Growing coffee

[Elvis3577]

Re: Growing coffee

Hi guys.
Im kinda new to all this, and I would appreciate some advice , even though Ive read the whole thread....
I bought 4 Arabica seedlings on ebay from a guy in Moorooka, Brisbane about a week before Xmas. ( $18,- incl . )
After the first initial transplant shock, and probably to much sun.... theyre picking up now. All 4 got one set of fresh new leaves without the rust marks. I put them in fairly big pots with premium pot mix, cowpoo and slow release fertiliser,under a gum tree and they are about 6 to 7 inches tall. So harvesting is a long way of for me
My question is/are : Ive read about not planting in a spot where theres a lot of wind. I live about 200 mtrs away from the South West side of Lake Macquarie, NSW. It can get fairly windy here at times. Should I not bother at all then ? Why is that anyway....?
Plus, when is a good time to put them into the soil ? Is that size or season related ? And lastly, would they be able to handle the Western sun / side of the house, or would that be too hot ?
Thanks already !!
E.P.

[Thundergod]

Re: Growing coffee

They just dont like wind!
Until mine got to over a metre tall I had them protected with a windbreak for about two years.

I planted mine directly into the soil so I wouldnt have to transplant a second time.

I dont think it can get too hot where you are (compared to other places coffee grows).
Just make sure they get watered.

While they are small you could protect them with some shade cloth.

[tonyt]

Re: Growing coffee

While they are small you could protect them with some shade cloth.

yes, i find my seedlings burn in the sun if they are not shielded a bit. i use some UV stabilised plastic plant protectors.
it can get hot here - im just up the road from elvis and i had to shade some of the seedlings the other day because they were beginning to burn.

[Elvis3577]

Re: Growing coffee

Thanks guys !
I really appreciate this.
I got a bit excited today , because I found three of my green beans have germinated.Got some 30 seeds from a mob called all u need is seed in Vic. ( bought them through ebay btw ) gave away 6 to a friend, and after reading the successrate others had, my expections were rather low......@ the moment I feel like a 4 year old on xmas eve though ! So fingers crossed, maybe more might stick their head up...
I have to say though, that from the ones that are coming up, the bean/seed looks kinda mouldy ( greyish/green ). But hopefully that doesnt mean anything.
Now I probably have to start worrying about where to put them all, because Im afraid we dont really have that much space left..... :-/
Anyway, good luck everyone !
E.P.

[Presso]

Re: Growing coffee

Hi Elvis,
Drop postage cost of 500g to your place into the faircrack fund and Ill post you a bag of K7s from behind Byron Bay.

[Elvis3577]

Re: Growing coffee

Coffee Prince wrote : Hi Elvis,
Drop postage cost of 500g to your place into the faircrack fund and Ill post you a bag of K7s from behind Byron Bay.

Thanks CPrince !! Thats mighty nice of you !! Ive been looking to get my hands on some K7s !

In the mean time Ive brushed up on Fair crack and had a look at Bean Bag as well. But I must be having a blond day ( I wish... ) because I seem to be overlooking the donation button. And I cant find any bank / paypal details either. Not sure what Im doing wrong :-?. Sorry.
If someone wants to point me in the right direction I would appreciate that !
As soon as I find out I will donate some money !
I guess my next step is to find out on how to send you a PM ....." How hard can it be ?" the fellas @ TG would say.
Thanks again for the offer and Ill be in touch.
Ta, E.P.

[fivegallon]

Re: Growing coffee

Coffee Prince wrote : Hi Elvis,
Drop postage cost of 500g to your place into the faircrack fund and Ill post you a bag of K7s from behind Byron Bay.

Thanks CPrince !! Thats mighty nice of you !! Ive been looking to get my hands on some K7s !

In the mean time Ive brushed up on Fair crack and had a look at Bean Bag as well. But I must be having a blond day ( I wish... ) because I seem to be overlooking the donation button. And I cant find any bank / paypal details either. Not sure what Im doing wrong  :-?. Sorry.
If someone wants to point me in the right direction I would appreciate that !
As soon as I find out I will donate some money !
I guess my next step is to find out on how to send you a PM ....." How hard can it be ?" the fellas @ TG would say.
Thanks again for the offer and Ill be in touch.
Ta, E.P.

Check out "other stuff" in bean bay

[Koffee_Kosmo]

Re: Growing coffee

Coffee Prince wrote : Hi Elvis,
Drop postage cost of 500g to your place into the faircrack fund and Ill post you a bag of K7s from behind Byron Bay.

Thanks CPrince !! Thats mighty nice of you !! Ive been looking to get my hands on some K7s !

In the mean time Ive brushed up on Fair crack and had a look at Bean Bag as well. But I must be having a blond day ( I wish... ) because I seem to be overlooking the donation button. And I cant find any bank / paypal details either. Not sure what Im doing wrong  :-?. Sorry.
If someone wants to point me in the right direction I would appreciate that !
As soon as I find out I will donate some money !
I guess my next step is to find out on how to send you a PM ....." How hard can it be ?" the fellas @ TG would say.
Thanks again for the offer and Ill be in touch.
Ta, E.P.

You must be logged on
Go and click bean bay on the left
Find the heading OTHER STUFF
Scroll to the bottom and find FAIR CRACK and press to enter
You then press the arrow of the drop down selection of the dollar value that you want to donate
Press ok and proceed to pay
And thats it
A receipt will be issued as proof of purchase

KK

[Elvis3577]

Re: Growing coffee

Thanks !
I did find it( eventually ). Its the fair crack direct, where you buy items for $1.00 each.
Is it just me , or are more people finding it hard to find the first time ?
Its hidden away in the menu a bit isnt it ?
I reckon it should be blatantly easy and obvious where and how to part with your donation $$. It should have its own banner/ donation button in capital letters on the front page !!!
Anyway , just a thought...
Thanks for the pointer Kosmo !
( I used to live in Greenbank so Im feeling for you guys in Brissie !! I hope youre alright ! )

Cheers , Elvis.

P.S. CP ,the money is on its way. Hope/ guess itll be there by wednesday.

[Elvis3577]

Re: Growing coffee

its a mild coffee, pretty chocolatey and very fresh. I like it.

Hi Tony !
I was just wondering why youve got that particular chocolate taste ? Is it because of the variety you grow ? Is it the altitude again , or is it anything to do with any of the processing stages ? Could you change it , or is it something youre stuck with ?
Have other CSgrowers the same experience ?
And also, do more people find a 16% net ( gross harvest divided by six for clean green beans )result a regular / average outcome as well ?
If it was any other investment you wouldnt be too happy I guess , but this is different right !!
Just kidding, but still very curious !

E.P.

[Thundergod]

Re: Growing coffee

And also, do more people find a 16% net ( gross harvest divided by six for clean green beans )result a regular / average outcome as well ?

I get an average of between 15 to 16%.

[tonyt]

Re: Growing coffee

I was just wondering why youve got that particular chocolate taste ? Is it because of the variety you grow ? Is it the altitude again , or is it anything to do with any of the processing stages ? Could you change it , or is it something youre stuck with ?

unfortunately, when i bought the coffee seedlings 7 or 8 years ago they didnt have any details on them and i was gormless enough not to ask. so i dont know what they are.
as for altitude - where i am, there is none. kotara in newcastle is only a few metres above sea level. i suppose the latitude here makes up for altitude.
as for processing, i have taken coffee princes advice to dry the beans in their mucous, without washing/fermenting it off. that makes for an earthier, bigger body that reminds me of chocolate. but i have noticed that instead of using hot water in the plunger (i never use an espresso machine because i dont like what they do to coffee - each to his own taste!) if i soak the coffee in cold water the taste is much more astringent and thinner.
there are so many variables - i find it enough work to get a cup of coffee out of my beans without stressing too much about what it might be like if i do it some other way. thats for coffee prince and the pros to trouble themselves with.
i took some of my coffee to a beaut little coffee shop in newcastle - one penny black - to put through their espresso machine and it tasted quite different. more like espresso in fact. surprise surprise. so its probably my brewing process that is the main determinant of the taste.

[tonyt]

Re: Growing coffee

having said all that, i might ferment my beans next year just for a change.

at one stage i was convinced my mini-plantation was about to be wiped out by some unknown coffee killer, but after one tree dried up and died the others are hanging in there, including two seedlings that seem to be thriving.

[Elvis3577]

Re: Growing coffee

Its always a worry when something dies, but its good to know youve got some backup.Youll be in the same boat as me , with the seedlings that is. Its gonna be a few years....
Mine are just under two inches I guess , and the bean is drying up, and the slightest bit of green leaf is starting to appear. A bit topsyturvy if you ask me !
Thanks for the explanation on the taste btw.
A bit of a shame you dont know the variety, but either way youre right, there are a lot of variables...
Ta , Elvis.

[Elvis3577]

Re: Growing coffee

On a different note . Last night I found another thread on growing coffee ( @ home ) Nothing wrong with that of course, but would it make sense to merge if thats possible and have just one ?
Just a thought .
E.P.