My Visit to Kopsick Arboretum - New Jamaican Tall Coconuts!

[palmsOrl]

Lately, I have been trying to acquire a Jamaican Tall coconut for my collection here in Orlando. After many failed attempts at ordering one online, including my latest where I received a golden malayan dwarf (every other I ordered was actually a Jamaican Tall, but died), I took Zeeth's advice and headed to Gizella Kopsick palm arboretum with a few baseballs and a softball.

Two hours later, we arrived and boy was it hot. The heat, and especially the sun, felt more brutal than here in Orlando. We actually parked a few blocks away and finally got to the towering coconuts next to the back parking lot. I am no good at throwing (though I did try) so my friend started making attempts to squarely hit the nuts in the tree. There were quite a few people around including city workers and even a news vehicle filming toward the Bay the whole time we were there. I am fairly certain that technically, one is not supposed to dislodge (or attempt) and/or take seeds from trees in city parks. Thus, we were kind of hesitant as cars parked right in front of us, etc. After well over an hour of trying on and off to knock down a single coconut, I got really discouraged. My friend had directly hit some fairly ripe looking coconuts and they did not budge. I looked around, quite frustrated at driving that distance and facing the prospect of going home empty handed. To be honest, I was kind of p****d off, not to mention very hot and dehydrated.

Then, I turned my attention to the garbage can located (interestingly) directly underneath the largest bunch of coconuts on the southernmost of the two coconut palms. It hadn't escaped my notice from the time we arrived but I dismissed the idea that there could be anything desirable in there. On a hunch, I asked my friend to have a look and see if any had fallen/been placed in the garbage. Sure enough, there was not one, but two perfect, fully ripe Jamaican Tall coconuts in the bin. Wow, that turned the day around in a hurry!!! You can hear the coconut water when you shake them and I have no doubt these will sprout for me when sown into the beach sand I collected for them. Have a look...

[palmsOrl]

Another photo, showing the distinctly triangular shape that distinguishes this particular variety of coconut.

[palmsOrl]

One final photo of the sand I collected at the adjacent beach to ensure these babies will germinate and not run the risk of rotting.

The moral of the story is, if you go to Kopsick looking for coconuts from the famous Jamaican Talls, check the garbage bin (just ignore the looks you get from passer byes ).

[redant]

From my experience they need LOTS of heat to germinate fast. I did my in large black landscape pots filled with manure in the blazing sun, best results I have ever had. As it's almost September already putting these outside to germinate in you area would be a no no. Also not to dowse any thoughts of these being J. talls, from everyone I talked to about this the consciences seemed clear, coconuts will pretty much cross with any other coconut who's pollen comes by so they may not be true to the parents. Good luck with the coconuts.

[palmsOrl]

Redant, I agree about giving these LOTS of heat to germinate. Right now they are potted in sand on the porch and will remain there for a while as highs are still reaching 90+ and lows are well into the 70s F. As soon as lows start getting cool I am putting these in the greenhouse where temperatures are really hot, possibly a little too hot (?). I will not be attempting to germinate these in our natural outdoor temps for the next 6 months.

As for the parentage, I have read that the malayan dwarfs can self-pollinate and the talls need at least one other tree around to produce nuts. While it is possible that some "contamination" has occurred, these two large palms are right next to each other (I saw no other large fruiting coconuts in the area), leading me to believe that these palms' progeny is fairly pure. The morphology of the nuts is also spot on for the Jamaican Tall type.

[KennyRE317]

Did you drink the computer water first?

[_Keith]

One final photo of the sand I collected at the adjacent beach to ensure these babies will germinate and not run the risk of rotting.

The moral of the story is, if you go to Kopsick looking for coconuts from the famous Jamaican Talls, check the garbage bin (just ignore the looks you get from passer byes ).

Well, I hope that is not the "final" photo.

[empireo22]

Did you drink the computer water first?

Kenny,

"Computer water" is good to drink...but in order for the seeds to germinate the water cannot be disturbed, coconuts are hollow inside but when they start to germinate it hardens up inside and becomes like a giant embryo......um thats the best i can explain it

[palmsOrl]

I'll be posting additional photos as soon as there is something additional to see (when they germinate, hopefully within a few months). Right now they are just sitting in pots of sand. I would not have tried to drill a hole to get the water out and in doing so damage the nuts. I think the nuts need it to germinate, as emperio22 explained. The coconut water is so not worth that risk.

[Zeeth]

Great job! It's definitely difficult to get the coconuts down, I've never thought about looking in the trash! Keep us updated! I'll post a picture of my palm that I sprouted from one of these coconuts when I visit home again!

[spockvr6]

On a coconut Id note.....can anyone identify the type of coconut this is?

Edited August 31, 2013 by spockvr6

[spockvr6]

Another photo.

[spockvr6]

Another bunch.

[spockvr6]

It's sending out what I believe is the first batch of legitimate coconuts at about the 6 ft level and the palm itself is about 20-25 ft OA. I think it is a Maypan.....but not 100% sure......

[Zeeth]

Here are some pics of my coconut palm grown from one of the Jamaican talls at Kopsick. I'm on a new computer that I haven't added my photo editing software on yet so forgive the glare.

Larry, I think that palm's a maypan

[palmsOrl]

Wow zeeth, that is gorgeous! I hope mine are that far along (and healthy) in 3 years' time. These do have a subtley different look than the malayan dwarf,even when juvenile, though I can't put my finger on what that difference is. Do the coconuts spock posted appear to be intermediate in appearance between the tall and dwarf, thus the maypan id?

[spockvr6]

FYI I confirmed all of the coconuts in my yard are for sure maypans. So the actual coconuts posted are maypan nuts.

[empireo22]

FYI I confirmed all of the coconuts in my yard are for sure maypans. So the actual coconuts posted are maypan nuts.

Did you buy them from the big box stores? I think most of the coconuts they sell there are maypans?

[spockvr6]

Empireo-

The Maypans from my yard all came from local Pine Island farms. I think most in big box stores are Malayans...not 100% sure on that though.

[empireo22]

Empireo-

The Maypans from my yard all came from local Pine Island farms. I think most in big box stores are Malayans...not 100% sure on that though.

Green Malayan?

[spockvr6]

Yes....I believe green (aka dwarf) Malayan. Dwarf is this sense just means it starts seeding when its only got a few feet of wood. The Maypans (which are Malayan and Panama Tall parentage) generally don't seed until they have 6+ ft of wood from what I have heard. The Maypans also seem to be heavier trunked (fatter). I believe the Malayans and Maypans grown around here trace their lineage to Jamaica.