Litter of Phoenix dactylifera

[Kumar]

I've never tried germinating palm seeds at home, and last September after finishing a packet of arabian dates (a variety named 'Khastawi'), I planted 20 of the seeds in a 30 litre pot, after keeping them for two months in moist cotton. The pot I kept exposed to the elements in my lawn and I forgot about it completely as nothing ever happened. Well, last week I came home for a week long holiday (just after the rains started) and I was pleasantly surprised to see a whole litter of seedlings beautifully spouted in the pot. I'm pleased as punch by this amateur effort, using as it did, dates packaged in Februar 2009 and planted in September 2009. Now I have big plans for the seedlings, that is once they become a little more sturdy and capable of being transplanted to my lawn. Here are some photographs. I have circled in red one seed that did not germinate.

Edited May 31, 2010 by Kumar83

[PalmatierMeg]

Good work. That last seed may yet germinate. Palms march to their own drummers

[JASON M]

Hmm, I thought a little leaf would just poke up. Not a weird thick thingy! I got that stickin out of my pot

[Kumar]

Good work. That last seed may yet germinate. Palms march to their own drummers

Meg - you're right ! that one remaining seed has joined the rest. Look at the growth I noticed this morning --

[Kumar]

Status update: A few casualties but most are doing well. The leaves have lost the initial bright green hue. I'm going to add an inch of sand to reduce waterlogging.

Edited July 2, 2010 by Kumar83

[Steve the palmreader]

To avoid any more from die off keep the seedlings under a overhang to keep the rain and dew off Make sure they get plenty of sun and avoid overhead watering Good luck

[Kumar]

I transplanted two seedlings into a large pot today. Even at this early stage, the root systen is extremely well developed and is about 3 times the length of the seedling.

[Rafael]

My only seedling is sun and rain exposed and, so far, growing like crazy!

[Kumar]

New Year Update - They are putting on some thickness now - very firmly rooted - I was going to seperate a few but gave up after a half-hour of pulling.

[DoomsDave]

Kumar:

Good work on the germination! As you've seen, Dates grow easily from seed. Be warned that seedlings' fruit might not have the flavor you appreciated in the parents, i.e., they might not come true from seed. On the other hand, it's an adventure on the genetic lottery.

Also, keep in mind that if you want fruit, you'll need lots of heat, lots of room, and at least one male for every eight females. (They're dioecious.)

If you want a lot of plants, I'd try to separate them. Otherwise they will crowd each other out, leaving only one lucky survivor. With really rooty plants like dates, that can be tough, no doubt about it.

The trick is to gently tease the plants apart, by focusing on just one, gently untangling the roots. It can take ten times as long to free the first as it does to free the last.

If the roots are super-brittle, that may be impossible, but if my memory serves, dates have tough roots that can take some abuse.

Keep in mind, you can always sprout some new ones, then separate them right away.

Also, I've got some free seed I'll be glad to send if you're interested. One is for Sabal Minor and the other is a hybrid Archontophoenix. Shoot me a PM if you're interested.

best

dave

[iamjv]

A trick I use to separate a community pot like this, is to remove the rootball of seedlings from the pot and place the entire rootball into a large container and fill it with water to a level deep enough to submerge the rootball. As the dirt gets thoroughly saturated, I ease the dirt apart and the seedlings start to separate. yes you still have to untangle some roots but it's so much easier without any dirt around them. I then re-pot the seedlings with new soil. Jv

[Kris]

Dear Kumar

Great work ! And even i would recomand what IMJV has suggested.And after completing the seperation of the young palm seedlings,Do not place them in hot or sunlight prone area.

Allow them to handle the shock gently and after 3 to 4 months gradually shift to semi shade and after a month to full out door condition..

Failing to do this many seedlings would perish.Since our climate is hot wet tropical climate with high humidity as result of coastal influence.

All the best,

kris

[Mark Heath]

A trick I use to separate a community pot like this, is to remove the rootball of seedlings from the pot and place the entire rootball into a large container and fill it with water to a level deep enough to submerge the rootball. As the dirt gets thoroughly saturated, I ease the dirt apart and the seedlings start to separate. yes you still have to untangle some roots but it's so much easier without any dirt around them. I then re-pot the seedlings with new soil. Jv

Greaaaat, Now you tell us. Just kidding JV, that is a brilliant idea and i will use that technique next spring, thanks for the good advice!

[Kumar]

Dave, Kris, JV - thank you for the kind words and suggestions. I will attempt this in march when I next go to calcutta and repot six of the seedlings into smaller 3 litre pots. At that time the weather will be warm and we will be getting rain from the early summer thuunderstorms.

I am aware of the fact that these may not produce good fruit unlike their parents (having learnt a hard lesson from my mango trees) but I find the joy of germinating seed much more than asexual propagation. And I have doubts whether I will be around by the time these seedlings become old enough to bear fruit.

sincerely, etc.

[Don]

Mark, that's how I did the reclinatas.