viable for the following 4 months.

















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