How to Plant a Coconut Palm
Cocos nucifera trees, also known as coconut palms, are fruit-bearing tropical trees that are part of the Arecaceae family. The coconut, a round, brown-husked fruit produced by the coconut tree, is actually not a fruit or nut, but the tree's edible endosperm. The sweet, white flesh of the coconut fruit can be enjoyed fresh or used in cooking or baking. Each coconut palm tree can produce up to 75 coconut fruits per year. The sooner you plant your coconut palm, the sooner you and your family will be able to enjoy delicious, homegrown coconut. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Coconut palm tree
- Shovel
- Tiller
- Aged manure
- Grass clippings
- Rotted leaves
Instructions
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1
Check to see if coconut palm trees will grow in your climate. A tropical fruit-bearing tree, the coconut palm grows best in warm climates. The United States Department of Agriculture has identified USDA plant hardiness zones 10 and 11 as being suitable for growing coconut palm trees. These areas have an average annual minimum temperature of 30 degrees F.
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Choose the planting location for your coconut palm tree. Take into account the size your tree will be when it reaches maturity when selecting your location. Coconut palm trees can grow up to 60 feet tall with a 25-foot spread. The location you choose for your coconut palm should also receive around seven hours of direct sunlight each day. The soil at your planting location can be amended to correct any deficiencies as long as it is well-draining.
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3
Pull up any grass, weeds or other unwanted vegetation at your planting location. Preexisting vegetation at your planting site can divert valuable nutrients and moisture from your tree, making it difficult for your tree to establish itself. Be sure to dig up the entire root systems of the weeds with a small shovel or you will have to pull the weeds again when they regrow.
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4
Amend the soil at your planting location by tilling organic material into the top 12 inches of soil. When selecting an organic material to amend your soil, aged manure, grass clippings and rotted leaves are all good choices. Work the organic materials into the soil until they are evenly distributed. This will infuse healthy soils with even more valuable nutrients and make poor soils more likely to produce successful growth.
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Dig a planting hole for your coconut palm tree that is at least twice as wide as your tree's root ball. The hole should be deep enough so that your coconut palm can be planted at the same depth it was planted in the garden center where it was purchased.
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Lower your coconut palm tree into the hole.
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7
Fill the hole halfway with the amended soil. Use your hands to gently tamp down the soil inside the hole. Water your coconut palm tree with a garden hose set to a low-pressure stream to help settle the soil around your tree's root ball. Air pockets beneath the surface of the soil can dry out the roots of your tree.
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Fill in the rest of the planting hole with the amended soil and tamp down. Water your coconut palm tree again using the same method you used in Step 7. Water your coconut palm tree a little everyday until it is established. Keep the soil at your planting location moist, but not overly soppy.
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Tips & Warnings
Consider adding mycorrhizal fungi to the list of organic materials you're using to improve your soil. Mycorrhizal fungi is a type of fungus that colonizes the root systems of palm trees, allowing them to better utilize their nutrients and moisture.
Coconut palm trees are particularly susceptible to fungi. Treat your coconut palm with an application of specially formulated palm tree fungicide to correct.
