Time goes on

I now have 52 seedlings that are mostly doing well. There are a couple of runts that were slow to take off. In addition to this I took 6 plants to work to brighten up the desks. These are doing better than the seeds from home and have got their pointy leaves sprouting already. It makes me think that being under artificial lights for 16 hours a day is a good thing. 

One of my runts has only just broken out of its seed. I was amazed when it sprouted from the soil but it is under developed and needed a hand to break out.

My 4 seedlings are doing great. They have really taken off. 2 are growing faster and have been looked after in much the same way. 

While I wait patiently for the plants to grow I have been looking at what I can use the coffee fruit for. I had the beans worked out from day one and I was hoping the flesh would be useful as well. After a bit of research I found you can make wine, tea, cider and jam out of it. There is also a drink from Yemen made from the dried fruit mixed with ginger.  All this information is not helping with my patience. 

Lots to look forward to. 

Too many

Well, I originally planned to grow 8 trees. I was going to build a greenhouse for them. 

When I started to plan the size of the hot house I worked out 8 was too many.

I am thinking about keeping 6 now. This will leave me with over 40 plants. 

I am thinking of taking them to the local market and selling some off. 

If I can get $15 to $20 each, I can cover my initial costs and help to fund my greenhouse. 

I am even considering keeping a couple of extras and keeping them as indoor plants. Have to see what the wife thinks of that. 

Just I case I didn't mention it earlier, I am in southern Melbourne, in Pakenham which is why they need to be kept indoors. 

Apparently the frost will kill them off quickly and direct sunlit is not good for them either.

Four Months

Four months on and they are doing great. A few seeds have lost their shells and the seedlings are thriving.

I know have around 46 sprouts from the seeds. I think I planted between 50 and 60. 

I have just repotted two of the original seedlings into a bigger pot and 4 of the seeds have been transplanted from my tray into smaller pots. 

They are Alive!

Two months have past and my seedlings are doing great.

I nearly gave up on the seeds thou. 

Finally the first one has sprouted.

In the begining

I have decided that I wanted to grow my own coffee at home. I did a bit of research and found that coffee can indeed be grown in Melbourne but required either a green house or to be grown inside.

I decided I wanted 8 plants so I hit eBay and started looking. I found one nursery in QLD that sold young saplings and I found another that sold seeds. 

I purchased 3 saplings and 2 bags of seeds(10) as I had read that germination rates could be as low as 10%. 

One week later and I received everything in the mail. 

Instead of 3 saplings I received four. I received more seeds as well. There were over 20 per bag. 

I decided to plant them all. 

Here. Are the seedlings as of the end of September 2013.