Maltese coconut project Posted February 3 Author Report Share Posted February 3 I see. The ones I buy from Lidl are from India. But nowadays India have a variety of coconut cultivars and they come at random. Obviously I can't tell which cultivar I have.. I can only say that they come in a variety of colours, green, orange and yellow.. Also some thicker and fatter, others thinner and taller. But height and girth are sometimes related to light levels too 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maltese coconut project Posted February 3 Author Report Share Posted February 3 https://indiagardening.com/growing-fruits/coconut-varieties-in-india-types-of-trees/ some of the cultivars found in India Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maltese coconut project Posted February 5 Author Report Share Posted February 5 Today's update 5th February 2023. The following days rain is predicted again with some low night time temperatures Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maltese coconut project Posted February 6 Author Report Share Posted February 6 Early this morning 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maltese coconut project Posted February 10 Author Report Share Posted February 10 (edited) Heavy rain at the wrong time. Average of 103mm in 24hours on the 9th February 2023 on our archipelago. Edited February 10 by Maltese coconut project 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Palermogreen Posted February 10 Report Share Posted February 10 The same in Sicily: cold and rain. If our cocos plants will be still alive in a few weeks, it will probably be the demonstration that foliar fertilizer is really what makes the difference 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maltese coconut project Posted February 10 Author Report Share Posted February 10 Usually when I had deaths in hardened coconut palms occurred in April not the worst of winter. I am still not sure what causes this phenomenon. We'll see whether the foliar fertilizer solves the April death issue... 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Palermogreen Posted February 10 Report Share Posted February 10 11 minutes ago, Maltese coconut project said: Usually when I had deaths in hardened coconut palms occurred in April not the worst of winter. I am still not sure what causes this phenomenon. We'll see whether the foliar fertilizer solves the April death issue... Let's wait for May, then... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maltese coconut project Posted February 10 Author Report Share Posted February 10 Exactly.. And we'll see whether the combination of foliar fertilizer and high surrounding walls make a significant difference 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cluster Posted February 10 Report Share Posted February 10 This winter has been warmer there than the last one if I recall correctly, that should be factored as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maltese coconut project Posted February 10 Author Report Share Posted February 10 December was warmer but the January and February this year where wetter and cooler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maltese coconut project Posted February 10 Author Report Share Posted February 10 They had quite some rough time these last 25 days 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cluster Posted February 11 Report Share Posted February 11 (edited) I looked up tutiempo which I know is not always 100% correct, but since we are talking about the same station for different years, it is fair to assume it gives the big picture: December 2021 vs 2022 for Luqa: It was 3C warmer this last December. January 2022 vs 2023: January 2023 was also warmer by 1.3 C (with highs 2c above), not only that but there were days in Jan 2022 where the min reached 4c and one day where the max did not even reach 10C, unlike this last January. So yes I am convinced this is not just foliar spray, even if I believe it may help. I did hear reports from last year as being one of the coolest in southern east europe so I am not susprised to see this data. Maybe February will be cooler, but for the time being the previous winter was very cold compared to what Malta is getting for 2022/2023. Just my 2 cents! Edited February 11 by Cluster 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Coconut Palm Posted February 13 Report Share Posted February 13 On 2/1/2023 at 2:09 AM, Aleitalyyy said: Am I wrong or even the Bermuda Islands have marginal coconut trees? They THRIVE there in Bermuda, from what I have seen in pics and videos, reaching full maturity with nuts on them, especially the native Jamaican Talls. John 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maltese coconut project Posted February 13 Author Report Share Posted February 13 Thanks for clarification John. I thought there was something strange and definitely not temperature being an issue since in madeira they even have slightly lower temperatures and still there are fruiting specimens. Also there was a misleading article on Facebook from the Bermudian magazine but it was taken down 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maltese coconut project Posted February 14 Author Report Share Posted February 14 I have doubts about the one in the third photo. The leaves are becoming folded and narrower. Probably dying if not already dead... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aleitalyyy Posted February 14 Report Share Posted February 14 On 1/2/2023 at 11:06, Maltese coconut project said: it seems that the smaller ones inside the black bag are still healthy, while those in the red pots are more run down... I think this happens because the black bag heats up immediately in the sun and keeps more heat than the red pots... try to procure black vases.... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maltese coconut project Posted February 15 Author Report Share Posted February 15 (edited) Not really. Some of the smaller ones are getting brown whilst others are good. I think the best ones were hardened for longer in the summer sun. The one which looks like it's dying has a disadvantage: local loam soil (not well draining) Edited February 15 by Maltese coconut project 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Coconut Palm Posted February 16 Report Share Posted February 16 On 2/1/2023 at 9:33 AM, Aleitalyyy said: i think the climate is cooler in bermuda compared to the canaries.... i think it's marginal coco there... in the north it has cold america currents Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Coconut Palm Posted February 16 Report Share Posted February 16 On 2/1/2023 at 9:33 AM, Aleitalyyy said: i think the climate is cooler in bermuda compared to the canaries.... i think it's marginal coco there... in the north it has cold america currents Bermuda has the VERY WARM TROPICAL Gulf Stream that comes up to it straight from the Florida Keys and Miami area, bringing WARM Tropical Waters and coral to it, where coral larvae settled down many centuries ago and produced beautiful fully developed Coral Reefs, just like in the Caribbean Islands. Coconut Palms DO produce many coconuts in the Bermuda Islands!!! John 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Coconut Palm Posted February 16 Report Share Posted February 16 On 2/3/2023 at 1:32 AM, Maltese coconut project said: Are the food coconuts labelled by cultivar there? Or just the country of origin? I wish they were labeled by variety!!! Just the country of origin!!! John 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maltese coconut project Posted February 16 Author Report Share Posted February 16 Same here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Palermogreen Posted February 16 Report Share Posted February 16 5 hours ago, Mr. Coconut Palm said: Coconut Palms DO produce many coconuts in the Bermuda Islands!!! John Probably the rumor that they do not produce them is due to the fact that they are removed by public gardeners to prevent them from falling on someone's head: apparently the same happens also in Madeira. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maltese coconut project Posted February 16 Author Report Share Posted February 16 Bermuda, Funchal and Tenerife have very similar monthly temperatures just that Tenerife is drier. All of them have Coconut palms in some of their areas with the ones on Tenerife needing additional watering due to the lower precipitation Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maltese coconut project Posted February 17 Author Report Share Posted February 17 Earlier today 17th February 2023 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GottmitAlex Posted February 17 Report Share Posted February 17 When are you planning on planting them? 5 year high 42.2C/108F (07/06/2018)--5 year low 4.6C/40.3F (1/19/2023)--Lowest recent/current winter: 4.6C/40.3F (1/19/2023) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Coconut Palm Posted February 18 Report Share Posted February 18 On 2/16/2023 at 12:27 AM, Palermogreen said: Probably the rumor that they do not produce them is due to the fact that they are removed by public gardeners to prevent them from falling on someone's head: apparently the same happens also in Madeira. Unfortunately, but it makes them look so ugly. They look 10 times better with their full natural crowns on them, and full of nuts too. They should just put up signs warning people to beware of the occasional falling coconut. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little Tex Posted February 18 Report Share Posted February 18 36 minutes ago, Mr. Coconut Palm said: Unfortunately, but it makes them look so ugly. They look 10 times better with their full natural crowns on them, and full of nuts too. They should just put up signs warning people to beware of the occasional falling coconut. John I think one year they caused 150 deaths, as a business I would not plant them in pedestrian areas, its a lawsuit waiting to happen, although I would just hack off inflorescence rather than 75% of the crown 1 Inground- 1x Syagrus romanzoffiana 2x Livingstona Chinensis 5x Phoenix Robelleni In Pots- 3x Sabal Mexicana 5x Phoenix dactylifera 4x Sabal Palmetto 3x Livingstona Chinensis 3x Ravenea Rivularis 6x Cycas Revoluta Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Coconut Palm Posted February 18 Report Share Posted February 18 4 minutes ago, Little Tex said: I think one year they caused 150 deaths, as a business I would not plant them in pedestrian areas, its a lawsuit waiting to happen, although I would just hack off inflorescence rather than 75% of the crown Hmmm. I seem to recall reading somewhere a few years ago that there has never been a real bona fide documented death from a falling coconut. What I read indicated that it is a huge myth that has been perpetrated for many decades. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kinzyjr Posted February 18 Report Share Posted February 18 1 minute ago, Mr. Coconut Palm said: Hmmm. I seem to recall reading somewhere a few years ago that there has never been a real bona fide documented death from a falling coconut. What I read indicated that it is a huge myth that has been perpetrated for many decades. John Aside from that and judging by the decisions I see people make from behind the wheel of an automobile daily, perhaps we could use a bit of natural selection. 2 Lakeland, FL USDA Zone (2012): 9b | Sunset Zone: 26 | Record Low: 20F/-6.67C (1985, 1962) | Record Low USDA Zone: 9a | 30-Year Avg. Low: 30F | 30-year Min: 24F Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maltese coconut project Posted February 18 Author Report Share Posted February 18 I am not sure about the correct timing regarding planting them regarding whether before summer or after summer. I wish to try 3 on the ground, one in the front of the house which receives more sun but exposed on the east and northern side (protected from westerly winds) and maybe 2 in the backyard which by summer will be protected from East,, west and north with the south exposed (much better protection from wind but reduced sunshine hours till they get tall enough) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maltese coconut project Posted February 18 Author Report Share Posted February 18 One can always opt for dwarf or hybrid varieties to reduce that risk 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Palermogreen Posted February 18 Report Share Posted February 18 (edited) 5 hours ago, Mr. Coconut Palm said: Hmmm. I seem to recall reading somewhere a few years ago that there has never been a real bona fide documented death from a falling coconut. What I read indicated that it is a huge myth that has been perpetrated for many decades. John It seems that it is not just a legend, although these are rare cases and from what I have read, the victims were often infants or small children. Hail probably caused more deaths (sometimes there can be hailstorms with grains of the size of a plum or even bigger: I myself saw one as a boy). https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_by_coconut However, a coconut that falls from a height of several meters can also cause material damage (to vehicles for example), which is why if I were a public administrator I would prefer to avoid its use in pedestrian areas or with vehicle traffic or I would plant only dwarf varieties and I would have the fruit removed to avoid damage and legal consequences. In any case, I don't think this will ever be a problem that directly affects me or my Maltese friend;-)... Edited February 18 by Palermogreen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maltese coconut project Posted February 18 Author Report Share Posted February 18 Because till now no one ever succeeded growing a coconut palm to maturity in the Mediterranean. But we still need to see what happens in the near future... 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Palermogreen Posted February 18 Report Share Posted February 18 (edited) 4 hours ago, Maltese coconut project said: Because till now no one ever succeeded growing a coconut palm to maturity in the Mediterranean. But we still need to see what happens in the near future... Those few specimens of coconut grown in southern California (particularly the famous one of Huntington Beach, which lived for thirty years) appear to have never produced fruit. Edited February 18 by Palermogreen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maltese coconut project Posted February 18 Author Report Share Posted February 18 Some small corrections: 1) regarding the famous one was actually in Newport beach not in Huntington beach if I am 2) regarding the coconut palms in california never fruiting here's the big surprise: https://www.palmtalk.org/forum/topic/46003-is-this-a-coconut-or-am-i-dreaming/?page=7#comment-709209 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Palermogreen Posted February 18 Report Share Posted February 18 4 hours ago, Maltese coconut project said: Some small corrections: 1) regarding the famous one was actually in Newport beach not in Huntington beach if I am 2) regarding the coconut palms in california never fruiting here's the big surprise: https://www.palmtalk.org/forum/topic/46003-is-this-a-coconut-or-am-i-dreaming/?page=7#comment-709209 You're right, Newport Beach, not Huntington Beach. This is really a big surprise: a California Cocos healthy and fruiting. I'd like to know where exactly it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Coconut Palm Posted February 19 Report Share Posted February 19 9 hours ago, Palermogreen said: Those few specimens of coconut grown in southern California (particularly the famous one of Huntington Beach, which lived for thirty years) appear to have never produced fruit. A couple of them in perfect inland microclimates, supposedly did produce fruit with mature trunks in California, but the fruit I think were only medium sized. John 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Palermogreen Posted February 19 Report Share Posted February 19 (edited) 6 hours ago, Mr. Coconut Palm said: A couple of them in perfect inland microclimates, supposedly did produce fruit with mature trunks in California, but the fruit I think were only medium sized. John I suppose they're located in Coachella Valley, the desertic area just north of the mexican border that experiences high daytime temperatures all year-round, right? The problem in that area is that every some years occurs a break-in of freezing air from the north with temperatures that can reach -10 degrees Celsius, which kills any Cocos. However, between one episode of anomalous cold and another it is possible to grow your own coconut tree in your garden (and then replace it with another one...). Edited February 19 by Palermogreen 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maltese coconut project Posted February 23 Author Report Share Posted February 23 (edited) Update 23rd February 2023. There is a significant number of dead coconut specimens with some that I also suspect that are hovering near death due to the leaf narrowing. I decided to take some photos with comparison to my hand to give an idea regarding their size. I am astounded though that I have some small specimens which for now look quite strong Edited February 23 by Maltese coconut project 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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