How to Grow a Kentucky Coffee Tree From Seed
A tree native to the United States west of the Allegheny mountains, the Kentucky coffee tree is not actually a coffee bean-bearing tree. According to a University of Kentucky historical study, the tree's name came about because Native Americans and early settlers in Kentucky brewed a hot beverage from the tree's roasted seeds. Kentucky coffee trees can reach 100 feet tall when planted in deep, moist soil. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Collect the fruit seed pods, or nuts, when they drop to the ground in autumn. Gather enough seed pods to germinate so that if one seed does not germinate, others might.
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Remove the seed by hand. Shell away the thick, hard seed coating with a hand file or by rubbing the seed shell with rough sandpaper. File the seed coat down hard until you almost reach the seed in the center. Then file or rub carefully to avoid damaging the seed inside.
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Select a planting location with humus-rich, moist soil that receives full or nearly full sun. Because the Kentucky coffee tree is hardy, it can thrive in U.S. Department of Agriculture Plant Hardiness Zones 3 to 8, or from 15 to -40 degrees Fahrenheit. Although the tree can withstand adverse conditions, select a spot that is not susceptible to tough flooding or drought.
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Plant the seeds in spring. Place the seed 1 inch deep in the soil, then cover with soil.
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Fertilize the coffee tree every few months. Choose fertilizers with formulations that promote woody growth rather than foliage growth. In early winter or spring, prune the tree's longer, weaker branches; pruning promotes a stronger structure for the tree.
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Tips & Warnings
If you want to gather seeds but do not yet have the time or space to plant the tree, save the seeds. After drying in the sun, you can store them indefinitely for later use.
You also can opt to grow the tree in a 1-gallon nursery container and keep it inside if it you want to start the tree in a colder season.
Do not eat seeds or seed pods, as they are poisonous.
