AZ_Palm_Guy Posted March 18 Report Share Posted March 18 So today I was able to add a date palm that is very difficult to come by to my collection. I was able to pick up a Black Sphinx date palm. Just wanted to create a post and hopefully update it as the days/weeks/months and hopefully years go by. Attached are some pics of the pup. It has been in its container for over a year and ready for transplant. 9 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
96720 Posted March 18 Report Share Posted March 18 How did you happen to come by that I would love one!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZ_Palm_Guy Posted March 18 Author Report Share Posted March 18 Just now, 96720 said: How did you happen to come by that I would love one!!! @96720A gentleman posted a few pups for sale and they were for 3 varieties of date palms and I picked it up today. Out of respect for his privacy I did not take a picture of the mother palms but they were amazing date palms. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Las Palmas Norte Posted March 19 Report Share Posted March 19 Is there any info on these? Would it be safe to assume these are some form of P. dactylifera ? 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff zone 8 N.C. Posted March 19 Report Share Posted March 19 Had to look this one up as I had never heard of it. One site says hardy to 15F but I assume that is in a dry Arizona climate and not damp east coast. Hope somebody chimes in with more info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZ_Palm_Guy Posted March 19 Author Report Share Posted March 19 Here is some info on origins of the Black Sphinx from a book I own. But yes it is just a variety of Phoenix Dactylifera. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt N- Dallas Posted March 20 Report Share Posted March 20 https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/what-is-most-delicious-date.amp I’m growing a couple of these in TX that I grew out from seed. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZ_Palm_Guy Posted March 21 Author Report Share Posted March 21 Ended up planting it yesterday 03/19/23. Please excuse the weeds, all this rainfall has made them pop out like crazy! 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Palmseed Posted March 21 Report Share Posted March 21 How long do you figure before it produces dates? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZ_Palm_Guy Posted March 21 Author Report Share Posted March 21 2 hours ago, Johnny Palmseed said: How long do you figure before it produces dates? Could be anywhere from 3-5 years (hopefully) is what I've read since it was pulled directly from a known black sphinx date palm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
96720 Posted March 21 Report Share Posted March 21 A sucker from an existing known palm is the only way you will get a true species of date!! Seedlings are just a crap shoot especially for something like a black sphinx the females are rare enough so males are probably really rare!! 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aztropic Posted March 21 Report Share Posted March 21 I know this is going against 'common knowledge', but I have grown a crop of 'medjool' date palms from grocery store dates to maturity. The couple that I have sold as 5 gallon plants that have turned out female,and I am able to still visit,have ALL produced true 'medjool' producing offspring. Just something to think about... aztropic Mesa, Arizona 4 3 Mesa, Arizona Temps between 29F and 115F each year Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
96720 Posted March 22 Report Share Posted March 22 Medjool is a lot more common of a date than a black sphinx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aztropic Posted March 22 Report Share Posted March 22 I've also grown the "Black Sphinx" variety from seed,sold them all off as 1 gallons, but have no idea on their final outcome. Maybe a dozen of them out there existing for future generations? aztropic Mesa, Arizona 1 Mesa, Arizona Temps between 29F and 115F each year Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phoenikakias Posted March 22 Report Share Posted March 22 On 3/21/2023 at 5:39 PM, 96720 said: A sucker from an existing known palm is the only way you will get a true species of date!! Seedlings are just a crap shoot especially for something like a black sphinx the females are rare enough so males are probably really rare!! New date varieties would never be created this way. New varieties that would have perhaps desired properties of dates or of the plants themselves (e.g. resistance to certain diseases). If I remember correctly one at least date producing country in Asia pays farmers money for the creation of new varieties. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
96720 Posted March 23 Report Share Posted March 23 You are right the only way to get new varieties is by cross pollinating if every medjool seed always came true you would never get new varieties!!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phoenikakias Posted March 23 Report Share Posted March 23 Much more the pollen selection from different varieties is a science itself! Yes you may have guessed correctly! The combination of pollen and date producing varieties affects in various ways quality and quantity of produced dates. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garcia3 Posted March 24 Report Share Posted March 24 On 3/21/2023 at 9:04 AM, aztropic said: I know this is going against 'common knowledge', but I have grown a crop of 'medjool' date palms from grocery store dates to maturity. The couple that I have sold as 5 gallon plants that have turned out female,and I am able to still visit,have ALL produced true 'medjool' producing offspring. Just something to think about... aztropic Mesa, Arizona This could be exciting!! Datepalm seeds wont grow true to type but it's possible that you may have discovered another variety by growing from seed just like the Black Sphinx, Huber, Empress or any of the other American varieties that have been discovered. The chances of finding a date variety that produces quality fruit are on the low side, so you should consider yourself lucky and name that thing the AZtropic!! Lol. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.thumb.jpg.f98e5066db1dec0358105c9c8eae8b39.jpg)
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now