Cocos nucifera (Coconut) in Malta

[Maltese coconut project]

You're welcome. When you're in Malta we can discuss in person if you wish to 

[Axel Amsterdam]

Hi, thank you for this interesting topic. My potted nucifera is still outside in Amsterdam. We have had day temps of barely 14/15C and a couple of clear nights reaching lows of 4/5C. I see no signs of distress yet and the palm keeps growing at 1 or 2 mm per 24 hrs. If it stops growing for a longer period i will bring it inside ofcourse.  

[Maltese coconut project]

Wow the lowest temperatures I have seen a coconut in so far. Our night time temperatures don't usually go that low not even in January. The trick is to water minimally when day time high temperatures go below 21 degrees celcius 

[Axel Amsterdam]

Yes i am also suprised and i figured it’s better than taking it in too soon as they usually struggle inside. Did you ever mark the spears during the coldest periods? Here it crawls at 1 mm or 2 mm per 24 hrs, but still it’s growing

[Axel Amsterdam]

Let’s see if it still grows after the coming 10 days. That will be a cool tolerant test, especially since the past days were already like today 5C or 6C nights and days of 13/14C with modest sun hours. 

[Maltese coconut project]

Cocos nucifera in Malta November 2024 update 

[Than]

On 10/7/2024 at 11:26 AM, Axel Amsterdam said:

Hi, thank you for this interesting topic. My potted nucifera is still outside in Amsterdam. We have had day temps of barely 14/15C and a couple of clear nights reaching lows of 4/5C. I see no signs of distress yet and the palm keeps growing at 1 or 2 mm per 24 hrs. If it stops growing for a longer period i will bring it inside ofcourse.  

Perhaps I'm being too pessimistic but I'd bring it indoors at nights at least. I am just worried that the cold damage may show up later. Who knows though, perhaps it is a specimen with exceptionally good DNA. What variety is it?

[Axel Amsterdam]

I have now protected the soil and stem with a heating cable and some fleece. The fronds are exposed to nights around 39f (4C).

It’s a tall variety, Panama or Jamaican. 

[Than]

12 hours ago, Axel Amsterdam said:

I have now protected the soil and stem with a heating cable and some fleece. The fronds are exposed to nights around 39f (4C).

It’s a tall variety, Panama or Jamaican. 

Very interesting, keep us updated!

[Axel Amsterdam]

18 hours ago, Maltese coconut project said:

Cocos nucifera in Malta November 2024 update 

Jonathan, they look great. Have you marked the spears of each individual palm just to see if there are measurable growth differences between the varieties? I would be interested to see if the indian type is outperforming the others in cooler weather for example. 

[Maltese coconut project]

They all come from India but that's all I know since I germinated them from supermarket dehusked coconut 

[SouthernCATropicals]

Wow they’re looking fantastic! I love the reddish color 

[Maltese coconut project]

They just come randomly since they are germinated from food dehusked coconut 

[Maltese coconut project]

December 2024 Cocos nucifera (Coconut) in Malta update 

[Maltese coconut project]

1st January 2025 Cocos nucifera (Coconut) in Malta update 

[Maltese coconut project]

Cocos nucifera (Coconut) in Malta: Some chill stress is evident by the orange and pea soup green coloration of the leaves, but as long as they where well fertilized during warm months, their substrate is well draining and they're not over watered they will survive our winter 

[Maltese coconut project]

31st January 2025 Cocos nucifera (Coconut) in Malta update. Colour and leaves look stressed but overall stem, heart of palm, crown and roots are still doing quite well. Of course the recent rainy episodes and cool weather didn't help. Watering only when first two inches of top soil feel dry to prevent root rot 

[Maltese coconut project]

1st March Cocos nucifera in Malta update. Some look quite beat up. But when I check trunk it's strong and rigid not mushy. I believe that most will make it except for one small specimen. This winter it rained frequently which was a disadvantage. There are some other plants in the pictures including aquatic plants 

[Maltese coconut project]

Big one shows abiotic damage from January and February frequent rain with chill temperature. But the trunk feels full, turgid and ready for the next warm season. It will survive the next 5 weeks to reach the beginning of the ideal temperature ranges. In May I will plant it in the ground 

[Maltese coconut project]

My first Cocos nucifera germination of this year 2025 (started using heating again) 

[Maltese coconut project]

How Coconut (Cocos nucifera) genetics differ from chill winter resistance potential. Note how the left one from the bigger specimens in first photo is significantly healthier than the one on the right (2 specimens kept 24/7 outdoors). Also note the smaller one on the right side of the second photo which looks significantly greener and healthier despite being kept in same climate conditions (smaller ones are brought indoors at night and brought out in the morning)

[NC_Palms]

I am joining this discussion very late but I have been following your coconut project on Facebook as you have posted this in some of the palm groups there. I really enjoy watching this unfold. Coconuts in the Mediterranean would be sick! 

Also Malta is a very beautiful country. I visited a few years ago. Lots of palms too! 

[Maltese coconut project]

I'm sure there will be a few genetically more chill resistant coconut palms that will fit into our climate. 

[Maltese coconut project]

I added a few daytime photos to highlight differences in some specimens of Cocos nucifera from a cool tolerance perspective 

[NC_Palms]

It is starting to really warm up in the Mediterranean. Hopefully these guys can start pushing new growth and fast. 

[Maltese coconut project]

They will. In May they will start growing significantly faster 

[Maltese coconut project]

Planting a Cocos nucifera in the ground (Coconut) (in Malta). This is my first experiment doing so in the ground. In the following days and weeks I will try a second one in the back garden. (the second one is somewhat in uglier condition). Later in May I will try the smaller ones in bigger pots. Note the small specimens, the one on the right seems to be the one that endured winter the most with somewhat minimal damage (I used to bring the smaller ones inside at night) 

[Mazat]

1 hour ago, Maltese coconut project said:

Planting a Cocos nucifera in the ground (Coconut) (in Malta). This is my first experiment doing so in the ground. In the following days and weeks I will try a second one in the back garden. (the second one is somewhat in uglier condition). Later in May I will try the smaller ones in bigger pots. Note the small specimens, the one on the right seems to be the one that endured winter the most with somewhat minimal damage (I used to bring the smaller ones inside at night) 

were they a little too dry?
only had indoor coconut palms and mine were too dry.

good luck for the future, it is an exciting project 😀

[Maltese coconut project]

Winter wasn't dry but I was careful not to overwater. Now that season warmed up I will start watering heavy 

[Maltese coconut project]

So basically this breaks the Newport beach california coconut record of the farthest from the equator surviving specimen 24/7 outdoors 

[Maltese coconut project]

Planting the second Cocos nucifera in the ground (in Malta). This is a much more sheltered area but experiences less hours of sunshine. This is the + 3 years old specimen surviving 3 winters. Hopefully it will do well too. Trimmed off dry leaves.

[Mazat]

On 4/30/2025 at 6:47 PM, Maltese coconut project said:

Winter wasn't dry but I was careful not to overwater. Now that season warmed up I will start watering heavy 

yes, this is generally better, but probably even more important with a coconut. 

 

[Maltese coconut project]

Planting the smaller Coconut seedlings in larger 42 litre pots 

[Maltese coconut project]

[Maltese coconut project]

The Cocos nucifera in Malta update for June 2025. They are reviving from the winter damage. Regained back their green colour 

[Maltese coconut project]

Cocos nucifera (Coconut) in Malta update 1st August 2025 

[IrishPalm22]

22 hours ago, Maltese coconut project said:

Cocos nucifera (Coconut) in Malta update 1st August 2025 

What happened to the other one that was mostly burnt? Still alive?

[Maltese coconut project]

No it died 

[Maltese coconut project]

But from it's death I learnt this data.  First year from when plant is germinated to roughly more or less near 30 cm tall keep in 3 litre polybag if germinated vertically. Second warm season plant in 42 litre pot. Third warm season has to go in the ground (I never experimented with bigger pots to be honest) 

[Mazat]

13 hours ago, Maltese coconut project said:

But from it's death I learnt this data.  First year from when plant is germinated to roughly more or less near 30 cm tall keep in 3 litre polybag if germinated vertically. Second warm season plant in 42 litre pot. Third warm season has to go in the ground (I never experimented with bigger pots to be honest) 

Jonathan, good you stay positive.
great project that you are pursuing.
it's coming along well and yes, you said it right, every day you learn something new which in turn helps to make it even better.
i'm keeping my fingers crossed and it's coming along really well.
i'll keep following it with excitement 🤗