Enthusiasm for coffee in all its hip guises seems to have no bounds these days in London. They even decreed the “Flat White Economy” after one of the most popular brews. I'm not into coffee. My body doesn't handle caffeine very well: Anything after lunch and I can't sleep. But I do have my own coffee culture!
A couple of years ago, friends who had been on holiday to South America gave me some seed they picked up somewhere along the road. Didn't know or remember what it was. I planted them and now have a little coffee tree in the living room, about one and a half metres high. At the moment, it has its second ever fruit ripening:
A couple of years ago, friends who had been on holiday to South America gave me some seed they picked up somewhere along the road. Didn't know or remember what it was. I planted them and now have a little coffee tree in the living room, about one and a half metres high. At the moment, it has its second ever fruit ripening:
Coffee bean on the tree, London living room
Quite a feat, I think, as it is in a really shady corner and I have no idea which insect might have pollinated it. Or are the flowers self-fertilizing? Should check it out. This time, I must admit, I didn't even notice the rather insignificant white flower that has gone before.
The fruit has gone from green to orange, then red and will finally be a very dark red. Then it should be ripe and I can harvest it. There'll be two beans in it and if I plant them straight away, chances are my plantation will increase. Last time both seeds germinated and the seedlings are 40cm tall already.
As said, shade does not seem to be much of a problem - although a light spot is preferable. Full midday sun, however, would probably burn the leaves if plants are kept on a windowsill or otherwise close to glass. I also found it better to keep coffee plants a bit on the dry side. Not like a cactus, of course. But the surface of the soil and perhaps down to an inch can well dry out between drinks.
In one of my books, by the way, I found the interesting remark that only tip cuttings will grow into little trees: while cuttings taken from lateral shoots will root equally well, it declares, they will never develop a vertical main shoot but could be used as unusual “hanging basket plants” instead. I should try this one day, if only to verify. Don't think I can offer a cup of "single origin coffee" to visitors anytime soon, though...
The fruit has gone from green to orange, then red and will finally be a very dark red. Then it should be ripe and I can harvest it. There'll be two beans in it and if I plant them straight away, chances are my plantation will increase. Last time both seeds germinated and the seedlings are 40cm tall already.
As said, shade does not seem to be much of a problem - although a light spot is preferable. Full midday sun, however, would probably burn the leaves if plants are kept on a windowsill or otherwise close to glass. I also found it better to keep coffee plants a bit on the dry side. Not like a cactus, of course. But the surface of the soil and perhaps down to an inch can well dry out between drinks.
In one of my books, by the way, I found the interesting remark that only tip cuttings will grow into little trees: while cuttings taken from lateral shoots will root equally well, it declares, they will never develop a vertical main shoot but could be used as unusual “hanging basket plants” instead. I should try this one day, if only to verify. Don't think I can offer a cup of "single origin coffee" to visitors anytime soon, though...
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