Cocos nucifera (Coconut) in Malta

[Aleitalyyy 77]

good morning guys and passionate friends. today the Ligurian coconut is spent the day out after a welcome wash of the leaves full of dust in the house. I would say it is going very well and I hope this year has a big change.

[Aleitalyyy 77]

good morning my Dutch coconut now grown is put out in the sun with minimum temperatures of 15 ° / 22 ° degrees after having given blue chemical fertilizer and an anti-mold on the nut with a little salt in the stem and on the ground it is ready for the property.... how are the coconuts of mortar? updates ... a greeting to everyone from Italy of by

[Maltese coconut project 366]

I am almost restarting the experiment again. I am also giving chance for the two big ones hopefully they might have the heart of the palm still alive 

[ego 174]

2 hours ago, Maltese coconut project said:

I am almost restarting the experiment again. I am also giving chance for the two big ones hopefully they might have the heart of the palm still alive 

Are all these new plants? None survived from last year?

[Maltese coconut project 366]

The ones in the photos I took from the paludariums and planted in pots on the 27th April. I have 3 older specimens which I am not sure whether they survived or not.. They had their leaves dried and therefore pruned but they also have a pre winter spear.. I will hope a new spear will come out.. Cold wind did a lot of damage this winter and we had an unusually long cool season 

Edited May 4 by Maltese coconut project

[Aleitalyyy 77]

dear you should also try planting a few palm trees in the ground in the garden ... so that the roots go deep and the palm grows faster and faster than the one in the pot! then with the arrival of the intervention cover with transparent plastic sheets and leave the roof open .... I would do so, so that you also have the proof of understanding in the open ground how the palm behaves ... besides the fact that if it survives the winter you have a plant with strong and deep roots in the ground ... therefore a vegetative restart much faster in spring ...

[Aleitalyyy 77]

try even just with 2 palm trees ... you put them in the garden already now, in the sun and then with the arrival of winter you build a structure, or you buy those mountable greenhouses that in my part are about 40 euros .... (I don't know in Malta how much they cost) you would be sure that the wind does not burn them in winter ...

[Maltese coconut project 366]

The biggest mistake I did is that I didn't experiment at least one of the big ones in the garden downstairs.. It would have been protected from the wind.. The only concern is limited sunshine and light 

[ego 174]

I think an easy greenhouse would be a good idea for the winter. Mostly for the wind, not so much for the temperature increase. They are so small itwill be easy

[Maltese coconut project 366]

The only coconut palm specimen that survived outdoors this winter (and with help of a huge transparent plastic bag that acted as a mini greenhouse).  This winter was exceptionally cooler in the Mediterranean.  The mistakes that I suspect are the following: 1) In summer I put the specimens under North facing wall for early morning and late evening sun only.. This really boosted very beautiful and quick growth but on the downside they weren't exposed to extreme summer heat stress and therefore the leaves grew bigger but thinner, with thinner waxy cuticle, shorter palisade cells and greener. On the arrival of winter, the cold dry wind (never freezing temperatures here) killed the plants since the leaves possibly where more delicate. 2) my second mistake was not to experiment with specimens on different areas both last summer and in winter, possibly I should have put a few in the more sheltered from wind (though less sunny) garden area. I am sad to say I am almost restarting from near scratch but lessons thought. We will try again differently. 

[Will 114]

Would it be possible to grow them in Palma, Mallorca?

[Maltese coconut project 366]

On 7/11/2022 at 12:46 AM, GottmitAlex said:

Exactly. Keep it to a minimum. Watering during the "warmest" time of of the day.  (Once every three, four days)

 

1 hour ago, Will said:

Would it be possible to grow them in Palma, Mallorca?

Your weather is very similar to that of Malta.  I am trying here. In winter the cool northern winds are the negative factors that on the long run reduce survival rates 

[Maltese coconut project 366]

If you can find a spot in front of a south facing building to protect from northern winds and take advantage from the longest full sun period possible to provide the best microclimate possible 

[GottmitAlex 3,953]

If your palms are shot enough, you may want to place a tarp above them (open on the sides) just to keep them frost free. If they are too large, then just the brood lamp.

[Maltese coconut project 366]

Here frost is rare.  The long cool winter weather together with northern winter wind are the major killer for coconut palms 

[Will 114]

On 5/9/2022 at 8:40 AM, Aleitalyyy said:

dear you should also try planting a few palm trees in the ground in the garden ... so that the roots go deep and the palm grows faster and faster than the one in the pot! then with the arrival of the intervention cover with transparent plastic sheets and leave the roof open .... I would do so, so that you also have the proof of understanding in the open ground how the palm behaves ... besides the fact that if it survives the winter you have a plant with strong and deep roots in the ground ... therefore a vegetative restart much faster in spring ...

Where are you growing it?

[Maltese coconut project 366]

Which location are those coconut palms? 

[Aleitalyyy 77]

On 16/7/2022 at 13:24, Will said:

Dove lo stai coltivando?

are photos taken from the forum ... one is pether in australia and the other in northern florida ... guys i update with my italian coconut palm ... did you miss me? I put some pictures ... and I would like to see your palms ... hello guys

[Maltese coconut project 366]

My coconut experiment at the moment 

[Aleitalyyy 77]

if I can afford to give you dear advice

put the largest immediately in the open ground in the garden ...

you still have 3 months of heat and then in November you mount a cover from the winds ...

the next they have you find yourself an already rooted coconut that will grow like a rocket .... so by now you have experimented in pots and you have seen the reactions of your palms ...