Cocos nucifera (Coconut) in Malta

[Maltese coconut project]

I need to ask individuals who had experience in growing coconut palm in subtropical winters. What is the ideal safe balance regarding watering just enough but not overwatering? And what about watering a tiny and frequent amount, a ring of water around the crown vs sporadic but thorough watering during subtropical winters.. Thank you in advance for future replies, regards Jonathan 

[Maltese coconut project]

Today's Malta coconut update. I am being extra careful with my watering literally only watering a little ring of water around the crown. When in doubt I am preferring to err on the dryer side to be safe and avoid overwatering during the non growing season. The smaller coconut seedlings in the 3 litre planter bags are doing well and during midday I am moving them from east side to West side of our rooftop for them to get more direct sunlight. The surrounding higher buildings are also helping to slightly trap more heat. So far so good. The combination between between fertilizing during warm growing season with high nitrate to negligible ammonia and urea ratio, high potassium,  combination of trace elements, silica together with good watering technique reducing watering in proportion to cooler temperatures is giving so far the same best results I ever had in all the years of experimenting. Hopefully I will have the best seedling survival rates this cool season 

[Maltese coconut project]

 Malta coconut update 30th December 2023 

[Maltese coconut project]

The warmest new year that I have ever experienced, Happy New Year everyone ❤️❤️🌴🌴

[Maltese coconut project]

The buildings on the western and northern side of the rooftop finished in 2022 and 2023 respectively are contributing to around 3 degrees celcius warmer temperatures 

[Maltese coconut project]

Quite a warm day for a January 

[Maltese coconut project]

Chill windy weather has suddenly hit us. Will post update of plants when weather is more stable 

[Maltese coconut project]

Temperatures are slightly better today. Plants seem to be doing quite well overall despite yesterday's continuous on and off rain and chill 

[SouthernCATropicals]

I have less coconut experience than you but with mine and all my tropical fruit trees I water them every day very lightly, like a gentle mist.

Our winter climate is different in that your nights are slightly warmer and my days are slightly warmer. I find that everyday the wet mist is dry by the next day. So maybe if I do a light mist you could do the worlds tiniest mist everyday (other than on cloudy days) 

For the papayas maybe you should remove them all but like 2. Plants hate when their space is over crowded. Reminds me when I put too many tomato’s together and none of them grow because there are too many. (I have 5 papayas) 

[Maltese coconut project]

I use a 2 litre watering can with the narrowest hole and just water a tiny water ring around the base of the crown. Regarding overcrowding, in winter I prefer it so that there are enough to absorb the soil water.. In fact I leave the wild plants there too in winter 

[Maltese coconut project]

Coconuts are doing well so far. Keeping the very little watering concept, keeping root zone moist but with drier outside circle to avoid excessive moisture. Note the last two photos where only the inner ring is moist. Basically they are one of the thirstiest species in summer but must be treated like cacti in winter 

Edited January 16 by Maltese coconut project

[Maltese coconut project]

An exceptionally warm day for a Maltese January. 22 degrees celcius/ 72 degrees Fahrenheit.  As usual keeping watering very minimal in a controlled manner, just a tiny water ring around the base of the crown. And moving the coconut palms in the tray to the west side of the rooftop to give them a few hours more sunshine 

[Maltese coconut project]

Zone pushing in Malta climate: Cocos nucifera (Coconut), Ananas comosus (Pineapple), Mangifera indica (Mango), Carica papaya (Papaya), Persea americana (Avocado, one of which germinated in winter. Techniques used especially for Cocos nucifera: 1) fertilizing technique : nitrogen should be mostly nitrate based for abiotic stress resistance as opposed to ammonia and urea based nitrogen (the latter two should be minimal compared to the nitrate type nitrogen. High potassium also to increase abiotic stress resistance and winter hardening. Magnesium sulphate on separate days and calcium nitrate also on separate day. I also use Silicon Dioxide for hardening combined with a solution that lowers ph for better bioavailability of the Silicon Dioxide. 2) watering: Coconut palms are very thirsty plants when daytime high temperatures exceed 25 degrees celcius (77 degrees Fahrenheit) and night time low are above 21 degrees celcius (70 degrees Fahrenheit) therefore in potted plants underplate should be applied during seasons above those temperature ranges but should be removed below those mentioned temperature ranges. Also in the cooler ranges, minimal watering should be used, just a tiny water ring around the base of the crown leaving some dry soil around.. Just slightly moist not wet. Literally they should be treated almost like cacti in cooler months. 3) sun hardening : they need to be sun hardened during day between 6-8 hours sunshine for them to develop thick waxy cuticle and many smaller stomata on leaves. The smaller first year seedlings in the 3 litre plant bags are brought inside under growlight at night during chill temperature months and are moved from east side to west side of the rooftop in the afternoon to give them a few hours more sunshine.

[Maltese coconut project]

February update for my Cocos nucifera and other tropical species. They seem to be doing quite well overall. 

[Than]

What is the coldest temperature you have seen this winter? Our winter has been mild so far.

[Maltese coconut project]

Minimum 8 degrees celcius 46 Fahrenheit at night but ever since they built large buildings around us minimum on rooftop on same event was 12 degrees celcius or 54 degrees Fahrenheit 

[Than]

1 minute ago, Maltese coconut project said:

Minimum 8 degrees celcius 46 Fahrenheit at night but ever since they built large buildings around us minimum on rooftop on same event was 12 degrees celcius or 54 degrees Fahrenheit 

That's not even winter hehe. Lucky you

[Maltese coconut project]

Being a small island keeps night time lows not too extreme but then warm temperatures accelerate slower than normal in spring 

[Phoenikakias]

14 hours ago, Maltese coconut project said:

Minimum 8 degrees celcius 46 Fahrenheit at night but ever since they built large buildings around us minimum on rooftop on same event was 12 degrees celcius or 54 degrees Fahrenheit 

 

14 hours ago, Than said:

That's not even winter hehe. Lucky you

Min of 12 C is recorded in some of the coldest Cuban areas lol

[Than]

6 hours ago, Maltese coconut project said:

Being a small island keeps night time lows not too extreme but then warm temperatures accelerate slower than normal in spring 

Same problem in my yard. Summer comes one month later than elsewhere 

[Maltese coconut project]

But now you're talking about areas with high altitude in Cuba right? 

[Maltese coconut project]

Then you probably live in a near coastal climate 

[Phoenikakias]

8 hours ago, Maltese coconut project said:

But now you're talking about areas with high altitude in Cuba right? 

Yes of course

[Maltese coconut project]

Which elevation above sea level do you live? My area is approximately 100 meters above sea level 

Edited February 10 by Maltese coconut project

[Maltese coconut project]

March update. Although they don't look at their best, they seem to be surviving and coping quite well. Only 7 weeks till weather starts warming up in a safe temperature range 

[Maltese coconut project]

April 2024 update. Warm temperatures seem to be arriving earlier this spring