Red Canary Dates???

[kristof p]

Hello everyone,

no idea how much cold and wet the var. prophyrocarpa can take but my porphyrocarpa seedling survived last winter undamaged while 3 much taller canarensies palms had serieus bud rot. a 3.5m tall B. capitata gives the prophyrocarpa seedling some shelter but it was heavily frosted for a few times during last winter(which had a few drops between -5°C and -6°C). one canarensies also survived without damage but this one was protected with some fleece when freezing temperatures occured together with heavy mist and very low daytime temperatures. the canarensies had no problem onprotected with -5.9°C in dry weather conditions and daytime temperatures above 10°C. maybe the porphyrocarpa is more resistant to high humidity and cold wet soils than a canarensies and is therefore just a bit stronger than canarensies?

i hope that the prophyrocarpa proves to be a reliable Phoenix for my climate. most freezes are between -0°C and -3°C with a few drops to -5°/-6° which i guess is just the limit for normal canarenies? i think in this case 1 or 2 degrees makes the diferance between life or death...

P. porphyrocarpa seedling, 3y old

[Vic]

Kristof, are you planning on providing any protection for your red date this winter? Mine is also about 3 years but slightly smaller than yours, i may plant it out next year..... after i see how yours does

[HKO2008]

Vic, Kristof,

thanks for your informations.

It seems that it is a cross between Phoenix Canariensis and Dactylifera. I believe that the hybrid vigour gives this hybrid more cold hardiness. Also, Canariensis is more resistant to moist and wet conditions. Dactylifera is not, but can sustain more frost. The combination, together with hybrid vigour, is a hybrid with more cold hardiness than Canariensis and more moist and wet resistant than Dactylifera.

I will have to try that hybrid myself!

Henri

[kristof p]

Kristof, are you planning on providing any protection for your red date this winter? Mine is also about 3 years but slightly smaller than yours, i may plant it out next year..... after i see how yours does

Vic,

it wil have the same protection just as last winter. i stil provide the butia with a roof to keep it dry but that roof is now 4m high . the porphyrocarpa is on the edge of that roof so the roof give it not much protection. when it rains it just rains sideways on the porphyrocarpa but i guess the roof and the Butia protect it a little bit against radiation frost.

[Palms90210]

Carlo has given the correct answer. For the benefit of those of you who have nothing to do, I'm posting this bit about dactyliferas I wrote up a decade or so ago (insert legal disclaimer here), use at your own risk. It has some info that might prove useful to those who like to care for/move Phoenix palms. Questions? Palmdr@sbcglobal.net.

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Phoenix dactylifera-General information

The Phoenix genus is reported to include seventeen (17) species, of which dactylifera is one (1). Phoenix species palms are commonly referred to as date palms. The date palm is dioecious (male/female trees).

Phoenix dactylifera, The Edible Date Palm, is erect, growing to a height in excess of one hundred (100) feet. Phoenix dactylifera is an agriculturally important palm. The single trunk is covered from the ground up with vertical, overlapping, persistent, woody leaf bases. After the first eight (8) to fourteen (14) years, numerous suckers (offshoots) will develop at the base of, or along the parent stem. The growing point (meristematic region) of Phoenix dactylifera is near the top of the stem. Radial development of the stem vasculature in young plants is necessary before notable gains in stem height occur. Addition of stem occurs as old fronds are replaced by new. Loss of the growing point near the stem apex results in loss of the stem.

The feather-like (pinnate) fronds, up to twenty (20) feet long, are composed of a spiny petiole, a stout midrib, and slender, gray-green to bluish-green leaflets (pinnae) eight (8) to sixteen (16) inches long, folded in half lengthwise (induplicate). Each frond emerges from the apex of the stem to take its place in a strict spiral arrangement. Annual frond production ranges from nine (9) to twenty-one (21).

The flowers of the female palm are individually minute, round, fragrant, and whitish in color. They are borne on a branched, pendulous, stalk (inflorescence). The female inflorescence is divided into twenty-five (25) to one hundred fifty (150) strands, each twelve (12) to thirty (30) inches long. The flowers of the male palm are individually minute, with three (3) to four (4) distinct lobes, fragrant of musk, waxy, and cream colored. The male inflorescence is divided into strands six (6) to nine (9) inches long. Both male and female palms are pleonanthic (flowering repetitively) and flower intrafoliarly (flowers occurring amongst the fronds). Annual inflorescence production may exceed eight (8), with each inflorescence bearing up to ten thousand (10,000) individual flowers. Pollination of the female flower by male pollen is necessary for the development of edible fruit, which occurs on the female tree only. As the fruits develop, the stalk holding the cluster (infructescence) becomes pendulous with the weight of the fruit, growing to a length of up to six (6) feet. The fruit (date) is oblong, one (1) to three (3) inches long, dark brown, reddish, or yellowish brown when ripe. The hard stoned is grooved on one side and is covered by a sweet, edible flesh.

The root system is comprised of four (4) branch orders (R1-R4). The first order (R1) is the largest, with its' main functions being anchorage and to supply a framework for the remaining three (3) orders to branch from. The first (R1) and second (R2) orders are aerenchymous (containing air channels). Second order (R2) roots which rise vertically (negatively geotropic) to the surface of the soil are known as pneumatodes. Their function is to aerate the root zone in the event it is flooded. Pneumatode roots often cover the lower portion of the stem on taller specimens, their development commencing as the palm ceases to develop offshoots at/near the stem base. These roots are commonly referred to as "air roots" by the trade. The third (R3) and fourth (R4) order roots are the smallest respectively, and are responsible for water and mineral nutrient uptake.

Phoenix palms cross hybridize freely. Due to a high degree of genetic variance within the species, seedlings of Phoenix dactylifera often vary greatly from the mother palm that bore their seed. In light of this potential for variance, farmers of Phoenix dactylifera propagate their groves by cutting offshoots from mature palms. This method of clonal propagation ensures the genetic stability of their crop. More than fifteen hundred (1,500) varieties (cultivars) of the agriculturally important Phoenix dactylifera have been described.

Mature specimens of Phoenix dactylifera palms are procured for ornamental landscape sites from commercial date groves, with the Coachella Valley of Southern California being the dominant source. The supply of male palms is generally very limited, due to the ratio at which growers propagated male palms in comparison to female palms (one (1) male to fifty (50) females). Only three (3) varieties of female Phoenix dactylifera are available in quantity. They are:

'Deglet Noor'-introduced into the Coachella Valley commercial date groves in 1900 by offshoots imported from Algeria and Tunisia, where it is the main export variety. The 'Deglet Noor' variety continues to dominate the commercial date groves of the Coachella Valley. The fronds have a pendulous habit and are olive green in color. The crown has an open, airy appearance. 'Deglet Noor' generally speaking, has the largest stem diameter of the three (3) most commonly available female varieties. The production of offshoots by 'Deglet Noor' is limited to the area near the stem base. The petiole bases from expired fronds are generally shed from 'Deglet Noor'. The rooting habit of 'Deglet Noor' may be considered shallow in comparison to other varieties, with numerous air roots developing near the stem base, especially at uncultivated sites. The long-term performance of 'Deglet Noor' in median strips or cramped sites tends to be poor; especially if palms were procured from a flood-irrigated grove in comparison to a drip irrigated grove. 'Deglet Noor' transplanted into a cramped site tends to develop a dense air root mat. This condition ultimately affects water and nutrient delivery, lending to an overall poor palm condition. The ornamental use of 'Deglet Noor' is best suited to an open situation in a climate of low rainfall and low humidity. A generic request for Phoenix dactylifera from a palm supplier is most likely to result in the delivery of the 'Deglet Noor' variety.

'Medjhool'-eleven (11) offshoots of this variety were imported into the United States from Morocco in 1927. After surviving a successful quarantine period in Searchlight Nevada, these offshoots were used to propagate this variety in the commercial date groves of the Coachella Valley. 'Medjhool' is highly valued due to the large, sweet fruit it produces. The distinctly bluish green fronds are held erect; giving the crown a dense appearance when compared to 'Deglet Noor'. 'Medjhool', generally speaking, has the median stem diameter of the three (3) most commonly available female varieties. The production of offshoots by 'Medjhool' occurs both near the stem base and along the first six (6) feet of the main stem. The petiole bases from expired fronds are persistent if undisturbed. The rooting habit of 'Medjhool' is less shallow than that of 'Deglet Noor', especially in palms procured from a flood irrigated grove. Of the three (3) most commonly available female varieties, 'Medjhool' palms procured from a drip irrigated grove are most likely to perform well in a cramped ornamental site. High humidity levels affect the development of new fronds in 'Medjhool', delaying their elongation, especially if the site is poorly drained. When requesting the variety 'Medjhool' for an ornamental landscape site, one can expect to receive high quality palms, at a premium price. This is due to the high market price for the superb fruit cropped from 'Medjhool'.

'Zahidi'-the oldest described variety, the dates from 'Zahidi' are produced in great quantities in the Middle East. Introduced into the date groves of the Coachella Valley around 1900, 'Zahidi' has enjoyed limited success due to the demand for its fruit in comparison to 'Medjhool'. The fronds of 'Zahidi' are held stoutly and are the greenest of the three (3) most commonly available female varieties. The dense, green crown reminds one of Phoenix canariensis (The Canary Island Date Palm), making 'Zahidi' a popular choice of landscape architects. The trunk, however, lacks the stout appearance of the Canary Island Date Palm and tends to have the smallest diameter of the three (3) most commonly available female varieties. The production of offshoots by 'Zahidi' occurs both near the stem base and along the entire length of the main stem. It is not uncommon to see large 'Zahidi' palms producing crown offshoots. Unattended crown offshoots may develop into a hazard at an ornamental site if they are allowed to develop. As they increase in size, the likelihood that they will break away from the parent stem increases. The petiole bases from expired fronds are generally shed from 'Zahidi'. The rooting habit of 'Zahidi' is similar to that of 'Medjhool", with palms procured from a drip grove performing better than 'Deglet Noor' in cramped ornamental sites. While touted as drought tolerant, high humidity lessens the strong appearance of a 'Zahidi' crown. The intermittent demand/pricing for the fruit of 'Zahidi' may affect the quality of specimens available to the ornamental landscape markets. When choosing 'Zahidi', one should be certain that palms are procured from a grove that has been under constant agricultural production.

Phoenix dactylifera-Agricultural production

While the origin of Phoenix dactylifera is unknown, history knows the palm as being agriculturally cultivated for at least five thousand (5000) years. The date continues to be a staple food from North Africa to the Persian Gulf. The cropping of dates is a requires skill and intensive manual labor. Production of a crop of dates necessitates eight (8) to ten (10) trips to the crown to perform tasks ranging from fertilizing the female flowers with male pollen by hand to wrapping developing date bunches in paper or cloth to protect them from insects as they ripen. Thorns are removed from the fronds below the inflorescence to prevent injury to workers working the crowns.

Due to the unpredictable genetic variance that occurs in palms grown from seeds, propagation of date groves is done by removing offshoots from mature palms. Some fifteen hundred (1,500) cultivars of Phoenix dactylifera were described in the work of Popenoe (1973), each with differing physical and fruiting characteristics. Since the pollen from one (1) male is sufficient to fertilize the inflorescence of fifty (50) females, the ratio of females to males in a commercial date grove is generally fifty (50) to one (1).

With the completion of a feasibility study on the commercial production of dates in the United States by the Department of Agriculture (Swingle.1904), mass importation of offshoots commenced in earnest after 1904. While offshoots were imported to Texas, Arizona, and Nevada, those planted in the Coachella Valley of Southern California enjoyed the greatest success. To this day, the Coachella Valley is, by far, the dominant date production region in the United States. An inventory of cultivars known to be growing in the United States in 1924 (Popenoe.1973) named one hundred thirty (130). Today, three (3) cultivars dominate the date groves of the Coachella Valley; 'Deglet Noor', 'Medjhool', and 'Zahidi'.

The climatic and cultural requirements for the successful production of dates are stringent. Phoenix dactylifera requires full sun. Specimens are set twenty seven (27) to thirty (30) feet apart in commercial date groves to avoid shading. The palm is intolerant of humidity, especially during flowering and ripening of the dates. Rain during the ripening period will destroy the crop. While Phoenix dactylifera survives seventeen (17) degrees F with little effect, it becomes basically dormant from an agricultural standpoint when ambient temperatures fall below fifty (50) degrees Fahrenheit (Mason.1925). For production of dates, a long growing season with temperatures in excess of ninety (90) degrees is necessary.

While palms under agricultural production will use copious amounts of water, they are intolerant of poorly drained soils. Soils with an infiltration rate of less than one (1) inch per hour should be avoided. Able to thrive in soils with high pH and salinity levels, they perform poorly when the ground around them is not cultivated on a regular basis. Fertilization of agriculturally cropped Phoenix dactylifera is usually via application of manure and tilling of spent fronds. The mechanical structure of the date palm is such that high winds have little effect on it (Pfalzgraf.2000). In summary, Phoenix dactylifera produces the best dates in the harshest arid climates, with its only requirements being a water source other than rain, a free draining soil, cultivation, and a knowledge of its husbandry.

The climactic and cultural demands Phoenix dactylifera are far less stringent when it is used in an ornamental setting, where the production of fruit is not an issue. While it will tolerate rain, humidity, and some level of drought when the production of dates is not important, it will not tolerate poorly drained soils.

Market influence on quality/price of Phoenix dactylifera specimens

When selecting Phoenix dactylifera as a tree for an ornamental landscape site, remember that the quality of the specimens available will be influenced by the economic factors that influence the commercial date industry. Low demand, coupled with low fruit prices, makes it difficult for a date grower to supply the optimum care for their palms. For example, if the production costs exceed the monetary return on the fruit, a grower may not be able to crop a grove until market prices recover. Palms salvaged from a grove with a history of abandonment are more likely to experience problems when transplanted compared to those with a history of constant production. When requesting a constant production history, one can expect to pay a premium price.

The demand for Phoenix dactylifera as an ornamental landscape tree in temperate landscapes across the United States may be exceeding level of its production as an agricultural commodity in the commercial groves of the Coachella Valley. This trend will only continue to escalate the prices one can expect to pay for palms.

Transplanting Phoenix dactylifera palms

The ability of palms to store large amounts of water and starch in their stems make them ideal candidates for transplanting. With a great deal of the root system cut off when the palm is pulled out of the ground, its ability to absorb water and mineral nutrients is greatly reduced. Water stored in the stem is mobilized to supply fronds (leaves) the water they need until the root system re-develops. Starch stored in the stem is mobilized to meet the demands of the re-developing root system. Some nutrients are moved from older fronds to newer fronds (translocation) until the root system re-establishes itself to resume its ability to take up nutrients. In summary, the ability of the palm to store water and starch, and to move some nutrients, are the mechanism by which transplanted palms stay alive until their root system re-establishes itself.

The research (Mason.1925) tells us that Phoenix dactylifera becomes basically dormant when ambient temperatures fall below fifty (50) degrees Fahrenheit. Root re-establishment occurs best in Phoenix dactylifera when soil temperatures are above seventy (70) degrees Fahrenheit (Pfalzgraf.1999). Installing Phoenix dactylifera when temperatures are below this threshold results in delays in root re-establishment and increased use of storage reserves. With increased expenditure of storage reserves comes an increased chance that the palm will not survive the transplant or that it will have problems in re-establishment. When you install palms during the period from late fall to early spring, be aware that you can expect higher failure potentials and/or problems in re-establishment. Schedule your project accordingly.

The importance of the quality of the palms, and the factors that affect this quality have been discussed in a previous section.

The salvage contractor cuts the roots of the palm, generally using a trencher. After cutting the roots, the palm is removed using a front end loader that has been affixed with a cable supported, stiff arm boom. The sides and bottom of the rootball should be shaved with a sharpened shovel. This removes the ends of damaged roots and provides a flat surface that is easier to transport and plant. The subterranean portion of the stem is called the caudex. All new roots develop from the caudex. The caudex is a main intake into the stem and crown. Cutting a shallow rootball may result in damage to the caudex. Palms with a damaged caudex may experience an increased susceptibility to pathogens. If one can see a roughly circular band of tissue at the bottom of a salvaged rootball, it is a sign that the caudex has been damaged.

The old leaf bases are often removed to make the appearance of the trunk more attractive. It is felt by some that the use of a chainsaw in ornamental trunk preparation favors the spread of pathogens (in that chainsaws cannot be sterilized) and that the exterior portion of the vascular system of the stem could be damaged if the saw operator cuts too deeply. The terms shovel cut, classic cut and step cut are often used to describe ornamental trunk preparation. Be aware that the ornamental preparation of the trunks of Phoenix dactylifera palms has been patented (United States Patent and Trademark Office nos. 5184656, 5029380). Be certain that your supplier is not in violation of patent laws in delivering Phoenix dactylifera palms with an ornamental trunk preparation. A portion of the petiole bases are left intact at the upper portion of the stem, below the crown, and is referred to as a "nut". While this treatment is usually done in the interests of aesthetics, the nut is important in the manner it mechanically supports the lower crown.

Inflorescence (fruit/flowers) should be removed from the crown. Removal of an excessive portion of the crown (fronds) should be avoided; at least two (2) rows of fronds below the current season's inflorescence should remain. The ends of the fronds should not be cut off (bobbed). The crown should be tied up and secured in at least two (2) locations with a bio-degradable twine.

The utmost caution must be used when salvaging, handling, and loading the palm(s). The new fronds and the apex of the stem are quite delicate and can be damaged by rough handling (shock loading). Damage to the stem apex may not become apparent until after the crown is opened at the site to which it was relocated. All rigging should be of a nylon sling configuration with proper load ratings. Chains or steel cables should never be used.

The palm(s) should be loaded onto a flat bed trailer for transport to the installation site in a manner that avoids load isolation along any portion of the stem. The crown(s) of the palm(s) should not be unsupported, crushed, or left to flop about off the end of the trailer. The entire load should be covered. The rootball(s) should be never be allowed to dry out, replenishing their moisture level may be necessary if the palms are transported an extended distance.

Some states require a certificate of quarantine compliance to accompany any Phoenix dactylifera palms that will be transported across their state's border. The department of agriculture representing the state in which the palms were grown issues this certificate. You should request this certificate to accompany any delivery of palms you accept.

The installation site should be prepared prior to the delivery on the palm(s) to avoid unnecessary crane costs. The planting pit should be excavated so as to allow clearance of no less than two (2) feet on any side of the rootball. The planting pit should not be any deeper than the depth of the rootball, crown burying palms promotes delay in their re-establishment (Pfalzgraf.1999) and makes them susceptible to pathogens and nutrient deficiencies (Chase and Broschat.1991). The sides of the planting pit should be roughened, as smooth or glazed sides may result in an interface, a zone that roots cannot penetrate.

Phoenix dactylifera palms must have positive drainage. A review of the engineering work concerning the soils at your planting site is recommended before deciding upon Phoenix dactylifera as part of your plant palette. The percolation rate at the bottom of the planting pit should be at least one (1) inch per hour. Lacking positive drainage, it may be necessary to drill a drainage chimney at the bottom of the planting pit to reach soils below that have the desired percolation rate. Such chimneys are often twelve (12) inches wide, filled with fine gravel, and covered with a landscape fabric at their interface with the bottom of the planting pit. It is always the best to install palms into soils with positive drainage. A drainage manifold should be placed into the planting pit. The manifold is constructed of four (4) inch drain pipe. A section of perforated pipe is wrapped in drain pipe socking and installed at the bottom of the planting pit. Four (4) inch elbows are glued onto the ends of the perforated pipe section. Non-perforated sections are glued into the open ends of the elbows and are continued up the sides of the planting pit to the surface. The manifold allows one to check for/drain excess water during the re-establishment of the palm(s). Installing aeration tubes (straight sections of pipe which dead end into the bottom of the planting pit) serve no purpose in that they do not allow one to drain excess water from the bottom of the rootball, should it become necessary. Never water down a drainage manifold. The top pipes of the drainage manifold should be cut to grade and finished with a four (4) inch cap that protects it from pollution.

The crane used to set the palm(s) should be of a sufficient rating so as not to have difficulty in handling trees with a per trunk foot weight of five hundred (500) pounds or more. All rigging should be of a nylon sling configuration with proper load ratings. Chains or steel cables should never be used. Use the utmost care in handling the palm(s), remembering that the stem apex is easily damaged. All personnel in the vicinity of cranes should be equipped with proper safety apparel. The area in which the crane is operating, especially its swing area, should be cordoned off to protect the safety of passersby. Conform to regulations concerning lane closures should it be necessary to position the crane on vehicular thoroughfares when setting the palm(s).

Again, do not place the rootball or any portion of the trunk sub-grade (crown burial). It is better to have some variance in height between palms than to bury some of them too deep in order to match their heights. Palms that are crown buried are more likely to have a difficult re-establishment than those that are installed with the top of the rootball at grade.

The rootball should be wet before the palm is planted. The backfill material should be a coarse sand. This material offers positive drainage and good aeration characteristics. The terms 'washed mortar sand' and 'plaster sand' are commonly used by suppliers of these materials. Obtain an agricultural laboratory report on the backfill material from your supplier. Avoid using materials that have been identified by the laboratory report as having excessive sodium or calcium levels. Do not add organic matter at the time of installation. Construct an irrigation basin around the palm, water thoroughly. Be certain the palm is stable before releasing the crane.

It is advisable to stake the palm(s) until re-establish of the root system is well underway. Never nail into the trunk, palms cannot repair wounds. One method of staking involves banding sections of wood to the trunk using a steel banding material. Braces are then nailed to the banded wood, with the ground end secured to stakes with a length of at least forty eight (48) inches driven into undisturbed site soil. Staking palms protects developing roots from being torn should wind be an issue at the site.

An automatic irrigation system should be installed at the time of installation of the palm(s). Since palms have water requirements that may vary dramatically from other plant types both seasonally and in quantity, palms should be valved separately. The configuration should allow the root zone of the palm to be irrigated uniformly, especially at the interface of the rootball and the backfill material. Overhead spray configurations should be avoided as they promote erosion of stem tissue that cannot be repaired. While flood bubblers are commonly used, their output may exceed the soil percolation rate, making multiple cycles necessary during the warmer months of the year. If flood bubblers are your choice, chose a product with a pre-set output. Adjustable type bubblers make the maintenance of irrigation uniformity across the population an ongoing task. A drip type configuration may be the best choice. When laying out the irrigation system at your palm(s), keep uniformity in mind at all times. Maintain uniformity in quantity of product, its output, and its placement.

When palms are transplanted, their limited root system makes their ability to absorb water limited as well. As their root system re-establishes, the uptake capacity of the palm increases. It is difficult, if not impossible to guess how much water the palm requires at any given time. Irrigation schedules should be based on tensiometer readings. Installation of a twelve (12) inch and a thirty six (36) inch instrument into the root zone of a palm considered representative of site conditions is suggested. It may be necessary to install more than one (1) set of instruments if conditions vary at palms across the population. The instruments should be prepared as per manufacturer's recommendations and installed just to the outside of the interface of the rootball and backfill material.

Schedule irrigations so as to maintain field capacity for a coarse sand (assuming coarse sand is the backfill material) at the twelve (12) inch instrument, monitoring the thirty six (36) inch instrument to identify excess moisture accumulating in the lower root zone. Any excess water will collected in the drainage manifold. If this condition if found, pump the excess from the manifold, measure the amount of excess, compare it to the output of your irrigation system at the palm affected, and adjust your irrigation timing to eliminate the excess amount. It may be necessary to install an inline valve into the configuration at individual palms if their performance varies widely from others on the zone.

Your local irrigation materials distributor should be able to supply you with soil tensiometers, technical advice on their use, and any tools necessary in their maintenance and service. Remember, as your palm(s) re-establishes its root system, its ability to take up water will increase. These increases will be reflected by the tensiometer readings and it will be necessary to adjust your irrigation scheduling accordingly. Long after the palms have re-established, you will find the tensiometers useful in making irrigation scheduling adjustments as the seasonal water requirements of the palms change.

Do not allow pollution of the sand backfill at your palm(s). This commonly occurs as secondary plants are installed in the vicinity of newly installed palms. Even a thin layer of a heavier soil type over the sand backfill will dramatically alter water infiltration and root zone aeration characteristics.

The crowns of transplanted palms are tied to limit moisture loss. An open crown will transpire more water than one that is tied. Until roots re-establish to resume their role in water uptake, the palm survives on water stored in its stem. Opening crowns before root re-establishment begins promotes unnecessary use of stem water reserves. Inspect for sign of root re-establishment on a weekly basis after your palms are installed. This involves digging along the rootball/backfill interface with a hand trowel. Be aware that roots often re-establish eighteen (18) inches or more below grade, so excavate accordingly. When you find fleshy white roots making their way into the backfill, open the crown. Sterilize tools used in the root zone by immersing them in a one to one (1/1) solution of bleach and water for no less than five (5) minutes between specimens.

When the crown is opened, it may be necessary to remove spent fronds from the lower portion of the crown. Phoenix dactylifera palms are susceptible to vascular wilts. These wilts can be fatal, and can be spread by chainsaws or unsterilized pruning tools. Remove spent fronds with a handsaw or date hook sterilized by immersion in a one to one (1/1) solution of bleach and water for no less than five (5) minutes between specimens. Do not remove green fronds. Do not use a chainsaw to prune palms.

Fertilize your palm(s) at the time the crown is opened. A granular product formulated for the nutritional needs of palms should be used. Apply the product as per manufacturers recommended rates and frequencies. Be aware that some fertilizers contain elements that will stain hardscape surfaces if the product is left to drift about. Apply the product in such a way that it will be irrigated in. It may be necessary to place the product under drip components, if that is the configuration at your site. After applying the fertilizer, apply a two (2) inch layer of a well decomposed organic mulch to the top of the root zone.

In summary, a Phoenix dactylifera palm that has been under agricultural production, is salvaged/transported/installed with promptness and care during proper season, and given attentive management during its re-establishment should make a successful transition into the ornamental landscape. Most problems and failures with transplanted palms are due to delays in root re-establishment. As storage reserves of starch and water are depleted from the stem, the palm has a decreasing chance of survival. Root re-establishment can be influenced by factors such as planting grade, soil temperature, soil moisture levels, drainage, etc. The condition of the specimen prior to its salvage is very important to whether it will survive the transplant. While palms will generally transplant easily, the success we enjoy will be influenced by how quickly the palm re-establishes roots. With delays in root re-establishment comes expenditure of water and starch stored in the stem. As more of these reserves are expended, the chance of losing the palm increases.

REFERENCE LITERATURE:

CHASE, A. R. AND T. K. BROSCHAT. 1991. Diseases and disorders of ornamental palms. APS Press. St. Paul, Minnesota.

MASON, S.E. 1925. Partial Thermostasy of The Growth Center of The Date Palm. Journal of Agricultural Research. 31(5): 415-453.

MORTON. J. 1987. Fruits of Warm Climates, Julia F. Morton, Miami, Florida.

PFALZGRAF, K.E. 1999. Transplanting Large Palms. Palms, Journal of The International Palm Society. 43(2): 77,80.

PFALZGRAF, K.E. 2000. On The Pruning of Palms. Palms, Journal of The International Palm Society. 44(1): 47-49.

POPENOE, P. 1973. The Date Palm. Field Research Projects, Coconut Grove. Miami, Florida.

SWINGLE, W.T. 1904. The Date Palm and It's Utilization in The Southwestern United States. United States Department of Agriculture Handbook No. 53.

TOMLINSON, P. B. 1990. The Structural Biology of Palms. Clarendon Press, Oxford University Press. New York.

[iamjv]

PalmDr, thanks for the interesting post.... I enjoyed the read. Jv

[Kris]

Dear Friends

I have a question about how touff will this red fruting CIDP's are ? since it has the bloodline of date palms in them will it survive the fungus & wilting & beetle attach as a date palm does ? since in that case it can replace CIDP in regions where they have the soil infested with fungus infection & pest problem ?

Any thoughts on that ?

Love,

Kris

[Kris]

Actually this is just a bump for the sake of new members ! And also i would like to know has anyone of you have any new visuals of the above said 'Red Canary Dates' ?

[iamjv]

Kris I am glad you bumped this thread.... lots of good info in it, I was happy to re-read many of the posts. Jv

[Kris]

Dear Jv & Friends

I have planted this CIDP in the ground,its around 2 & half years old as of now !

this how it looks before planting !

Here is a still taken just after planting..

This still was taken after few days !

Love,

Kris

[iamjv]

Good looking phx Kris.... Jv

[buffy]

My strap-leaf seedlings I've been growing from the red-fruited CIDP seeds I received from Max in December are going pinnate:

[Kris]

Dear Buffy

Nice visual of healthy palms,but may i ask why have you put 2 palms together in a same pot,Since its time you seperate them now,or else their roots will get entangled and it makes splitting were difficult for the palms..

And i have noticed one thing about the phoenix is that they grow like hell when they are in course sandy soil.So if you want to test what i have said..while you split these 2 palms.Put one is the same type of potting medium and the other in pure sandy soil.And see to it that both gets full sunlight.You will see the difference Since all my palms here are growing in washed river sand and they are living in our roof top garden taken full sun through out the year.

Wish you all the best with your Red Canary palms And kindly keep us updated now and then..

Love,

Kris

[buffy]

Dear Buffy Nice visual of healthy palms,but may i ask why have you put 2 palms together in a same pot,Since its time you seperate them now,or else their roots will get entangled and it makes splitting were difficult for the palms. Love, Kris

Survival of the fittest, Kris. I will execute the weaker of the two. I wanted to make sure I had one healthy plant, so I planted two per pot. Max gave me a lot of seeds. I'll hand out some plants to friends, but even then, I'll have too many. I wanted the two strap-leaves to duke it out. This things will sucker anyway. Eventually, I'll be clean the thing up.

[Kris]

Survival of the fittest, Kris. I will execute the weaker of the two. I wanted to make sure I had one healthy plant, so I planted two per pot. Max gave me a lot of seeds. I'll hand out some plants to friends, but even then, I'll have too many. I wanted the two strap-leaves to duke it out. This things will sucker anyway. Eventually, I'll be clean the thing up.

Dear Buffy

I would request you retain few for later use,since if the (Strong One)Red Fruticas turns out to be a male,you will have to replant another one...So even if you have many CIDP saplings to spare.I insist that you even give away these saplings in pairs.Who knows what it turns out to be ? wheather its A Male or A female is the question ! If the planted CIDP does not fruit,then all the strain & time put in would be a total waste.

So all weak looking saplings that you are going to eliminate could turn out to be females.. So watch out.

All the best !

Love,

Kris

[Kris]

Just trying to keep this thread 'Alive"

Love,

kris.

[Phoenikakias]

On 12/5/2010, 8:18:19, Kris said:

Just trying to keep this thread 'Alive"

 

Love,

kris.

 

 Big BUMP!   https://www.researchgate.net/publication/268035795_The_date_palm_with_blue_dates_Phoenix_senegalensis_Andre_Arecaceae_A_horticultural_enigma_is_solved

Edited November 4, 2018 by Phoenikakias

[Devian]

On 12/5/2006 at 7:09 AM, M@ximus said:

I have  Many  germinated  seeds  of  this  Phoenix  with  red  fruits

if  somebody  want   for  free  just  send  me  an  e-mail

The  picturs  is  the  mother  palms

ciao  M@x

 

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j128/pol...Immagine002.jpg

Hi Max, do u still have seedling or seeds of this variant, i would like to have some and am ready to cover the costs. I'm in the Netherlands and from what i have read this Phoenix is one of the most Cold Hardly one of them. Would love to try it.