Who says you can't grow coffee in the UK?!
Look at those beautiful ripening fruit, once I've harvested them all I'll be able to make one whole espresso!
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Look at those beautiful ripening fruit, once I've harvested them all I'll be able to make one whole espresso!
This is extremely cool and I've been interested in the doing the same for a long time.
Where did you get the seed? And are you growing under cover?
I got the plants as seedlings, sold as house plants. There were about 8 in a small mug so I grew on four. I decided to ditch two as I didn't have room for more - as they're tender (anything below 5° & they start to suffer) I have to bring them indoors over winter & they sit under my south facing bay window.
They're in my greenhouse now & I should be able to leave them outdoors from June through to October.
Being sold as novelty house plants, C. arabica I think, the flavour isn't likely to be great, not to mention that I need to figure out how to roast them!
I may try germinating some now I know they'll flower & fruit.
Roasting can be done in a pan or something like this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySBAVyQA-Ys. Mesy but does the job.
Thanks :) I looked it up as well & it should be 'easy' - you can pan-fry, oven cook or use a popcorn maker apparently! The trick is to listen for the first 'crack' for when the bean is dry and that's when you get a light roast. It should take less than 15min so I'll no doubt have to be careful not overdoing my one & only homegrown espresso of 2026!
Amazing ! I feel so exited for this! Make sure to keep us update!
UK grown coffee... What a wonder!
Will do! I didn't know if they'd flower but they did last year for the first time after about four years (grown from seedlings) & now (some of) the fruit is finally looking ripe enough to pick.
Do Avocados next.
I have tried germinating supermarket avacado seeds but with no luck!
What was your method? I have been able to get them to root with construction sand and water but I can never get my greenhouse to stay warm enough for a proper stalk to survive. Rockwool has been even worse on the temperature control front, sadly, I might eventually have to try submerging it in water temperature controlled like a fish tank.
I didn't look up a method (though I will do if I try again), the last one I tried I scored the outer layer to try and make sure water got in to trigger germination & just sat it in some water indoors. I think I've seen people poke sticks in them so it's bottom is sat in water, but I may be remembering incorrectly!
Interesting re the sand option, I could try that next. Did you heat it? I have a heat mat so could try using that. I think I'd likely keep it indoors first year, unless it looks like its doing really well.
do you have a loicense for that coffee?
Hell no, anarchic coffee growers of the UK, unite! The revolution needs powering along! ..er..I mean, that's not coffee, that's just a house plant...look I have the receipt an all...
Roight that's it, you're coming with me. You're getting the Comfy Chair!
CONFESS! CONFESS! CONFESS!