How to Plant Coconuts

Coconut palms are the most widely grown palm in the world. Coconuts may be grown outside in tropical areas as landscape plants, commercially for their nuts, or indoors as tropical houseplants. Coconuts can only be propagated by their nuts. This means to get a new coconut palm tree, you must plant a coconut nut. Coconuts begin producing nuts between six and 10 years of age depending on the variety, with the nuts taking a year to ripen. While it is possible to germinate coconuts you buy at the grocery store, you will have better luck using coconuts from a nursery.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Ripe coconut palm nut
• Container 14- to 20-inches deep
• Sand or shredded bark mulch
• Electric seed mat

1. Shake your coconut gently to determine if it is ripe and ready to be planted. If you hear a sloshing sound, the coconut is ready to be planted. If your coconut does not slosh, allow it to ripen by storing in a warm room out of direct sunlight.

2. Fill your container halfway with sand or shredded bark mulch.

3. Place your coconut on its side in the container. Cover with sand or shredded bark mulch. The coconut must be at least 2 inches under the surface.

4. Place your coconut in a warm room on top of an electric seed mat. Coconuts germinate under high temperatures. The soil temperature should be between 80 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit.

5. Keep the planting medium moist but not wet.

6. Replant in a container with a 50/50 mix of compost/sand after the coconut shoot emerges.

Tips & Warnings

• While ripening your coconut, do not store in plastic bags or bins.

References

• Growing Coconuts

Resources

• Coconut Palms