| Soil Fertility: |
i) Apply organic manure around each coffee plant at the beginning of the rains once a year.
ii) Prepare composite in a pit 6months prior to planting or apply chemical fertilizers.
iii) Apply fertilizer within the rooting zone |
| Climate: |
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| Lad preparation: |
i) Clear the site of bushes and excess trees and stamps
ii) Carry out deep ploughing |
| Planting materials: |
Obtain seedlings from UCDA certified seedling dealers. |
| Preparation of planting materials: |
Plant seedlings with between 6-8 leaves
Provide shade for newly planted seedlings |
| Other soil treatments: |
i) Ring weed below the canopy to avoid damage to the plant before slashing or spraying
ii) Spray herbicides outside the canopy
iii) Remove weeds in gardens of young coffee of up to a year old by digging and slashing or mulching. |
| When to plant: |
Plant 2-4 weeks after onset of rains |
| Spacing: |
i) Plant Robusta coffee in lines at 10ft by 10ft
ii) Plant Arabica coffee in lines at 8ft by 8ft
iii) Dig round holes 2ft wide and 2ft deep |