How to grow stone dates at home?

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 lead to mold on the bone.

The peeled bone should be placed in a container with cold water for 2 days. The water must be changed 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 needs to be watered, while not very much water needs to 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.

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 fruits, 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. A 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 vegetation 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 onto 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 25-27 ° C.

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.

A store-bought date stone can be turned into a sprawling, fluffy tree. The height of wild plants is from 12 to 30 m, and of domestic plants is about 2 m. The leaves of indoor specimens are wide, with a rich green hue. Date palms grown in apartments never bear fruit, but sometimes they delight their owners with exotic flowers with a bright characteristic aroma.

Preparation of planting material

The fruits from which the stone is to be extracted must be ripe and juicy, without mold, mildew and unpleasant odor. Planting material obtained from spoiled dried fruits does not give healthy and strong shoots.

The dates are carefully cut in two and the contents are removed. The fruit has oblong cylindrical seeds, covered with a thick reddish or violet-brown hue. They reach 3-4 cm in length.

The pulp remaining on the bone is removed with a knife or sandpaper. A sharp object cleans the workpiece of date residues that can rot and damages the protective capsule. The casing, processed with a hard sponge, is better for water permeability.

Seeds begin to germinate in January or February. It will take from 3 to 6 months for a thin sprout to break through the protective capsule, which will turn into a tree. The seeds are poured over with boiling water. Hot water softens the capsule and awakens the core. The planting material is dipped in the Epin solution for a day. The liquid is drained, and the workpiece is transferred to wet gauze. The fabric is folded in several layers to better retain moisture and placed in a plastic container. You can fill a rag with cotton balls or sawdust. Sphagnum moss, which absorbs a lot of liquid, is also suitable.

The seeds are left in a closed container for 3-4 days. The water is regularly renewed. In the stagnant liquid, fungus and mold start up, which damages the bones of the dates and destroys future sprouts.

A plastic container is placed on a radiator or other heating device. The seeds must be germinated at a temperature of + 30-35 degrees. If everything is done correctly, the planting material will swell in 3 days.

Ready seeds, which have increased in size, are planted in pots. The containers are filled with a nutrient substrate. Particular attention is paid to the composition of the soil, because it will provide date seeds with vitamins and trace elements.

If, during germination, the seeds have thin roots, they do not have to be buried in the ground. Such specimens are simply laid out on the ground and wait until they anchor themselves in the soil.

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Substrate composition

Dates need loose earth that retains water. In flower shops there is a special soil called "Palm", but you can also choose a neutral version - "Universal". The composition of home soil for growing a date tree includes clay-sod and humus-leaf soil with crushed twigs and pieces of bark. The workpiece is collected at the edge of the forest, in the park or in the garden. They are treated with steam or a strong solution of potassium permanganate to disinfect. In the soil brought from the cottage, insects, microbes and mold spores can live.

The earth is combined with raw sawdust, peat or sphagnum. Calcined river sand is added. The coarse-grained component allows moisture to pass through better and does not retain excess liquid in the substrate.

Date seeds can be germinated in peat mixed with turf or clay soil. After the appearance of thin sprouts, the future palm tree is transplanted into a container with sand.

The substrate is poured into small pots or ordinary plastic cups. Several holes are made in the bottom through which excess water should flow. Be sure to pour a thick layer of pebbles, expanded clay, foam or broken clay shards. The material performs a drainage function, protecting the developing plant from liquid stagnation and mold. To prevent the development of the fungus, charcoal powder is introduced into the substrate. The component absorbs liquid and disinfects the ground.

The soil is thoroughly moistened before planting the seeds. You can add some vermiculite. Clay mica traps heat and nourishes young shoots. Mineral and organic fertilizers are not used, they only burn the unformed roots and slow down the development of the date palm.

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Disembarkation and leaving

The pot is filled with a substrate and a hole is made in the ground 6–8 cm deep. The bone is pushed vertically into the ground and sprinkled. The soil does not need to be tamped. Plastic cups or clay containers are covered with plastic wrap. It retains moisture and creates a tropical climate inside each pot. Vases with future date palms are placed next to the radiator. The seeds are germinated at a temperature of + 25-30 degrees.

The cups are periodically opened so that condensation does not accumulate on the film, and the earth is saturated with oxygen. The seeds awaken and germinate in 1.5–3 months. A simple thin leaf appears first, and then a lancet-shaped stem. After the formation of sprouts, the cups with the date palm are rearranged to the southern or eastern windowsill. The tree will need a lot of sun to form a fluffy crown with a rich green hue. During this period, you need to follow the roots. They must not come out through the drainage holes.

The plant, which has become cramped in a plastic cup, is transplanted into a larger pot. The root system is transferred into a new flowerpot along with an earthen lump. Most of the seedlings die after transplanting due to damaged young shoots.

Date palms cannot be grown in a large box or plastic container and then picked. The procedure is dangerous, so the plants do not tolerate it well.After separation and damage to the root system, young trees get sick, wither and die, while others are deformed.

When transplanting, the plastic cups are carefully cut with sharp scissors. The lump of earth is removed along with the roots and transferred to an earthen pot filled with turf and deciduous soil mixed with peat and sand.

In the first 2-3 years, only individual green skewers are formed in the plant. Wide leaf plates appear after 5–6 years.

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Watering and light regime

Date palms are thermophilic. In summer, the temperature in the room should not drop below +30 degrees, and in winter it drops to + 17–20. Young trees tolerate heat well, but die due to drought. The soil in which the palm tree grows should always be moist. In winter, the substrate is sprayed from a spray bottle, in summer it is watered abundantly, and a container of water is placed next to it so that the liquid droplets evaporate and settle on the leaves.

Young plants live on lighted windowsills. The pot with the tree is regularly turned clockwise. The crown of a palm tree, with uneven lighting and improper distribution of ultraviolet radiation, stretches and deforms, loses its rich green color and becomes pale.

The date tree is watered only with distilled or melt water. There are many harmful impurities in tap liquid that clog the soil with heavy metal salts. Rainwater is also suitable, but it must be left to stand for at least 2-3 days for the additives to settle to the bottom of the container.
In summer, a pot with a palm tree is taken out on the balcony or left in the garden, hidden under taller and spreading trees. Dates tolerate direct sunlight well, but feel more comfortable in the shade.

Since late spring, mineral fertilizers are applied to the soil along with irrigation. In flower shops they sell options for palm trees, which have all the necessary vitamins and minerals. Date sprouts in summer and autumn are fed once every 10 days. In winter, the amount of make-up is reduced. From December to March, top dressing is applied once a month.

In summer, organic fertilizers are used, as well as potassium nitrate. Dissolve 1 g of the substance in 1 l of water. They are introduced into the substrate after abundant watering so that the recharge does not leave burns on the root system. A date palm that lives in the garden can be fertilized with bird droppings. Use granular versions or weak infusions.

It is not difficult to grow a tree from a date seed. First, the seeds are stratified and germinated, then regularly watered and fertilized. Young trees are exposed to the sun and fresh air, pruned, tied up and protected from spider mites, scale insects and mealybugs. If you constantly look after and take care of the date palm, it will become tall and fluffy, and one day it will delight you with exotic buds.

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Video: how to grow a date palm

Date palm is an evergreen ornamental plant, with beautiful spreading leaves. Date palms grow in the tropics, but despite this, we can grow a palm tree at home. It can germinate from a date seed purchased in a store. At home, the palm tree grows slowly, within three years can throw out 3-4 leaves and it will not bear fruit, but it is one of the best ornamental plants for the home.

The date palm is native to North Africa. Dwellings were built from the trunks of the palm tree, mats, ropes, baskets were woven from the leaves. In conditions of natural growth, it produces fruits that are used for food. Dates contain a huge amount of trace elements and vitamins.

Preparation and landing

We clean the date bone from the pulp. It is best to take 3-4 pieces (for safety net) and dry it for a day. Then we soak in warm water for 2 days, changing the water every day.An incision must be made on the date stone so that a crack appears, moisture will enter there, and thereby the swelling time will accelerate and in the future it will be easier for the leaves to break through.

It's time to plant the prepared bone in the ground. Date pits germinate well in a mixture of peat and sand in equal proportions, as well as in store peat mixed with sawdust. The bone sits in the ground so that its upper part is 1 cm covered by the ground.

Before planting, moisten the soil well and place it in a warm place so that the seed does not "freeze" and water it, do not allow the soil to dry out. After a month and a half, the seed will germinate and must be transplanted into a low pot. The mixture into which you will transplant should consist of: peat, sand, charcoal and humus in a ratio of 2-4-1-2. The palm tree does not tolerate transplanting, so transplant it into a larger pot a little with earth from the old pot, without tearing the seed off the sprout.

Place the pot in a bright place, but not in direct sunlight, and water with warm water. In about a month and a half, the first shoots will appear, the palm will grow up to 10 cm and it must again be transplanted into a pot with a height of about cm. 15. It is not recommended to change the composition of the soil, but drain pebbles at the bottom of the pot. Young plants under 5 years old need to be transplanted every year, after the age of five, every two to three years. You yourself will notice the time for transplanting, when the roots will have little room and they will begin to come out of the drainage hole.

Location

The date palm loves light, so it is best to place it on the south side. To ensure that all leaves get enough sunlight, the plant must be periodically turned. Without light, the leaves stretch out, become brittle and lose their beauty. The palm tree does not like drafts, watch this. In the summer, take the palm tree out to the balcony, fresh air and a lit place have a beneficial effect on the development of the plant.

Watering

Water temperature for irrigation should be 18-20 C. Water must be defended, it should not contain chlorine. In summer, dates are watered abundantly, but not flooded. Do not allow the soil to dry out. Give the plant a shower, spray with water at room temperature. Water should be plentifully in summer and spring, less in winter (depending on air temperature).

If you flood the plant, the root system will start to rot and the leaves of the date will turn brown. If this happens, gently pull the date out of the ground and inspect the root. Remove damaged roots, and treat each cut with charcoal and transplant the plant into new soil.

Top dressing

Top dressing should be carried out weekly from April to September, since dates quickly consume nutrients during the growth period. In the spring and summer, fertilize the plant with a special top dressing purchased at the store, in the fall, feed it once every 2 weeks and in the winter once a month. If there is an insufficient amount of feeding and moisture, the leaves will begin to turn yellow.

Temperature regime

The optimal temperature regime for growing a date palm in the summer is 15-20 degrees, and in the winter, 10-12 degrees.

Lighting

The date reaches for the light and loves warmth, so it is better to keep the plant in the south or east window. In order for the crown of a palm tree to be beautiful and uniform, the plant must be turned towards a light source. If the plant is placed away from a window, the leaves will be long and faded and very fragile. When the palm tree is already mature, then you can put it on the floor.

Pests

All indoor plants have pests and the date palm is no exception. Spider mites, scale insects and mealybugs may appear on it. You can eliminate pests with drugs from the store or resort to folk remedies (washing the leaves with laundry soap, sprinkling with garlic extract).

Growing a date palm is quite painstaking work, but if you follow all the recommendations, it will delight you with its beauty.