Growing Coffee

COFFEE

Thereare more than 40 species of coffee, but only four of theseare commercially cultivated in coffee producing countries.These are:

1.Arabica -considered the best quality coffee because of itsexcellent flavor and aroma.

• This grows in cool places with an elevation of 1,200 - 1,800 above sea level

•  The shrub is rounded and smaller than Robusta Liberica and Execelsa trees. The lateral branches are opposite in arrangement, horizontal and in pairs. The leaves are dark glossy green on the upper surface and light green underneath, about 1 - 14 cm long and about 56 cm wide, oval or elliptical, short at the base and somewhat undulating.

•  Flowers are fragrant, white or creamy with short red peduncles.

•  Berries are oblong ellipsoid, about 1.5 cm long green when immature and turning red or yellow depending on maturity.

•  This variety bears fruit within 2-3 years from planting. However, its weakness is its susceptibility to coffee rust and its exacting in soil and climatic requirements.

•  A well managed farm with full grown trees can yield about a metric ton of dried beans per hectare.

2.Robusta - is high yielding and more resistant to pet and diseases.When grown in areas with an elevation of from 600-1,200 metersabove sea level, maximum production can be attained.

• The plant is umbrella-shaped (with semi-round canopy). The leaves are thinner than those of Excelsa, and may vary in shape- oval with obtuse base, apex with a culminate tip, and the margin is wavy with prominent venation.

•  The flowers are white with 4-6 petals.

•  The berries are smaller than those of Arabica and closely clustered, blood red when ripe, some solid red and others with stripes of dark or light red.

•  The pulp and parchment are thin. Bearing starts on its third year from transplanting.

•  One hectare could yield more than a metric ton green beans on the seventh (7th) year after transplanting.

3.Liberica - is locally known as "Kapeng Brako"

• The tree is upright with straight trunk, weedy and grows as high as 9 meters. The leaves are thicker than those of Excelsa, twice as long as those of Arabica and leathery in texture, about 20 cm long and 10 cm broad with a narrower base.

•  The berries are largest among the four varieties round or oval, borne singly or small in cluster and with thick and firm pulp. They are dark red when ripe.

•  This specie is tolerant to drought and can grow in a wider type of soil.

•  It begins bearing fruits 4-5 years after transplanting.

4.Excelsa- trees are similar to that of Liberica except thatthe internodes are shorter. Older leaves are smoother, thinnerand more round with smooth edges, while the young leaves areusually bigger than those of Arabica, but smaller than Liberica's.

• Berries are ovoid, little bit compressed with a flat form and borne in heavy cluster. This variety could be grown on sea level to 600 meters above sea level.

•  Bearing fruits starts 4-5 years after transplanting.

SOIL& CLIMATE REQUIREMENTS

    Coffee is hardly plant and can grow anywhere in the Philippines,but best at elevation of 60 -1000 meters above sea level.

    Land should be flat and gently sloping for good drainage.For sloping land: gradient must be 10-15% for short slopes;35 gradient for long slopes.

    Coffee likes loamy, rich soil, rich in potash, calcium andmagnesium and plenty of humus. A pH of 4.5 -5.6 is favorable.About 1 1/2 meters deep surface soil with good water holdingcapability is good; it prefers volcanic origin and virginforests. Heavy clay soils should be avoided for coffee.

   It needs air movement of light breeze and a good distributionof rainfall.

   Coffee wants 13 hours daylight length. Beyond this, it willnot flower.