Year old Kentucky Coffee Trees don't make it through the winter. - Ask Extension
In 2019 I bought 12 Coffee trees from a nursery. They were 2 years old and in 1 gallon pots. It was early spring. The trees never leafed out. I got a...
Knowledgebase
Year old Kentucky Coffee Trees don't make it through the winter. #753161
Asked May 31, 2021, 9:57 PM EDT
In 2019 I bought 12 Coffee trees from a nursery. They were 2 years old and in 1 gallon pots. It was early spring. The trees never leafed out. I got a refund in July.
I planted four Coffee trees from seed that same year. They spouted. I put them in 1 gallon pots and put them in a sheltered spot for the winter. So far this spring, they show no signs of life.
Do these trees not handle Minnesota winters well unless they are planted in the ground?
McLeod County Minnesota
Expert Response
Most plants do not survive in containers that are left outside over a typical MN winter. The USDA zone hardiness of a plant is based on the plant in the ground. Roots of above-ground container plants can be the same temperature as
the winter air. To be safe, go two zones colder with containerized plants, use larger pots (more insulation) and provide some protection.
Thank you.
