Establish a coffee farm

TIPS ON ESTABLISHING A COFFEE GARDEN

There are two types of coffee – Robusta and Arabica. Robusta grows in low altitude areas and Arabica in high altitude areas. Below are tips on how to ensure you establish a coffee garden.

Spacing: The spacing between Robusta plants is 10 feet by 10 feet and between Arabica ones is 8 feet by 8 feet.
Dig right size holes – 2 feet long x 2 feet wide x 2 feet deep.
While digging holes: heap the top soil on one side and bottom soil on another side.
Add manure to the dug-out soil and return it into the holes.
Mark the center of the holes and leave them for 2 – 3 months before planting.
Obtain coffee plantlets from Certified Coffee Nurseries.
During the planting season, plant very early in the morning or late in the evening.
Remove the polythene pot cover before planting the seedling/cutting.
Provide temporary shade to the newly planted coffee plantlets and water in case of water stress. Water conservation channels/bands are important in coffee.
When the coffee plantlets have attained a height of about 11/2 foot or 6 – 9 months after planting, they should be trained (bent in an east to west direction i.e. sunrise to sunset direction) to initiate multiple branches from which the lowest and most healthy 2 are selected and maintained together with the original plantlet. This ensures higher yield and profitability per tree.
The coffee garden should always be mulched and “weed free”
Beans and bananas are good intercrops for coffee.
Continuous de-suckering of the coffee plants should be practiced in order to prevent development of a micro climate that encourages pests such as Black Coffee Twig Borer (BCTB).
At maturity, harvest only the red-ripe cherry and dry it immediately on tarpaulins, raised platforms or cemented floor to preserve its good quality.

For further guidance, please contact:

Your nearest Extension Worker
Uganda Coffee Farmers Regulation Board’s Regional Office

Shade Trees in Coffee Importance

During this era of climatic change, shade trees are without a doubt very important in coffee farming. Their umbrella shaped canopies provide shade thus mitigating against excessive temperatures and heat stress that are responsible for flower and fruit abortion. Shade trees also provide numerous other benefits.

Benefits

Deep rooted shade trees recover soil nutrients from deeper soil horizons and transport them to their leaves. When the leaves fall and rot, they provide organic matter or manure which is released to the coffee plantation. This organic matter improves the soil texture and water retention thus availing the much needed water to the coffee. Besides, deep rooted trees don’t compete with the coffee for water and other nutrients. In addition, shade trees of the leguminous species capture much needed Nitrogen from the atmosphere and convert it into nitrates which are used by the coffee for numerous purposes.

Shade trees act as windbreakers to protect the coffee trees from excessive and destructive winds and some even repel dangerous pests found in the environment.

Some shade trees are a source of foliage for domestic animals and at the same time an important source of firewood in rural households when they are pruned to regulate shade. This process is called pollarding.

Trees to avoid

However, the tree species with the following traits need to be avoided:

Trees that are alternate hosts to the Black Coffee Twig Borer e.g. Avocado and Albizia chinensis.
Hardwood trees that attract pit sawyers e.g. Grevillea robusta and Maesopsis emimii or Musizi in Luganda.
Trees that take very long to grow e.g. Milicia excelsa or Muvule in Luganda
Trees that can only provide conical shaped shade e.g. eucalyptus and jack fruit trees.
Trees that have leaves that take very long to decompose.
·Trees that produce thorns as these are very difficult to tame e.g. Erythrina abyssinica.
Poisonous trees,

Coffee Nursery Bed Guidelines

Here are key points to note when planting a coffee nursery bed in Uganda (especially for Robusta and Arabica farmers):

1. Site Selection

Choose a flat or gently sloping site with good drainage.
Avoid waterlogged or rocky soils.
Select an area close to a reliable water source for easy irrigation.
Ensure accessibility for transporting materials and seedlings.

2. Soil Preparation

Use loamy soils rich in organic matter.
Collect topsoil (dark and fertile) from forest edges or banana plantations.
Mix soil with well-decomposed manure (in a 3:1 ratio).
Avoid clay-heavy or sandy soils that restrict root growth.

3. Seed Selection & Germination

Use certified seeds from Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) or trusted suppliers.
Pre-test seeds by soaking them in water — good seeds sink, bad ones float.
Germinate seeds in a raised seedbed with fine soil and mulch until they sprout.

4. Polybags Preparation

Fill black polybags (6x9 inches or larger) with the soil-manure mixture.
Ensure bags have holes at the bottom for drainage.
Arrange bags in rows with pathways for easy management.

5. Transplanting Seedlings

Transplant seedlings when they have 2–4 pairs of true leaves (usually 6–8 weeks old).
Plant one seedling per polybag at the center and water immediately.

6. Watering & Mulching

Water regularly (daily in dry periods) but avoid overwatering.
Mulch the nursery with grass to conserve moisture and prevent erosion.

7. Shade Management

Provide temporary shade using grass, papyrus mats, or banana leaves.
Gradually reduce shade as seedlings harden to adapt them to sunlight.

8. Weeding & Pest Control

Weed nursery beds regularly to avoid competition for nutrients.
Monitor for pests like white ants, aphids, and leaf miners.
Use organic pesticides (neem extracts, ash, or soap solutions) or UCDA-recommended chemicals.

9. Hardening Off

Before field planting, reduce watering and shade for 2–3 weeks.
This strengthens seedlings to withstand field conditions.

10. Record Keeping

Keep records of seed source, planting date, inputs used, and number of seedlings raised.
Helps in tracking performance and meeting UCDA certification requirements.

In summary: Choose the right site, prepare fertile soil, use certified seeds, care for seedlings with proper watering, shading, and pest control, and harden them before transplanting.

Would you like me to also create a step-by-step illustrated guide (with diagrams) that farmers in Uganda can easily follow?