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| Phoenix dactylifera |
Plant | Phoenix dactylifera | Although there are many palms that we call "date palms"; pygmy date palm(Phoenix roebelenii), Senegal date palm (Phoenix reclinata), Canary Island date palm (Phoenix canariensis) are just a few. Kurma Indonesia callled.
However the "true" date palm from which the tasty fruit is obtained is Phoenix dactylifera which is a multi-stemmed palm from which the suckers are usually removed to create single stemmed specimens. Trimmed in this manner the date palm will grow to heights of 100 ft (45.7 m). The broad gray trunk is patterned with diamond-shaped leaf scars and is up to 16 inches in diameter. The large greenish or bluish gray pinnate leaves are typically 18-20 ft (5.5-6.1 m) long by 2 ft (0.6 m) wide. They are arranged in a thick canopy up to 40 feet wide. Leaflets are 1-2 ft (0.3-0.6 m) long and arranged in V-shape ranks that run the length of the leafstem. Leaflets near the base are modified into sharp 3-4 in (7.6-10.2 cm) spines.
Dates are an important traditional crop in Turkey, Iraq, Arabia, and north Africa west to Morocco and are mentioned more than 50 times in the Bible. In Islamic countries, dates and yogurt or milk are a traditional first meal when the sun sets during Ramadan. Dates (especially Medjool and Deglet Noor) are also cultivated in southern California, Arizona and southern Florida in the United States.
Usage
This is a spectacular palm for landscaping large areas. In recent years many commercial date farms in the western U.S. have closed due to a number of economic pressures. As a result large specimens are available at very competitive prices, even when shipped to Florida. As I write this, a half dozen date palms were installed at the entrance to a new local office complex which I think makes the otherwise undistinguished corporate architecture handsome and interesting. Date palms are also frequently seen guarding the entrances to upscale housing developments and standing at attention along boulevards.
This is a spectacular palm for landscaping large areas. In recent years many commercial date farms in the western U.S. have closed due to a number of economic pressures. As a result large specimens are available at very competitive prices, even when shipped to Florida. As I write this, a half dozen date palms were installed at the entrance to a new local office complex which I think makes the otherwise undistinguished corporate architecture handsome and interesting. Date palms are also frequently seen guarding the entrances to upscale housing developments and standing at attention along boulevards.
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| Phoenix dactylifera |
Cultivation
Propagated by seed or off-shoots. Seedlings are first planted in nursery rows and later transplanted to their permanent location. Sometimes planted around Aswan, they plant several seedlings in the same hole to insure the presence of females. Normal healthy trees may produce 10–30 or more offshoots. These will root if their bases are encased in soil. In Egypt they say it takes 8 years for an offshoot to yield economically. Elsewhere they are planted ca 9 m apart with one male per 50 or more females. Arabs tend to space them at 5.8 x 5.8 m. Offshoots are buried firmly up to their maximum diameter, taking care that the crown remains 10–15 cm above the soil so that irrigation water does not touch it. They need protective wrapping or shelter against cold, heat, and wind. In early stages, manuring is productive and palms may be intercropped with low crops like barley, pulses, and wheat. When the palms are taller, apricots, figs, grapes, oranges, peaches, pomegranates, etc. are intercropped. Pruning of the leaves, artificial pollination (described in Ur ca 2,300 BC), and thinning of the fruits also recommended. Pollination is helped along by placing cut portions of the male flower spikes in the receptive female inflorescence. Recent breakthroughs in tissue culture propagation (Tisserat, 1979) bode well for the expansion of date production.
Propagated by seed or off-shoots. Seedlings are first planted in nursery rows and later transplanted to their permanent location. Sometimes planted around Aswan, they plant several seedlings in the same hole to insure the presence of females. Normal healthy trees may produce 10–30 or more offshoots. These will root if their bases are encased in soil. In Egypt they say it takes 8 years for an offshoot to yield economically. Elsewhere they are planted ca 9 m apart with one male per 50 or more females. Arabs tend to space them at 5.8 x 5.8 m. Offshoots are buried firmly up to their maximum diameter, taking care that the crown remains 10–15 cm above the soil so that irrigation water does not touch it. They need protective wrapping or shelter against cold, heat, and wind. In early stages, manuring is productive and palms may be intercropped with low crops like barley, pulses, and wheat. When the palms are taller, apricots, figs, grapes, oranges, peaches, pomegranates, etc. are intercropped. Pruning of the leaves, artificial pollination (described in Ur ca 2,300 BC), and thinning of the fruits also recommended. Pollination is helped along by placing cut portions of the male flower spikes in the receptive female inflorescence. Recent breakthroughs in tissue culture propagation (Tisserat, 1979) bode well for the expansion of date production.
Yields and Economics
In Egypt, palms yield 5–30 bunches, averaging 12, each bunch containing 5–15 kg dates, suggesting average yields of 120 kg date/tree/yr (Tackholm and Drar, 1973). According to Duke (1977b), "A single date palm may yield 120–280 liters of toddy and 40–80 kg of dates, or 7–10 MT of dried dates per hectare." World exports averaged around 350,000 MT in 1975. Iraq accounting for more than 75%, Iran less than 10%. Algeria accounted for ca 3.3%, Tunisia, 1.4%. During this same period, the US produced more than 20,000 MT (since declined), importing ca 14,000 MT and exporting ca 6,500 MT.
In Egypt, palms yield 5–30 bunches, averaging 12, each bunch containing 5–15 kg dates, suggesting average yields of 120 kg date/tree/yr (Tackholm and Drar, 1973). According to Duke (1977b), "A single date palm may yield 120–280 liters of toddy and 40–80 kg of dates, or 7–10 MT of dried dates per hectare." World exports averaged around 350,000 MT in 1975. Iraq accounting for more than 75%, Iran less than 10%. Algeria accounted for ca 3.3%, Tunisia, 1.4%. During this same period, the US produced more than 20,000 MT (since declined), importing ca 14,000 MT and exporting ca 6,500 MT.
Beware
In Florida young date palms are very susceptible to leaf spot and other fungus - treat with fungicide. Note too, that this palm is also susceptible to lethal yellowing disease and should not be planted where other palms are suffering from this always fatal disease.
In Florida young date palms are very susceptible to leaf spot and other fungus - treat with fungicide. Note too, that this palm is also susceptible to lethal yellowing disease and should not be planted where other palms are suffering from this always fatal disease.
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| Phoenix dactylifera |
Biotic Factors
Handbook 165 lists the following diseases affecting the date palm: Alternaria sp. (leaf spot), Alternaria citri (brown spot of fruit), Alternaria stemphylioides (fruit spoilage), Aspergillus niger (calyx-end rot), Auerswaldia palmicola (on leaves), Catenularia fuliginea (fruit rot), Ceratostomella radicicola (root rot), Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (on leaves), Diplodia phoenicum (leafstalk rot, shoot blight, fruit rot), Endoconidiophora paradoxa (black scorch, heart bud rot), Fusarium spp. (inflorescence blight, fruit rot), Graphiola phoenicis (leaf spot, false smut), Meliola furcata (black mildew), Meloidogyne spp. (root knot nematodes), Omphalia pigmentata (decline disease), Omphalia tralucida (decline disease), Penicillum roseum (fruit rot), Pestalotia sp. (leaf spot), Phomopsis phoenicola (fruit rot), Phymatotrichum omnivorum (on roots), Pleospora herbarum (fruit rot, mold), and Poria spp. (wood rot). Popenoe (1920) assesses the percent damage caused by some of the major insect pests. Tackholm and Drar give a good account of Egyptian diseases and pests.
Handbook 165 lists the following diseases affecting the date palm: Alternaria sp. (leaf spot), Alternaria citri (brown spot of fruit), Alternaria stemphylioides (fruit spoilage), Aspergillus niger (calyx-end rot), Auerswaldia palmicola (on leaves), Catenularia fuliginea (fruit rot), Ceratostomella radicicola (root rot), Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (on leaves), Diplodia phoenicum (leafstalk rot, shoot blight, fruit rot), Endoconidiophora paradoxa (black scorch, heart bud rot), Fusarium spp. (inflorescence blight, fruit rot), Graphiola phoenicis (leaf spot, false smut), Meliola furcata (black mildew), Meloidogyne spp. (root knot nematodes), Omphalia pigmentata (decline disease), Omphalia tralucida (decline disease), Penicillum roseum (fruit rot), Pestalotia sp. (leaf spot), Phomopsis phoenicola (fruit rot), Phymatotrichum omnivorum (on roots), Pleospora herbarum (fruit rot, mold), and Poria spp. (wood rot). Popenoe (1920) assesses the percent damage caused by some of the major insect pests. Tackholm and Drar give a good account of Egyptian diseases and pests.
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