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Who says you can't grow coffee in the UK?! (thelemmy.club)
submitted 3 months ago* by to c/gardening@lemmy.world
13 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

Look at those beautiful ripening fruit, once I've harvested them all I'll be able to make one whole espresso!

caveats apply...

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[–] 12 points 3 months ago (3 children)

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?

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  • [–] [S] 6 points 3 months ago (2 children)

    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.

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  • [–] 1 point 3 months ago (1 child)

    Roasting can be done in a pan or something like this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySBAVyQA-Ys. Mesy but does the job.

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  • [–] [S] 2 points 3 months ago

    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!

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    • [–] 10 points 3 months ago (1 child)

    Amazing ! I feel so exited for this! Make sure to keep us update!

    UK grown coffee... What a wonder!

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  • [–] [S] 3 points 3 months ago

    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.

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    • [–] 1 point 3 months ago (3 children)

    Do Avocados next.

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  • [–] [S] 1 point 3 months ago (2 children)

    I have tried germinating supermarket avacado seeds but with no luck!

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  • [–] 1 point 3 months ago* (1 child)

    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.

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  • [–] [S] 2 points 3 months ago

    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.

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    • [–] 1 point 3 months ago (2 children)

    do you have a loicense for that coffee?

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