La Conchita, California - could it be a "holy grail" area for Cocos nucifera ???

[Bae72]

So, backing up a bit. Does anybody know of a good chart or similar that shows comparative climates around the Globe. Something that is accurate?

[The Palm Nut]

Here are some pictures of my two coconuts palms, the large one is about 20 years old and the other one about 3 years.

Port Macquarie is some 500km south of the Queensland border in what is called the transitional zone between temperate and subtropical climate, though nurseries in general consider our area warm temperate. Port Macquarie experiences frost every year in most areas. In my garden I have experienced light frost on just a couple of occasions that I have noticed. Each winter takes its toll on this palm particularly in recent years as the height is now over the roof and exposed to the cold winds a lot more. There is less heat at its base in summer due to garden expansion generated shade. Also this summer has been wet and cooler than in previous years and I have noticed less growth taken place on this palm as a result.

In fact this palm looked much better in its pre teen years, so for those of you growing these don’t wish for faster growth, enjoy them while there young.

Over the years I have tried to find others growing as far south as Sydney but haven’t had any success so I am confident that mine is by far the largest southern most coconut palm growing on the east coast of Australia. I would be happy for someone to prove me wrong.

One other thing that people always ask, does it produce coconuts, no. I have had on 3 occasions when it produced an inflorescence but as you can see in the photo they didn’t come to much.

Good luck to all those zone pushers, life would be boring if we didn’t take risks.

Mike

[Stevetoad]

Palm nut. What's your latitude?

[The Palm Nut]

Palm nut. What's your latitude?

Port Macquarie 31°25'S

Mike

[Bae72]

Palm nut. What's your latitude?

Port Macquarie 31°25'S

Mike

Pfft. That's damn near tropical!

I'll plant one of my palms outside next summer and take a photo. It'll do quite well for about 5 months and during those 5 months I'll be the most southerly coconut nut on the eastern (southern) coast. Victory is assured!

After that, come autumn...not so much.

Edited May 18, 2011 by Bae72

[The Palm Nut]

Palm nut. What's your latitude?

Port Macquarie 31°25'S

Mike

Pfft. That's damn near tropical!

I'll plant one of my palms outside next summer and take a photo. It'll do quite well for about 5 months and during those 5 months I'll be the most southerly coconut nut on the eastern (southern) coast. Victory is assured!

After that, come autumn...not so much.

Go for it!!!

[Bae72]

Palm nut. What's your latitude?

Port Macquarie 31°25'S

Mike

Pfft. That's damn near tropical!

I'll plant one of my palms outside next summer and take a photo. It'll do quite well for about 5 months and during those 5 months I'll be the most southerly coconut nut on the eastern (southern) coast. Victory is assured!

After that, come autumn...not so much.

Go for it!!!

I'm already getting up early to tend to my bananas when frost is about. Imagine what I'd need to do to get a coconut that's outdoors through winter!

Edited May 18, 2011 by Bae72

[Stevetoad]

Palm nut. What's your latitude?

Port Macquarie 31°25'S

Mike

There goes my day light theory. I'm at 32.4.

[Zayin]

how do you know,matt? have you ever tried?

embarassed to say, but I have. (years ago)

[Rafael]

i suggest we put together an expedition--sponsored by ths IPS & affiliated groups,of course--& search out this "holy grail area for cocos nucifera."

i nominate myself as intrepid expedition leader.matt will be in charge of logistics & snacks. triode,you will be chief medical officer.

lets roll.

can i eat some snacks and drink some coconut juice?

Edited May 18, 2011 by rafael

[paulgila]

permission granted but next time salute when you say that!

[avb]

As far as I know Guaymas is the end of the line for Coconuts. Perhaps there are some at Puerto Penasco but I've not been there. Does anyone know the nothern most groves of coconuts in Mexico? The grove at the Hotel Mar de Cortes is or at least was beautiful but I've not been there for 20 years. On the Baja side I saw many Roystoneas in Santa Rosalia but no coconuts.

There are tons of Cocos in Santa Rosalia. They are growing almost everywhere on the streets, even around the locomotive in the downtown square. The El Morro Hotel has some that are at least 30 footers. I'm pretty sure if somebody took a shot at it and knew what they were doing when picking a spot to plant, they would survive in San Felipe. I know there are some growing in Tijuana, but I haven't seen them myself.

If you get on Google maps and find downtown Santa Rosalia, they have street-view which will let you look at the palms around the locomotive in the square. You can see a Cocos about 30 feet south of the locomotive. You can get in front of the El Morro Hotel and it's possible to pick out the Cocos, but there are a mass of Washingtonia's around them.