How to grow dates at home?

A lot of indoor floriculture lovers have tried at least once to grow something exotic and interesting from a seed or seed of a purchased fruit. Perhaps it was a fig, a banana, a kiwi, a coconut or citrus, a date from a stone. It is about him that will be discussed. An overseas guest has long ceased to be something out of the ordinary, and he can easily be found on store shelves. So why not try to grow your own palm from it? Knowing how to grow dates from stone at home, you can easily make your wishes come true. There is nothing difficult in this, the main thing is to put a little effort and have a little patience. And the grown date palm will not give you much trouble at all, but will only delight you with its beauty.

Date tree

In other words, the date palm is a plant from the genus Palm, which includes 14 to 17 species native to Africa and Eurasia. The fruits of many of them are very common food items.

They began to grow dates back in ancient Mesopotamia (the territory of modern Iraq) in the fourth millennium BC. For millennia, dates have been a staple food in North Africa and the Middle East.

Biological description of the genus

All representatives of a small genus are mainly trees or squat shrubs with characteristic pinnately dissected leaves. In addition, a distinctive feature of most representatives is a single trunk without branching. Long, hard leathery dark green leaves have spines near the base. The date is a tree with small yellow flowers, collected in paniculate inflorescences. The plumose leaves are arranged on a long stalk at an angle. The height of the palm tree can be different and ranges from 15 to 30 meters.

Date tree fruit

They are not edible in all species, but only in a few. Finger dates are especially appreciated. Sweet fruits have long been used by people as a highly valuable food product. As a rule, they are sold and exported in dried form. They have a high calorie content and the highest glycemic index. Therefore, people with diabetes should be extremely careful with these fruits.

Date tree from stone

Growing an exotic palm tree at home is quite possible and very simple. Most importantly, pay attention to the dates, it is desirable that they are fresh, not dry. The fruits can be eaten with pleasure, but leave a few seeds. Rinse thoroughly with water and dry lightly with napkins. Then, in order to break the integrity of the seed shell, you need to rub it with sandpaper, slightly scratch it. This procedure will speed up germination.Keep in mind that a homemade date tree will not bear fruit, you will only get a beautiful palm tree with large decorative leaves.

How to germinate seeds?

The first step is to prepare the soil in which you will plant the seeds. A soil mixture of the following composition is recommended: peat, sand, sawdust in a ratio of 1: 1: 1. Plant the date seeds vertically so that the top is covered with a layer of earth one centimeter thick. From above, it is advisable to cover the container with marsh moss (sphagnum) to prevent moisture evaporation. If not, just place the container in a transparent plastic bag and put in a warm place (not lower than 25 ° C). Maintain soil moisture at all times. Pitted dates germinate in different ways, on average from one to three or even six months, so you have to be patient. Fresh seeds are the fastest to sprout.

Date seedlings

It is simply impossible to confuse seedlings with anything else. They, like soldiers, jump out of the ground. Thin and long sharp green skewers in the first days are pulled out instantly. It is necessary to wait until they grow to a height of 10-15 cm, and only then plant them in separate small pots. Or, as an option, you can immediately plant the seeds in a separate container. The date tree grows from the seed, as a rule, strong and healthy. The main thing is to take care of him correctly. Let's find out how to do it.

Place in the house and soil for the date palm

The best place would be in the house, where there is a large amount of diffused sunlight without a direct hit of burning rays. To maintain the symmetry of the plant, it is recommended to rotate it around its axis by 180 degrees every two weeks. Then the palm tree will not tilt to one side, and all the leaves will remain straight, even and green.

The soil for a date palm should consist of the following components: turf, leafy soil, humus, peat soil and sand (in a ratio of 2: 2: 4: 1: 2). It is imperative to make good drainage from the expanded clay layer and add charcoal to the soil. A date tree grown from seed is transplanted annually at a young age, and once every few years after reaching the five-year milestone. The signal for this will be the roots that will come out through the drainage holes, which means that the pot has become too small.

Before growing a date from a stone, you should think about whether you can provide it with suitable conditions, including the temperature regime. In winter, the air should be warmed up within the range from 16 to 18 ° C, and in summer - up to 25-30 ° C.

Water regime and fertilizing with fertilizers

During the period of active growing season and the growth of green mass (from April to August), watering should be abundant, do not allow the earthen coma to dry out. And in the autumn-winter time, you need to take small breaks: at this time the plant begins a mild dormancy period.

Top dressing with complex mineral fertilizers is also carried out from April to August, once every two weeks. Use special preparations for palms or for decorative deciduous plants with an optimal content of basic elements - nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium - in a ratio of 3: 1: 3. The date tree refers calmly to the dry air of apartments with city heating, it has enough humidity at the level of 40-50%. In the summertime, the palm tree can be taken out to the balcony or loggia and periodically wiped from dust with a damp sponge.

Typical signs of a lack of useful elements

Having learned how to grow dates from stone at home, it is important to remember the main problems that may arise when growing a palm tree.

1. Nitrogen deficiency. Symptoms: The palm leaves turn light green and the plant stops growing.
2. Potassium deficiency. It appears in bronze spots on the leaf blade.Symptoms appear on the old parts of the plant in the first place, only then they move on to young ones. Also, yellow translucent or orange spots may appear on the leaves. Gradually, necrosis begins with them. The sheet dries and curls.
3. Magnesium deficiency. Symptoms are similar to the previous case, appearing first on old leaves. The deficiency of the element manifests itself in the form of a wide yellow strip along the edge of the leaf blade, while it itself retains a bright green color.
4. Manganese deficiency. The first signs of a lack of the element begin to appear on young fresh leaves in the form of chlorosis, poor development, and smaller in size compared to the rest. The deficiency is mainly caused by the fact that the element does not dissolve at high pH or low air temperatures in winter.

Main problems

1) The date tree has stopped growing. This phenomenon is usually accompanied by leaf chlorosis. The reason is the low air temperature, the growth of roots, and, consequently, the absorption of nutrients by them stops at 16-17 ° C. There is a deficiency of several microelements at once. The way out of the situation is to maintain the correct temperature in the room at the level of 25-27 ° С.

2) Lack of nutrients. The first symptom is the appearance of chlorotic spots, which, if not taken, turn into necrotic ones. Lack of copper, manganese and iron can cause high soil acidity. Apply fertilizers correctly, in strict accordance with the instructions.

3) Marginal leaf burn. Palm trees, including the date tree, are very sensitive to waterlogging and do not tolerate poorly drained substrates. First, the roots are damaged, and, as a result, a marginal burn on the leaves soon occurs. The way out is to change the substrate and reduce watering.

Knowing how to grow a date from a stone at home, the basic conditions of detention and possible problems, you can get a beautiful and strong plant.

Looking at the oblong bones inside the dates loved by kids and adults, many indoor plant lovers wondered: "How does a real date palm grow from such a crumb, and what will happen if you plant a seed at home?"

The sweet dates sold in stores are from the Phoenix dactylifera genus. In nature, a powerful tree grows to gigantic proportions, giving huge clusters of fruits famous all over the world.

For indoor cultivation, more miniature species adapted to indoor maintenance are offered. These palms can be seen and purchased at flower shops. If you want to independently start growing a date palm from a stone, there is a high probability of success.

Of course, you won't be able to wait until the tree reaches its true height of 30 meters and gives the first harvest of dates. But watching the growth and development of an unusual plant will appeal to both parents and children.

How to grow a date palm from seed?

For planting, you will need seeds that have just been extracted from ripe fruits. Shop dates are fine. The main thing is that they are healthy, not damaged by insects or mold and do not have time to dry, otherwise the probability of getting seedlings is sharply reduced:

1. Before growing a palm tree from a date seed, the seeds are immersed in clean warm water for 24–48 hours. During this time, the liquid is changed several times. The procedure will help free the bones from the remnants of the pulp, which will exclude mold from the seeds that have fallen into the ground, and will accelerate the emergence of sprouts.
2. Planting is carried out in a ready-made substrate for palm trees or a mixture of sand and peat. The soil is moderately moistened, and the container is placed in a warm place. In the next 2-3 weeks, caring for the palm tree at home consists of regular, but very careful watering and airing.
3. The emerging date palm sprouts are extremely sensitive to waterlogging, therefore, when grown in a greenhouse, they are regularly ventilated and the resulting condensation is removed.

Before the seeds are submerged in the soil, it is sometimes advised to carefully scratch them to facilitate germination. It is much healthier and safer to germinate them in wet vermiculite. The container with seeds is placed in a warm place and it is observed that the substrate does not turn out to be completely dry. In this case, after 10-14 days, as soon as the grower notices the first roots, the seeds are transferred to the soil and the pots are placed in a warm place in a well-lit place.

If the sprout has not appeared in due time, there is no need to despair. Perhaps the bone is dry before planting and it will take longer to "revive". Sometimes seedlings of the date palm were found even six months after the seeds were embedded in the ground.

The date palm tree that has emerged from the stone is afraid of damage to the roots, so it is important to carry out all transplant manipulations very carefully and carefully. Otherwise, a small seedling takes an extremely long time to acclimatize or may die altogether.

How to take care of the palm tree further at home? Unlike ordinary houseplants for a date palm, even the first pot needs a very impressive size. A seedling with a single, still closed "baby" leaf is transferred into containers of 0.3-0.5 liters. The next transplant is carried out until the long tap root of the plant penetrates the drainage hole.

Saplings need a bright place where the plant will not be in the dark, but it will not be disturbed by the midday sun. Watering for date palm from seed and after germination should be scanty. Overmoistening threatens the development of rot and the death of an immature plant, but it is not worth overdrying the earthen lump either.

How to care for a palm tree at home?

The date palm, like other tree crops, does not grow rapidly. But the plant reacts immediately to discomfort and insufficient care of the palm tree at home. This is especially true for young specimens.

What conditions does a palm tree need to make the plant feel "at home" and respond well to care?

Whether it's a home-grown date palm or a plant brought from a flower shop, the culture needs to find a spot with the right lighting. In nature, large trees easily tolerate the scorching sun, but it is better not to subject a photophilous indoor palm tree to such tests. The optimal location is in the back of the room, facing the south, as well as on the east or west windows.

Since May, when the average daily temperature exceeds 12 ° C, the date palm is not threatened. Therefore, the plants are safely transferred to the open air under the protection of larger crops, to a loggia or balcony.

If the grower does not have the opportunity to take the palm tree out into the air, the plant develops well at normal room temperature. But in winter, the content in cooler air, warmed up to only 16-18 ° C, will be optimal. Cooling down to 12 ° C is considered critical for the date palm. In this case, growth stops, the palm stops feeding and may suffer from root rot if watering is not stopped in time.

The plant has no special requirements for the humidity of the ambient air. But in the hot season, as well as in winter, when the heating works in the room, regular home care of the palm tree includes spraying the crown and wiping the foliage with a damp cloth.

The plant does not tolerate stagnant water. Therefore, when leaving at home, the date palm is watered so that the soil does not dry out, but is not constantly wet. In summer, watering is carried out more often, in winter, the intervals between procedures are increased and are guided by the drying out of 2-3 cm of the surface layer of the substrate.If irrigation water penetrates from the pot into the pan, it is immediately removed, and the bottom of the container is wiped. Do not forget about the powerful drainage layer. The larger the date palm and the pot intended for it, the thicker the layer of expanded clay or brick chips at the bottom.

The date palm willingly accepts spring-summer feeding, for which liquid complex formulations are used for large decorative deciduous crops. If the palm tree is taken out into the garden for the summer, the plant can be fed with bird droppings at intervals of 7-10 days, using a granular form or infusion.

The frequency of replanting the date palm shown in the photo during home care depends on the age and size of the plant. Young seedlings are transferred to a larger pot about once a year, and adult specimens are in vain trying not to disturb. If transshipment is necessary, it is carried out, having previously shed an earthen lump well and trying not to damage the sensitive roots of the plant. The date palm is transplanted into ready-made soil offered by specialized stores.

For arranging drainage, you can take brick chips or expanded clay according to the size of the drainage holes. If the roots of the date palm are still visible at the bottom of the pot, in the spring you can do without replacing the top layer of soil. The old substrate is carefully removed, and fresh nutrient soil is poured in its place. Then the palm is watered.

Experience of growing dates at home - video

How dates grow is often of interest to lovers of dried fruits, who see them only in cooked form. Dates grow on a palm tree, gathered in bunches. If you wish, you can independently plant a bone from a dried fruit and grow a small palm tree. Of course, it will not bear fruit, but it will retain its exotic attractive appearance and will delight the owner for a long time.

How and where do dates grow in nature?

The historical homeland of culture is the Middle East, North Africa, the Canary Islands. Today the plant is cultivated in different countries with hot climates. Saudi Arabia is the leader in the cultivation of dates.

In Russia, date palms are grown on the Black Sea coast. However, they do not produce high-quality fruits, therefore they can only be considered as ornamental plants, and not fruiting ones.

Date palms bear fruit for up to 80 years under normal growing conditions. The fruits are collected in large bunches. The most productive varieties of crops allow you to get up to 150 kg of dates from one tree.

Growing at home

If there is a desire to have a date palm at home, then it is not necessary to buy a plant. It is enough just to grow a date from a seed obtained from a dried fruit. In order for a houseplant to be healthy and have a beautiful appearance, one must remember about the basic rules of agricultural technology. Their violation for an adult plant is undesirable, but not very dangerous, but young dates die very quickly with improper care.

How to germinate a date bone?

The seed must be germinated correctly, and it is not enough just to place it in the ground and wait for germination. The seed is suitable for planting only if the dried fruit has not undergone heat treatment.

• It is best to plant a plant in winter - during this period, in natural conditions, date palms begin an active growing season, since it is summer in the Southern Hemisphere at this time.
• The bone must be soaked in warm water for 2-3 days. For this, the dishes with it are placed in a warm place (you can near the battery). The water should be changed every day. You can also soak the bone in a well-soaked cotton wool, but this is less effective.

After the end of soaking, 3-4 punctures are made on the bone and again placed in water for 4 days. This will stimulate germination. As soon as the bone swells, you can plant it.

Ground requirement

You need to prepare the soil for the palm tree yourself.

For him, mix in equal amounts:

• sawdust;
• peat;
• sand.

Fertilizers do not need to be applied.

Landing rules

The stone is not buried deeply - no more than 5 cm. It is better to sprinkle it not with soil, but with peat. This will provide the most comfortable germination conditions. The seed is planted in a pre-moistened substrate. After planting, watering is not carried out until the soil dries up. Germination occurs better if greenhouse conditions are created, for which the pot should be tightened with a plastic transparent bag. It is necessary to remove it for airing for 5-10 minutes at least once a day.

Plant transplant

The date palm is transplanted as it develops and the pot outgrows. The substrate for transplanting is the same as for planting. It is also necessary to transplant the plant if several seeds were initially grown in one container at once. In this case, the transplant is carried out at the moment when a strong leaf 4 cm long has formed on the sprout.

• Since the roots of the palm are long, a deep pot is required. Its width is not important. At the bottom, a drainage layer of broken brick or expanded clay is necessarily made.
• The transplant is carried out by the transfer method, which reduces the risk of damage to the root system. If rotting roots are found at the time of transplantation, they are cut off.

Frequent transplants negatively affect the date palm, and therefore the container for it is taken with a margin. The maximum frequency of replanting a tree is once a year.

How to care for a palm tree at home?

Despite the fact that the date palm is particularly unpretentious, it needs proper care. Plants in nature are much stronger than those grown in a pot and can tolerate adverse conditions without damage. Domestic specimens have lost such stamina.

• After germination, the plant requires abundant watering with warm water. However, it is important to ensure that the water does not stagnate, as this will cause spoilage. Water for irrigation is defended for 2-3 days at room temperature. If possible, use rain or melt liquid. Daily spraying is required.
• In winter, for the date palm, the temperature must be lowered to 15-18 degrees, which will provide it with a dormant period already according to the biological cycle of the growing strip, and not of natural nature.
• The plant needs high-quality lighting for 10 hours a day, but it is important that direct sunlight does not fall on it. They will lead to burns and her possible death.
• Top dressing is carried out during the growing season 1 time per month, alternating mineral and organic fertilizers. In winter, the palm is not fed.
• To maintain a beautiful appearance, the leaves are wiped with a damp cloth.

Possible growing problems

The main problems that can arise when growing a date palm at home are attacks by its pests: scale insects, thrips. In such a situation, special preparations for protecting indoor plants help.

Another problem that a florist may face is waterlogging of the soil and rotting of the plant. The palm tree in such a situation exudes an intense smell of rot. If the plant has living roots, then it can be saved by stopping watering until the soil is completely dry.

The fact that the palm tree does not receive moisture is indicated by the darkening ends of the leaves. This is the easiest problem to fix.

If there is a place in the apartment and the desire, you can easily grow an exotic beauty from a bone. The date palm in a pot looks elegant and can become an interesting green decoration of the house. Knowing what the dates grow on, you can immediately decide whether you need a palm tree at home or not.

Probably everyone who simply adores dates for their unique taste would dream of growing a date from a stone at home.But will it bear a resemblance to the plant that grows in natural conditions? It is not so difficult to grow a palm tree from a stone, and for this you do not need to make much effort. But you are unlikely to ever see the fruits on it, because such a plant does not bear fruit under indoor conditions. However, in order to grow such a palm tree, you need to know how to plant the seed correctly, and you also need to remember the basic rules of care.

Preparing the date bone for planting

First, you should start looking for high-quality planting material. To do this, you need to go to a store or market. The choice of dates must be very careful. It is important to consider that they should not be pretreated. It is best to choose dates that have been withered or dried for this purpose.

In order to increase the chances of a successful planting, it is better to use not one, but several seeds at once. Before proceeding with planting, their surface must be carefully freed from the pulp. It should be remembered that even the smallest piece of leftover pulp can cause mold to appear on the bone.

The peeled bone must be placed in a container with cold water for 2 days. The water must be replaced systematically. Then the planting material should be inspected again for pulp residues. The bones are now ready for planting. Experienced growers recommend using the following tricks to speed up the appearance of a sprout:

1. Place the pit in a small container and pour in hot water. Wait 10 minutes and remove it from the liquid. Thanks to this preparation, a young plant will appear just a few weeks after planting. By the way, without this procedure, seedlings need to wait for months.
2. You can also gently pierce the seed with a pointed object or rub it well against the sandpaper. This method will allow the liquid to quickly get inside the seed. The result of this will be a fairly early appearance of the sprout.

Before proceeding to the direct planting of the date seed, it is necessary to prepare the most optimal conditions for the plant.

Caring for stone dates at home

Earth mixture

For the successful growth and development of a plant, it is necessary to choose the most suitable substrate for planting. So, it must be necessarily light, as well as loose. The date has a rather weak and fragile root system, so you should choose the most suitable soil mixture for growing it. This soil can be purchased at a specialized store. But you can also do it yourself. To do this, it is necessary to combine sawdust, humus, peat, and also sand.

Landing

Planting a date is not difficult at all. To do this, it is necessary to lower the prepared bone into a hole made in the soil vertically, and then sprinkle it with soil. Then the soil must be watered, while not very much water must be used. After that, the pot is moved to a warm enough place. In order to plant a date, you do not need any special containers. You can take a pot, a large bowl, etc. After the plants show both a small leaf and a sprout, they will need to be transplanted into separate containers.

Transfer

It is necessary to transplant the plant very carefully together with an earthen clod. Try not to compromise the integrity of the root. If the root system has been damaged, then such a seedling can be thrown away, since it will not take root in a new pot.

Care

The date palm is quite undemanding and not capricious. This plant responds well to moisture, heat, and feeding. Fertilizers should be applied to the soil several times a year. Watering should be done in moderation. Such a palm tree reacts negatively to both drying and waterlogging of an earthen coma. In the summertime, he is advised to take a shower. Also, the date needs direct sunlight.

Planting a date palm, as well as caring for it, will not cause much difficulty. And in a few months you will have a luxurious plant grown by your own hands on your windowsill.