How to grow a Coconut in Southern California?

[DoomsDave]

scream

[BS Man about Palms]

Heres the horrendous Coconut in Oceanside from a couple years ago... It did look a little better then as he had just taken the shadecloth down.

[DoomsDave]

THANK YOU BILL!

How about some a that James Brown

Get up ah

Git on up

AH GIT UP AH

GIT ON UP!

Ahem.

Blow yo' mind . . .

[AS in SA]

Here's a picture of mine in Santa Ana (Orange County, CA) - from around January-ish this year. I had it on my phone and had wanted meant to post it, but didn't get around to it. We've had a fairly mild winter, so while it hasn't grown much - it's still looking fair.

[AS in SA]

pic...

[LJG]

Heres the horrendous Coconut in Oceanside from a couple years ago... It did look a little better then as he had just taken the shadecloth down.

IMG_1899.JPG

RIP.

[Kim]

I saw the seasonal potted sprouts at the big orange box over the weekend. You just KNOW they are going to die, but they are so darn CUTE when they are small!

[Mauna Kea Cloudforest]

I saw the seasonal potted sprouts at the big orange box over the weekend. You just KNOW they are going to die, but they are so darn CUTE when they are small!

Yup, and several years ago I was lured into getting one. Got it in May, it only took me 2 months to kill it. I think our nightly Summer overcast froze it to death. I think the cells must decompose when the temperature drops below 60F.

[SanDimas]

Why even bother with these in SoCal

if were gna have the hybrid look alikes.

Im waiting on availability of the

Butia x C. nucifera

Syagrus x C. nucifera

from Seabreeze or Erik SJI.

Cheers.

[SanDimas]

I don't know why you guys keep saying cocos don't grow in California. They grow into beautiful specimens. Just feast your eyes on this baby! It's absolute flawless. It's seen temps down to 26f this winter and never skipped a beat. By far the easiest palm in my garden.

The Santee coconut! You should have seen my Escondido Cyrtostachys renda's and my Corypha umbraculifera! I should have taken pictures... But I guarantee that they were every bit as nice as your coconut!

Now calm down you guys. I think that you are just jealous!

LOL...FUNNY

[SanDimas]

This post got my hopes up on a viable coconut in SoCAl......

http://www.seabreezenurseries.com/HybridPalmTreesModifyingNature.html

I wonder which hybridizer will be first...ErikSJI or Seabreeze?

I also like the Hyophorbe L. x Hyophorbe V....rare site in SoCal.

Cheers.

[mcwolf]

Hi Coconut palm fans,

At the end of the day I guess everyone who contributes to this thread is actually a fan of this palm. This might explain why the discussions especially about this tree growing in almost not possible conditions often enough become so emotional.

I totally understand why some people think how pointless it is trying to grow them in moderate climates. Obviously they will never look as stunning as in tropical climates but who can say that there are only perfect looking trees in their garden.

I must admit that my only survivor (1 out of 4) gives me so much pleasure that it is absolutely worth of all that disappointment to get there. I just want to share my excitement since our climate seems to be very similar to coastal SoCal.

The story about this palm is quickly told. I bought it as a seedling and it grew 4 years in a pot, outdoors in a warm spot but not sheltered from cool winter rain. The pot was standing on 2x10W heat pads for about 5 months a year. It's almost 3 years in the ground at the current spot and survived 2 winters so far. The same pads are on top of the soil and will be switched on this winter again. I dug also 2 heat cables in but I was never happy with their performance so I didn't switch them on last winter. The spot in the driveway is obviously protected and sunny but only for a few hours in winter. It gets shady about 3pm all year long.

I wished that I had only perfect looking palms in my garden. But truth is that there is a whole bunch of specimen which are supposed to look good but they don't. And others which are not even 'allowed' to grow here look fairly ok. What a strange world-almost like in real life

Finally I want to thank everyone, especially Dave for keeping up those 'pointless' threads which are to some of us even highlights. Furthermore I want to motivate everyone who hasn't tried yet to grow coconuts even though it is a frustrating exercise at some stage.

All the best,

Wolfie

[Mauna Kea Cloudforest]

That looks like a burgeoning Newport coconut to me. Same type of environment as the Newport coconut, surrounded by concrete. It may never look nice like in the tropics, but you might have a chance at getting it to grow at least as nice as the Newport one.

[empireo22]

Hi Coconut palm fans,

At the end of the day I guess everyone who contributes to this thread is actually a fan of this palm. This might explain why the discussions especially about this tree growing in almost not possible conditions often enough become so emotional.

I totally understand why some people think how pointless it is trying to grow them in moderate climates. Obviously they will never look as stunning as in tropical climates but who can say that there are only perfect looking trees in their garden.

I must admit that my only survivor (1 out of 4) gives me so much pleasure that it is absolutely worth of all that disappointment to get there. I just want to share my excitement since our climate seems to be very similar to coastal SoCal.

The story about this palm is quickly told. I bought it as a seedling and it grew 4 years in a pot, outdoors in a warm spot but not sheltered from cool winter rain. The pot was standing on 2x10W heat pads for about 5 months a year. It's almost 3 years in the ground at the current spot and survived 2 winters so far. The same pads are on top of the soil and will be switched on this winter again. I dug also 2 heat cables in but I was never happy with their performance so I didn't switch them on last winter. The spot in the driveway is obviously protected and sunny but only for a few hours in winter. It gets shady about 3pm all year long.

I wished that I had only perfect looking palms in my garden. But truth is that there is a whole bunch of specimen which are supposed to look good but they don't. And others which are not even 'allowed' to grow here look fairly ok. What a strange world-almost like in real life

Finally I want to thank everyone, especially Dave for keeping up those 'pointless' threads which are to some of us even highlights. Furthermore I want to motivate everyone who hasn't tried yet to grow coconuts even though it is a frustrating exercise at some stage.

All the best,

Wolfie

congrats! seeing this gives me hope that it could be done in southern spain! maybe malaga?

[mcwolf]

It's a long way to get a proper trunk growing but that's what dreams are about. I'm afraid that I will need a taller gate then since the wind is howling over it.

Malaga, why not. I've been to Tarifa various times many years ago and I was always stunned how mild the nights were even in the middle of winter. Try to protect it from winter rain in the first years and some extra heat always helps. Good Luck and keep us posted.

I find it quite interesting that the coconut doesn't show any leave spots yet even though we had a low of 11 degrees Celsius already and quite a few nights below 15 Celsius. In the same driveway is also an Adonidia Merillii which has a few spots already which suggests that it is more sensitive to the cold. Funny enough it doesn't get heated at all and enjoys less sun but still survived 2 winters already (1 in a pot and 1 in the ground). Let's see what this winter will teach us.

[Funkthulhu]

Great, fun thread!

I'm all for pointless! Bring on the challenge!

Time to try this trick again and see if I can get one to germinate!

-Erik

Nebraska 5b!

[Sabal Steve]

I took this picture yesterday at a box store in San Diego. So looks like there are plenty of trial material. Kind of expensive though compare to what the same size goes for at the same store in Sarasota ($9.95). I should've asked an associate at the garden center advise on growing these. If they are as "sophisticated" as they are where I live, they would've probably told me to just plant it and it will "do great". Would've been fun.

photo (15).JPG

Do you mind telling me which "big box store" that was? Tag looks like depot... Those must have been fresh off of the truck... Still, $25 may be worth the experiment...

[sarasota alex]

I took this picture yesterday at a box store in San Diego. So looks like there are plenty of trial material. Kind of expensive though compare to what the same size goes for at the same store in Sarasota ($9.95). I should've asked an associate at the garden center advise on growing these. If they are as "sophisticated" as they are where I live, they would've probably told me to just plant it and it will "do great". Would've been fun.

photo (15).JPG

Do you mind telling me which "big box store" that was? Tag looks like depot... Those must have been fresh off of the truck... Still, $25 may be worth the experiment...

HD. Whichever one is the closest one to the Marriott in La Jolla.

[DoomsDave]

I took this picture yesterday at a box store in San Diego. So looks like there are plenty of trial material. Kind of expensive though compare to what the same size goes for at the same store in Sarasota ($9.95). I should've asked an associate at the garden center advise on growing these. If they are as "sophisticated" as they are where I live, they would've probably told me to just plant it and it will "do great". Would've been fun.

photo (15).JPG

Do you mind telling me which "big box store" that was? Tag looks like depot... Those must have been fresh off of the truck... Still, $25 may be worth the experiment...

KEEP YOUR RECEIPT!

[sarasota alex]

I took this picture yesterday at a box store in San Diego. So looks like there are plenty of trial material. Kind of expensive though compare to what the same size goes for at the same store in Sarasota ($9.95). I should've asked an associate at the garden center advise on growing these. If they are as "sophisticated" as they are where I live, they would've probably told me to just plant it and it will "do great". Would've been fun.

photo (15).JPG

Do you mind telling me which "big box store" that was? Tag looks like depot... Those must have been fresh off of the truck... Still, $25 may be worth the experiment...

KEEP YOUR RECEIPT!

That's right. And keep the original pot too. If it dies within a year - dig it out, put it back in the pot and they'll take it back.

[Sabal Steve]

Not so much regarding plants, but hd and myself are on a first name basis ay the returns counter...

[Explorer]

Well one of the few good things of living in a cold climate is that you will certainly never get killed by a falling coconut! In tropical parts of the World where they are grown everwhere as a crop like Malaysia its not uncommon accidents happen with falling coconuts.

Alexander

[Mauna Kea Cloudforest]

Spotted coconuts at home depot in Riverside today, and on top of it, I saw some pretty nice foxtails. Buy a foxtail and keep your receipt.

[_Keith]

Well one of the few good things of living in a cold climate is that you will certainly never get killed by a falling coconut! In tropical parts of the World where they are grown everwhere as a crop like Malaysia its not uncommon accidents happen with falling coconuts.

Alexander

You see, there is always a positive side to everything.

[MattyB]

Bump

[Moose]

Heres the horrendous Coconut in Oceanside from a couple years ago... It did look a little better then as he had just taken the shadecloth down.

IMG_1899.JPG

"Put the lime in da coconut and drink it all up"

[Danilopez89]

I was thinking this thread old needed something...

Cali cocoNUTS

R.I.P "Palm Desert CocoNut"

 

[aussiearoids]

Just gather up a heap of nuts from under a good fruiting cv. and wait until it gets good and hot and they sprout like crazy .

[Pando]

On ‎1‎/‎16‎/‎2013‎ ‎10‎:‎52‎:‎32‎, Stevetoad said:

I just kicked mine over so that's one less

   

[DoomsDave]

scream

[el-blanco]

That Newport Beach coconut has given up the ghost, dead, kaput!  I drive that stretch of highway often and it died a slooow death (queue the dirge).

 

 

[sarasota alex]

In San Diego last week I visited the Del Mar Coconut and it's doing great! Actually I've been watching that thing for the last 4 years and it's never looked better. Not sure if Steve is still there taking care of it. Also all the palms in that resort are a bit overpruned, including the coconut. Still 5 healthy leaves and a healthy spear with 5+ feet of trunk. It was dark and it grows behind a bunch of pygmy dates where it's not easy to photograph, so excuse the quality.

[Matthew92]

On 11/22/2015, 2:53:25, Danilopez89 said:

I was thinking this thread old needed something...

 

Cali cocoNUTS

R.I.P "Palm Desert CocoNut"

 

You know, they probably removed it because those coconuts would be falling right on the pathway to the front door.

[Stevetoad]

5 hours ago, sarasota alex said:

In San Diego last week I visited the Del Mar Coconut and it's doing great! Actually I've been watching that thing for the last 4 years and it's never looked better. Not sure if Steve is still there taking care of it. Also all the palms in that resort are a bit overpruned, including the coconut. Still 5 healthy leaves and a healthy spear with 5+ feet of trunk. It was dark and it grows behind a bunch of pygmy dates where it's not easy to photograph, so excuse the quality.

Steve isn't there anymore. Good to see its still alive. I'll have to send him a pic of it. 

[sarasota alex]

6 minutes ago, Stevetoad said:

Steve isn't there anymore. Good to see its still alive. I'll have to send him a pic of it. 

Did he move to Hawaii like he's been planning?

[sarasota alex]

BTW the Bizzie next to it was mowed almost flush with the ground less than a year ago and grew back

[Brian Bruning]

I unfortunately missed the Palm Meetings in the Desert of SoCal this November.  I got the notice too late.  

Could I get the address(s) of the locations of these coconuts in Palm Desert or La Quinta? 

I just planted one in Palm Springs at my friends home off Sunrise and El Mirador in the Colony at El Mirador.  I hope it survives the winter, if not I'll replant in April or May.  

 

[Mr. Coconut Palm]

Brian,

It's better to plant cold sensitive palms like coconuts in the Spring or early Summer, especially in areas where they are really marginal.  I hope that one you just planted survives, but I wouldn't advise planting one in November or December even as far south as Brownsville, TX because it just wouldn't have an adequate amount of time to get established before winter.  Even in the northern parts of South Florida, it's probably not a good idea to plant one this time of year.

John

[DoomsDave]

5 hours ago, Brian Bruning said:

I unfortunately missed the Palm Meetings in the Desert of SoCal this November.  I got the notice too late.  

Could I get the address(s) of the locations of these coconuts in Palm Desert or La Quinta? 

I just planted one in Palm Springs at my friends home off Sunrise and El Mirador in the Colony at El Mirador.  I hope it survives the winter, if not I'll replant in April or May.  

 

Keep us apprized!

Shoot me a PM and I'll send you my phone number so we can have a Coconut Hotline in Southern California.

 

[Brian Bruning]

Can anyone give me the address of these coconuts in the SoCal desert?  I go to Palm Springs often in the winter.