The Growth Cycle of Coffee
Unlike most plants and food the production of coffee is a year long process, below is
the growth and production cycle that occurs in Central America. A similar cycle would occur in different coffee producing regions around the world.
January
Most people do not realize that coffee come from a fruit, most think it comes from a bean. In Central American the coffee harvest is from November through January. Once picked by hand, ripe red coffee cherries are carefully washed, processed and sorted for quality. Harvest season coincides with the dry season in this region.
Febuary
The coffee harvest is coming to an end now. Nearly all the fruit has been picked. Once the coffee cherries have been harvested the soils are tested to make sure they have the right acidity and nutrients for planting the new crop. This is a perfect time to fertilize the soil around the coffee plants with nitrogen and potassium because there is little rain to wash these important nutrients away. These nutrients serve to fertilize and hydrate the plants.
March
During March, coffee growers prune the trees. Pruning is very important to keep the trees in optimum production conditions. This not only helps the trees stay healthy but also is important so that people can harvest the trees on steep slopes without using a ladder. During March, organic fertilizers and compost are applied to the soils. At this time, new leaves appear on the coffee trees and the coffee cycle begins again
April
April is the last month of the dry season. This month, year-old seedlings that have grown in greenhouses are planted on the steep hillsides where they will grow for 3 years before they produce their first crop. The soils surrounding the coffee trees are fertilized helping them produce new fruit and prevent disease. Organic fertilizers provide all the key minerals required by the coffee trees.
May
The rainy season begins in May and lasts until November and sometimes early December. During May you will see coffee trees in one of the most beautiful stages – flowering, flowers appear for several days. The flowers have a sweet aroma that infuses the countryside. This scent attracts bees that collect pollen from the coffee flowers.
June
It rains almost every day in June. This is vital to the coffee plants. In June, the first coffee cherries appear. They are small and green and won’t be ready for harvesting for several more months. The soils around the plants are fortified with minerals, nutrients and organic fertilizer. It is also extremely important to control the amount of shade and humidity around the coffee trees to prevent funguses and other harmful growth around the plant.
July
July sees the rainy season continuing. This means it will rain almost every day with periods of clouds and sun in between the rain. Coffee growers apply zinc to the soil. This helps prevent the coffee cherries from dropping off the branches too soon. They also fertilize the soil with potassium and magnesium. Potassium is the key ingredient that “fills” the bean. Potassium also serves to combat bacterial attacks on the plants. Maintaining the proper levels of potassium ensures that the coffee cherries are high quality.
August
During August, coffee growers spend time fertilizing the soils on the coffee plantations where trees are lined up in rows 10-12 ft. apart. The trees must be carefully tended to prevent disease and insects from harming the plants.
September
The rainy season is in full swing. It is one of the rainiest month of the year.
October
Storms of 3 or more days can hang over the region without a little sign of the sun. They are not torrential rains but rather constant storms. The coffee fields are ready for the beginning of the harvest and only needs a somesun for the cherries to start to ripen.
November
Although it still rains a bit, warm weather starts to make its first appearances. The radiant sun and breathtaking sunsets remind us that the dry season is just around the corner. With the sun’s emergence and the absence of rain throughout most of the month, the otherwise green coffee field starts to show signs of bright red. The first ripening commences and the harvest season begins.
December
Hundreds of women and men come from all around the country to the coffee fields to pick the ripe beans. The coffee pickers’ work is rewarded when the truck arrives to pick up the “cajuela” (the volume of coffee delivered by each picker) in return for cash payment on the spot.
History of Coffee | How Coffee is Made | Where Coffee is Produced
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