Coconut Palm in Jacksonville FL 3rd year and still going strong

[Fusion94]

 

had this for about 5 years now. First 2 were in a 25gal pot and then got it into the ground. Been able to keep it pretty warm in the winter with a heavy duty tarp and 1500w space heater.  Saw temps in the mid 20s here for the first time in more than a decade... but inside the tarp it was almost 80.about to put down some 12-4-12 and hopefully get some big growth this year. Any idea about how many years before i might reap the rewards and actually get a coconut off this thing? also any other tips for pushing big growth?

[NickJames]

Pics of your setup please  

[Scott W]

I would think eventually it'll be too tall to protect.  Do you know what variety it is? 

Where are you at in Jville?

[Fusion94]

So we are supposed to get back down to 34ish Saturday night... so I will have it setup again and will take some pics.

I am actually in very northern St Johns near Racetrack rd. And no clue on type.i just bought it at a local nursery when it was just a coconut in a pot with just a couple fronds. And not worried about height anytime soon.  I am using a 10x30 heavy duty tarp... I can always just get another and bond them at the seams to basically make a bag that goes over it. So until it gets past that I am good.

Edited March 8, 2022 by Fusion94

[Scott W]

Gotcha.  I asked as with a dwarf coconut you might have a chance long term.

Definitely recommend Beccareophoenix alfredii if you're just looking for that coconut look.

[Gottagrowemall]

  On 3/8/2022 at 12:33 AM, Fusion94 said:

So we are supposed to get back down to 34ish Saturday night... so I will have it setup again and will take some pics.

I am actually in very northern St Johns near Racetrack rd. And no clue on type.i just bought it at a local nursery when it was just a coconut in a pot with just a couple fronds. And not worried about height anytime soon.  I am using a 10x30 heavy duty tarp... I can always just get another and bond them at the seams to basically make a bag that goes over it. So until it gets past that I am good.

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I’d love to see those pics when you have it set up. I have one a bit smaller and younger in palm coast. I probably won’t cover mine this Saturday though we’re forecasted for like 38 here

[Fusion94]

so this is the setup. 1500w space heater set to about medium heat. Fan on high. This is a 10x20 tarp folded in half and side seams bonded. Basically creates a bag that just goes over everything. I also have a blue java banana under here. Then strapped down at the base and a couple straps up higher just to keep it from being a big wind target. 

[Gottagrowemall]

How do you get the fronds to fit in there? What is your plan when the fronds are really big in the future?

[Fusion94]

Right now I just kind of push them all in 1 direction and fold them down a bit. When it gets bigger I will just make a bigger bag with 2 10x20s or 2 10x30 and bond the sides.. that will give me plenty of height and a 20' circumference to work with which should be plenty

[South Carolina palms]

  On 3/12/2022 at 11:15 PM, Fusion94 said:

so this is the setup. 1500w space heater set to about medium heat. Fan on high. This is a 10x20 tarp folded in half and side seams bonded. Basically creates a bag that just goes over everything. I also have a blue java banana under here. Then strapped down at the base and a couple straps up higher just to keep it from being a big wind target. 

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Not a bad idea might do that for my queens, but what about the wind knocking over the space heater?

[Blueman]

Unless it was a specialty nursery or private grower, coconuts sold in FL are almost always Malayans.  

[Plantking165]

  On 3/7/2022 at 7:08 PM, Fusion94 said:

 

had this for about 5 years now. First 2 were in a 25gal pot and then got it into the ground. Been able to keep it pretty warm in the winter with a heavy duty tarp and 1500w space heater.  Saw temps in the mid 20s here for the first time in more than a decade... but inside the tarp it was almost 80.about to put down some 12-4-12 and hopefully get some big growth this year. Any idea about how many years before i might reap the rewards and actually get a coconut off this thing? also any other tips for pushing big growth?

Expand  

It's looking good. How does it look now any recent pics? I'd say it looks like it's gonna show some trunk soon and after that starts could be anywhere from 2 to 3 years for a flower spath to appear. It depends on how good of a growth spurt you get in-between the cold weather setbacks.

[MrTropical]

Impressive. Any updates?

9-12-2022

[Walt]

Eventually -- and it looks like soon -- you won't be able to protect your coconut using your current technique.  The main thing is to keep the meristem and stem/trunk from freezing, and preferably 40 or more degrees F.  The fronds may get toasted but new ones should grow back mostly un stunted.  What you might have to do so as to continue your method of freeze/frost protection is to cut down the fronds to a point you can still cover them with a tarp. That way you will still have at least some green leaves for photosynthesis so as to help re grow full sized fronds.

I have a green Malayan dwarf coconut that I've been growing for 20 years. When it was small I could tent it and use a space heater.  But after it go too big I just concentrated on keeping the meristem and trunk from freezing. Below is a video I made showing how I protected my coconut in December of 2010 when my open yard low dropped to 20 degrees with heavy frost. It's the price one must pay to enjoy a coconut palm out of hardiness zone.