Can Coffee Beans Grow in Central Florida?

Coffee beans start as fruit from a coffee tree.

Coffee is one of the world's most popular drinks and is brewed from dried and crushed beans. These beans start on large, subtropical trees that grow successfully through Florida's USDA growing zones 8 to 11 given the right conditions.

Central Florida

Central Florida features USDA growing zone 9, with winter temperatures that stay above 20 degrees Fahrenheit. This growing zone won't support a coffee tree during winter, but will nourish them in summer.

Potted Trees

Gardeners in Central Florida should pot their coffee trees and take them indoors during winter to protect them. Pots that hold 30 to 40 gallons of soil will support these trees, which stay at 4 to 6 feet in height with proper pruning.

Growing Foundation

Coffee trees require deep, quick-draining soil and do well in a mix of quick-draining potting soil and organic compost. All pots should have drainage holes to keep the trees from sitting in water at any time.

Maintenance

Gardeners in Central Florida should keep their coffee trees outdoors during the summer to take advantage of the heat, sun and humidity. Coffee trees need full sun for eight hours a day, with 2 inches of water every week. They require protection at temperatures under 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

References

• University of Florida IFAS Extension: Coffee Growing in Florida Home Landscapes

Resources

• Growit: Florida USDA Hardiness Zone Map
• Victory Seeds: Average First and Last Frost Dates for Florida