viable coconut in a grocery store: where ?

[RemiMontreal2015]

Hi everyone,

I am new on the forum, thanks for adding me! I live in Quebec, Canada. I grow a bunch of palm trees that enjoy our great summer outdoor and go back inside as soon as winter comes back (mid October usually)

I have tried to sprout coconuts (10 attempts) that I buy from the grocery store for the past 6 months but none will sprout: they all rot! I have designed an "incubator" that gave me a 100% succes in sprouting and growing diverse Areca palms (catechu, macrocalyx and vesti). So I believe that it should work with the coconuts as well. I have tried several ways (plastic bags, terra cota pots with sand or soil....)

Has anyone any recommendation as for the origin of the coconut I should buy (Dominican Republic, Malaysia, Thailand, New Guinea...)

I really want to succeed (in sprouting them)!

Many thanks!

I have attached a photo of my Areca catechu that I am proud of :-)

[Neil C]

If you try typing in Supermarket coconut into the search function at the top right of the page you should find plenty of info on the topic. Here's one for starters

http://www.palmtalk.org/forum/index.php?/topic/42608-germinating-store-bought-husk-less-coconuts/?hl=%2Bsupermarket+%2Bcoconut#entry665913

Good luck with your quest and may your 11th attempt be successful

Regards Neil

[Pal Meir]

Hello to Montréal!

Oh, I see there are much better informations in the thread mentioned above.

But I will share you my experience I had 43 years ago. I had the same idea as you when I was living in Hamburg at 53°33’N and wanted a little tropical atmosphere in my home during our cold winter. So I went to a supermarket and bought (only!) one coconut (without husk) for 0.80 DM. I planted it in a (not adequate) soil mixture (for cacti), placed it in my bathroom, increased the temperature to tropical 25°C and more, and after a couple of days there sprouted a liitle baby coconut:

But what was/is wrong with your coconuts? Are they treated in any way (radiation or refrigeration)? So what could be your mistake? Maybe you moved the coconut after placing it in your soil mixture? Try it again with only one coconut and don’t move it until you can see the embryo coming out. Good luck!

[Zeeth]

I've had success with coconuts coming from the Dominican Republic, but none so far with ones coming from Indonesia. The coconuts in DR are mostly Criollo tall, which is a late-germinating variety in the Niu Kafa group. They might give you more success than early germinating varieties from Asia.

[RemiMontreal2015]

Hello all, many thanks for your kind reply!!

Neil C, I will read through the previous post (again)

Pal Meir, I think you are right! Of course I may be doing something wrong but I am wondering if refrigeration or radiation wouldn't be the cause of the embryo's death and nut not germinating. Winter in Montreal is very cold so I have been very cautious on my way back from the grocery store. Now the temperature is ok but I don't have much more success. I have tried cactus soil, pure sand, vermiculite, a ziploc/zipper-seal bag but the germinating eye always gets swollen after a while and burst out some gas (from fermentation, I guess). I have also read that some people try to get rid of germs with a quick soak in a diluted bleah solution: do you have an opinion on that? I also see on your picture that the nut is totally buried. Maybe this is my mistake, I am keeping the 3 eyes above the soil. In your experience is it best to put the nut deep in the soil?

Zeet, I will look for coconuts from the Dominican Republic then. Also I have noticed that the space between the different eyes can be very very different, as well as the shape of the nut (round to oval). Do you have any recommendations?

I will keep you posted. Once I find the right nut, I will post images of the coconut sprout!

Anybody from Canada here?

[JEFF IN MODESTO]

I have tons of experience with this.

I have had 5 out of the last 5 store bought a grow from de husked seed.

The ones that will sprout are ones that haven't been refrigerated or are old.

I look for a plump eye. Sometimes it's actually bulging from the nut.

The ones that seem to sprout the best have a red ribbon wrapped around them.

[JEFF IN MODESTO]

Here is one before it sprouted

[RemiMontreal2015]

Hello Jeff, thank you for your answers. Also I have read your posts on the link that Neil C suggested. So far, I have never seen any coconuts wrapped in the orange/red ribbon, here in Quebec. I am going to go for a hunt . I am thinking that maybe an organic grocery store could have better quality coconuts.

I will take pictures of my next purchase. They cost about 1.95 CAN$ here so I can keep trying for a while. I have seen viable coconuts on ebay but shipping is extremely expensive. I also like the "challenge" of a dehusked nut! Here we can also find young coconut trees that have about 5 leaves for 15$ but the challenge of sprouting them is not here...

[JEFF IN MODESTO]

Hello Jeff, thank you for your answers. Also I have read your posts on the link that Neil C suggested. So far, I have never seen any coconuts wrapped in the orange/red ribbon, here in Quebec. I am going to go for a hunt . I am thinking that maybe an organic grocery store could have better quality coconuts.

I will take pictures of my next purchase. They cost about 1.95 CAN$ here so I can keep trying for a while. I have seen viable coconuts on ebay but shipping is extremely expensive. I also like the "challenge" of a dehusked nut! Here we can also find young coconut trees that have about 5 leaves for 15$ but the challenge of sprouting them is not here...

youll find that the challenge to grow dehusked coconuts is in the search.

Once you got the knack for looking and finding healthy nuts.... the growing part is easy.

Soak over night in a bucket of warm water.

Fill a 3 gal size pot with half perlite and half good potting soil. place a clear bag over the whole pot. Once you see a root sprout, place a damp paper towel to keep it moist.

Once the roots form... cover them with the potting soil.

Mine were planted last summer.... are growing in full sun now and pushing a new leaf about once a month.

[Pal Meir]

I look for a plump eye. Sometimes it's actually bulging from the nut.

The ones that seem to sprout the best have a red ribbon wrapped around them.

This was the exactly the way I selected my coconut in 1972.

[RemiMontreal2015]

Hello! Again

Hello Jeff, thank you for your answers. Also I have read your posts on the link that Neil C suggested. So far, I have never seen any coconuts wrapped in the orange/red ribbon, here in Quebec. I am going to go for a hunt . I am thinking that maybe an organic grocery store could have better quality coconuts.

I will take pictures of my next purchase. They cost about 1.95 CAN$ here so I can keep trying for a while. I have seen viable coconuts on ebay but shipping is extremely expensive. I also like the "challenge" of a dehusked nut! Here we can also find young coconut trees that have about 5 leaves for 15$ but the challenge of sprouting them is not here...

youll find that the challenge to grow dehusked coconuts is in the search.

Once you got the knack for looking and finding healthy nuts.... the growing part is easy.

Soak over night in a bucket of warm water.

Fill a 3 gal size pot with half perlite and half good potting soil. place a clear bag over the whole pot. Once you see a root sprout, place a damp paper towel to keep it moist.

Once the roots form... cover them with the potting soil.

Mine were planted last summer.... are growing in full sun now and pushing a new leaf about once a month.

Hello again and thanks again!
I have found this fellow today. It feels quite heavy, full of coconut water and the eye was the most protruding of all the nuts in the store (see photo). There seems to be a little thin brown layer that is peeling off but I don't think the underlying embryo is damaged! I'll follow each step and will let you know. thx

[RemiMontreal2015]

this is my last purchase.

[JEFF IN MODESTO]

this is my last purchase.

Is it cracked?

[RemiMontreal2015]

this is my last purchase.

Is it cracked?

Oh no the nut is solid, there is no crack and it is full of liquid. Maybe the image gives the impression that it is cracked but it is not.

[RemiMontreal2015]

Hi all, so far nothing happening with the other nut. It is planted in a warm place...
I have found those 2 fresh coconuts today at the grocery store. I like their happy face. The germinating eyes are plump, there is plenty of liquid, there is no crack and we are in the middle of summer so it has to work. Anybody wants to take a bet on who's going to sprout first or not?

[foxtail]

Good luck Remi

[Danilopez89]

Good luck Remi

+2

Sounds like fun. I gotta try it too.

[Funkthulhu]

I guess it's time for my yearly attempt at a coconut...

[Hammer]

I guess it's time for my yearly attempt at a coconut...

Only one?

[foxtail]

Hi all, so far nothing happening with the other nut. It is planted in a warm place...

I have found those 2 fresh coconuts today at the grocery store. I like their happy face. The germinating eyes are plump, there is plenty of liquid, there is no crack and we are in the middle of summer so it has to work. Anybody wants to take a bet on who's going to sprout first or not?

I bet... For the right side nut in the first pic Edited July 31, 2015 by foxtail

[RemiMontreal2015]

Hi all, so far nothing happening with the other nut. It is planted in a warm place...

I have found those 2 fresh coconuts today at the grocery store. I like their happy face. The germinating eyes are plump, there is plenty of liquid, there is no crack and we are in the middle of summer so it has to work. Anybody wants to take a bet on who's going to sprout first or not?

I bet... For the right side nut in the first pic

Helli Foxtail! thanks for the bet! I was gonna buy one only and the right side one is the first I chose, but then I found the second one. So I gave it a chance too ! Have you tried germinating coconuts as well?

[RemiMontreal2015]

hello, I am back after a month of " nut incubation"!

I noticed yesterday that one of the nut has changed and is (probably) coming to life! (this is the left one from the previous picture).

I repost the picture here and I also attach what the germinating eye looks like tonight.

It is now "craked" and I can see a round/spherical brown structure pushing from underneath . It has changed quite a lot in the past 3 days.

We'll see how it goes. The other nuts are quiet but I have good hope! I will keep you posted.

[JEFF IN MODESTO]

I got so good at sprouting store bought coconuts.

I've got several extras with three or more leaves on em. if someone wanted to pay shipping , pm me.

[RemiMontreal2015]

I got so good at sprouting store bought coconuts.

I've got several extras with three or more leaves on em. if someone wanted to pay shipping , pm me.

This is a great idea Jeff!

[RemiMontreal2015]

Hello,

The new eye is now growing a bit faster!

Remember yesterday there was just a small crack above the operculum of the germinating eye. Today,I can clearly see a white sphere that is growing out of this area and pushing more the operculum

[RemiMontreal2015]

Hi all, so far nothing happening with the other nut. It is planted in a warm place...

I have found those 2 fresh coconuts today at the grocery store. I like their happy face. The germinating eyes are plump, there is plenty of liquid, there is no crack and we are in the middle of summer so it has to work. Anybody wants to take a bet on who's going to sprout first or not?

I bet... For the right side nut in the first pic

the "winner" is the left one! (the smaller eye). there is a nice germ coming out of it

[RemiMontreal2015]

Apparently, it grows quite fast once it starts

[RemiMontreal2015]

12 days after starting sprouting, here it is
I believe the first root is starting and the very tiny white spike will be the first leaf.

[Josh-O]

[Pal Meir]

12 days after starting sprouting, here it is
I believe the first root is starting and the very tiny white spike will be the first leaf.

No, it is not the first leaf, it is the first plumule, and after this comes a second plumule and only then will come the first bifid leaf. – Here a pic of a miniature coconut (Syagrus insignis) showing the tip of the first plumule:

[RemiMontreal2015]

12 days after starting sprouting, here it is
I believe the first root is starting and the very tiny white spike will be the first leaf.

No, it is not the first leaf, it is the first plumule, and after this comes a second plumule and only then will come the first bifid leaf. – Here a pic of a miniature coconut (Syagrus insignis) showing the tip of the first plumule:

Thank you Pal Meir!

[RemiMontreal2015]

we are 19 days after the nut showed its first germination signs !

[Josh-O]

good luck make sure you buy a humidifier and watch you electric bill.....

its more of a novelty then a true grow...

Edited September 28, 2015 by Josh-O

[RemiMontreal2015]

Hi everybody

We are exactly 31 days after I first noticed that the coconut was sprouting !

[foxtail]

And... I loose !!!! Congratulations mate.

Edited October 8, 2015 by foxtail

[Mr. Coconut Palm]

Over the last 20 years, I have tried about 110 store bought coconuts, both in the husk and unhusked.  Out of all of those, I have only had about 4 or 5 sprout, and only one survived that I think was a pure Green Malayan in the husk.  I bought large coconuts in the husk that were green, golden, or yellow and set them out in the sun for about 3 to 4 weeks to brown up.  I think most if not all the nuts being shipped into the U.S. are being radiated now and then refrigerated, and that is why I have had VERY LITTLE success with them over the last 20 years.  When I was in high school in the 1980's, it was easy to sprout a healthy unhusked coconut and get it to grow into a healthy beautiful palm, but later they started radiating and refrigerating the nuts, both the ones in the husk and unhusked.

[Mr. Coconut Palm]

By the way, Remi, if yours had not been radiated, I think it would be at least 3 times larger with the first leaf opening up by the 31st day.  The ones I had sprouted with the exception of the Green Malayan, were VERY SLOW growing, MUCH SLOWER than what is normal for any variety I have ever grown, and they eventually died.  I honestly think the Green Malayan I sprouted from a farmers market coconut in Bryan, TX in the fall of 1999 that was in the husk, somehow escaped being radiated, which is why it sprouted relatively fast after I browned up the mature green nut, and it grew at a healthy normal rate.  I have some beach coconuts that I collected back in May that started sprouting from the husk in Aug. and Sept. and they are MUCH LARGER than your sprout in just 3 to 4 weeks, so I am honestly afraid yours has been radiated and may not survive very long.

[RemiMontreal2015]

By the way, Remi, if yours had not been radiated, I think it would be at least 3 times larger with the first leaf opening up by the 31st day.  The ones I had sprouted with the exception of the Green Malayan, were VERY SLOW growing, MUCH SLOWER than what is normal for any variety I have ever grown, and they eventually died.  I honestly think the Green Malayan I sprouted from a farmers market coconut in Bryan, TX in the fall of 1999 that was in the husk, somehow escaped being radiated, which is why it sprouted relatively fast after I browned up the mature green nut, and it grew at a healthy normal rate.  I have some beach coconuts that I collected back in May that started sprouting from the husk in Aug. and Sept. and they are MUCH LARGER than your sprout in just 3 to 4 weeks, so I am honestly afraid yours has been radiated and may not survive very long.

Hello, Thank you Mr. Coconut Palm.

For now it is still alive and growing. I agree with the radiation and/or refrigerating... there is unfortuneately not much we can do about that. Anyway I am not going to try again before next spring (this is too cold here alreday).
At least this one sprout so the embryo was alive. It is interesting to compare our success rate. 4 (or 5) out of a hundred is like 1 out of 20 (or 25).
I will keep you posted on the progression.

We are starting the "bad" season here, Even got some snow today. I have 2 other coconuts. One bought in a Home Depot in early April this year, with several leaves already (it is doink OK for now, but there is another 5 months indoors to get through). The second one is from a sprouted nut  I found in a dump while on vacation in  Puerto Vallarta (Mexico) ... This one is also slowly adapting.

[Danilopez89]

I got so good at sprouting store bought coconuts.

I've got several extras with three or more leaves on em. if someone wanted to pay shipping , pm me.

Thanks Jeff! Looks perfect! Even though it's missing the coconut

Kinda looks like a b alfredii. I even put it in an old b alfredii container.

I couldn't open the box fast enough. I was so excited 

 

Edited October 20, 2015 by Danilopez89

[JEFF IN MODESTO]

I had to cut the tips off to fit into the box. But it looks good.

As you can see it was the one that lost the nut during its first transplant. I cracked the nut open and it was filled with flesh.  I figured without the nut, it would be a gonner. But it never stopped growing.

Looks like you used good potting soil mixture. Get it through its first winter indoors and you should be good to go.