Phoenix dactylifera in humid tropics

[User00]

this  Phoenix dactylifera found in a old british tea estate bungalow, rainfall here more than 2500mm 

[doranakandawatta]

Very nice mature tree, Thanks

Where is it? Nuwara Eliya?

[foxtail]

Nice, I have 2 Canariensis but I think I need to remove them due to humidity

[mcrawford]

There is a reason the main date producing areas of the USA are also the most climatically miserable areas of the country...

to produce dates (as opposed to just growing a pretty tree) you need not only very hot climates, but also very dry climates.

Even Phoenix is too humid in late summer when the fruit are ripening, to produce commercially viable crops.  The 100"

of rain in a tea plantation may produce a pretty tree, but not so for the fruit.

[Ben in Norcal]

That tree looks pretty rough compared to the ones around here.  It's surviving, but obviously not enjoying the climate.

[enigma99]

5 hours ago, mcrawford said:

There is a reason the main date producing areas of the USA are also the most climatically miserable areas of the country...

to produce dates (as opposed to just growing a pretty tree) you need not only very hot climates, but also very dry climates.

Even Phoenix is too humid in late summer when the fruit are ripening, to produce commercially viable crops.  The 100"

of rain in a tea plantation may produce a pretty tree, but not so for the fruit.

I've seen some specimens around here loaded with dates. And it's not miserable  but hot and dry yes.

[Ben in Norcal]

22 hours ago, enigma99 said:

I've seen some specimens around here loaded with dates. And it's not miserable  but hot and dry yes.

I agree, hot and humid far more miserable!

Aren't the famed Black Sphinx dates from Phoenix?

[Silas_Sancona]

40 minutes ago, Ben in Norcal said:

I agree, hot and humid far more miserable!

Aren't the famed Black Sphinx dates from Phoenix?

Yes, up in Arcadia, and also at the arboretum at ASU in Tempe. Planning on visiting the collection soon.

Also remember seeing many of the Date palms planted along 59th in Glendale loaded with fruit while heading to the demo garden in August of 2013.

[Ben in Norcal]

3 minutes ago, Silas_Sancona said:

Yes, up in Arcadia, and also at the arboretum at ASU in Tempe. Planning on visiting the collection soon.

Also remember seeing many of the Date palms planted along 59th in Glendale loaded with fruit while heading to the demo garden in August of 2013.

I thought so.  Well I am not sure if the Black Sphinx dates are "commercially viable" - but they sure are tasty! 

[Silas_Sancona]

2 minutes ago, Ben in Norcal said:

I thought so.  Well I am not sure if the Black Sphinx dates are "commercially viable" - but they sure are tasty! 

I think the main problem is Black Spinx that the fruit is so soft that it gets squished easily unless kept under refrigeration.. or, that is what i gather from read articles.. No doubt others here can chime in with their thoughts on that.  As far as Dates in humid climates, agree that while yea, you'd see them planted around Bradenton and Sarasota back in FL, they never fruited, or, i never saw any on local trees..  and after awhile, the trees themselves didn't look like they do here where it is far drier.

[Matthew92]

4 minutes ago, Silas_Sancona said:

I think the main problem is Black Spinx that the fruit is so soft that it gets squished easily unless kept under refrigeration.. or, that is what i gather from read articles.. No doubt others here can chime in with their thoughts on that.  As far as Dates in humid climates, agree that while yea, you'd see them planted around Bradenton and Sarasota back in FL, they never fruited, or, i never saw any on local trees..  and after awhile, the trees themselves didn't look like they do here where it is far drier.

I've seen date palms in FL loaded with fruit: have no idea how palatable they are though.

[mcrawford]

The top date producing areas are the El Centro Ca. area and Yuma Az.

Both oppressively hot and dry.  While the famous Black Sphinx originally

come from central Phx, they are not a commercially suitable fruit, although

quite tasty.  They are, as mentioned, too soft for shipping and a good shelf life.

I used to volunteer at the ASU "germoplasm" site in Gilbert Az.  And yes, there

is date production, but it is too wet during the fruit forming season of late summer,

when we get out "monsoon rains", for the good commercial crops.  I have 5 producing

trees myself, but they never produce the quality or quantity (100 lbs +) that you see in

Yuma and El Centro.

[Matthew92]

At the Tropical Research and Education Center in Homestead, FL.

 

[foxtail]

3 minutes ago, Opal92 said:

At the Tropical Research and Education Center in Homestead, FL.

 

[Keith N Tampa (ex SoJax)]

1 hour ago, foxtail said:

Yea, but look at the Thrinax!

[foxtail]

25 minutes ago, Keith in SoJax said:

Yea, but look at the Thrinax!

Looks better, at the left an Elaeis?

[Matthew92]

2 hours ago, foxtail said:

Looks better, at the left an Elaeis?

Just posted picture of it on the Elaeis thread

[Matthew92]

11 hours ago, foxtail said:

Not lacking in vigorous healthy growth on this one: just the humid tropical climate dirties the cosmetic appearance. Also when I was taking that picture, it was very windy making it look even more frazzled.