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Coffee plants like well drained soil and a fairly neutral PH balance. They like feeding and compost helps here but youll need to watch that the compost doesnt make the soil too acidic - apply lime to balance the PH.
We have fairly alkaline soils in our part of WA so I can use compost without the need to add lime.
Coffee grows best out of the wind - so somewhere sheltered - even under the canopies of other trees is good.
Ive had a few trees for a about a year and a half now, theyre fruiting at the moment, not ripe yet though.. Unfortunately, mealy bugs have totally infested half the branches (i tried a few things but nothing really worked 100%).. so when they do crop youll have to think about pest control.
The current crop is small - theyre in a half shade half sun position, minimal wind.. for you being down south, youll really have to keep them away from frosts if possible - thatll be a ruiner. Ive read different things about caring for the trees - living in the tropics make it easier though because if you want you can leave it to the natural rain and weather cycles (i fertalise all my fruit trees once a year too though!).. mulch is always good of course too, not sure if you can get cane mulch down there but that stuff is awsome ; )
Rolley
thats good to hear!
dont just put the lime on, make sure you test the PH if youre going to do that.. you can buy little cheap ph soil testing kits from nurseries and stuff.
Oh, you might wana suss out my old post for interest..
Ill post again in this thread http://coffeesnobs.com.au/YaBB.pl?num=1171156527 when my beans ripen up and i try to process some.
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