Cocos nucifera dwarf red spicata hybrid with fruit

[PalmatierMeg]

This is my dwarf red spicata (hybrid with ?) I planted as a 7g in 2010 and it has grown into a monster. It has set nuts for the past two years. I think its first crop should be ready later this year. We've given them to several of our neighbors from the Caribbean to eat. They say my coconuts are ripe enough to eat but not plant and I should wait till they turn brown and fall. I've had absolutely no luck germinating coconuts so I have no confidence I will fare better with these. Will someone walk me through the ripening, verification of viability and germination process?

I took these photos this morning.

[Zeeth]

Beautiful! Here's my process:

Let the coconuts turn brown and fall off on their own.

Throw them into a shaded area and wait.

Plant into a pot when the sprout pops out of the husk.

I never get more than 50% germination with coconuts so I don't bother planting directly into a pot. If I'm desperate for the coconut to sprout, I dehusk it and expose the embryo. This gives a higher percentage germination rate (usually when they don't germinate it's because of ants or rot from taking too long), but you have to protect the coconut for the first year to prevent it from splitting in the sun. You've got so many I don't see a need to try this method.

[Moose]

Meg - Its definitely a hybrid but it has very strong Red spicata DNA. Some of those nuts are lined up in a spicata form, especially in photo #5. I noticed it in your Sabal "Lisa" thread too. The coloring of your nuts is outstanding, would not mind that beautiful palm here in my garden.

Curious if these would be a good candidate for Palm Springs, California - you've been known to get wacked by some pretty decent cold temperatures since you planted it.

[PalmatierMeg]

I wasn't aware some coconut palms might be hardier than others. I got this one in early 2010 but I think cold wiped out my source's stock later that winter because he didn't sell them again for at least 2 years while he germinated more stock. I protected this one with cotton flannel sheets until it grew too large. On particularly cold spells it suffered leaf damage but recovered over summer.

I would like to germinate seeds to offer on PT but given my sorry track record with coconuts I need expert advice. It is a magnificent palm that should have wider distribution.

[empireo22]

Meg, this is how I do it. and I have pretty good success if the seed is good.

wait for the seed to fall off, or atleast be ready to fall, brown on the tree. if you hear a splashing sound that's good if you don't and the seed looks healthy it may be just so full of water it wont splash around inside. anyway once you have the seeds picked out drop them in a bucket or wheelbarrow of water for 2 or 3 days to soak up some water then let them dry out for 2 days. after that I bury them half way in mulch with the eye end angled slightly up (not vertical though). and if you can do this in part shade to shade where you can water it that would be great. you should have them sprouting pretty quick in the summer like this. mulch and sometimes I use straw mixed with mulch is the way to go. no need to pot anything up until you get sprouts.

[redant]

Meg, this is how I do it. and I have pretty good success if the seed is good.

wait for the seed to fall off, or atleast be ready to fall, brown on the tree. if you hear a splashing sound that's good if you don't and the seed looks healthy it may be just so full of water it wont splash around inside. anyway once you have the seeds picked out drop them in a bucket or wheelbarrow of water for 2 or 3 days to soak up some water then let them dry out for 2 days. after that I bury them half way in mulch with the eye end angled slightly up (not vertical though). and if you can do this in part shade to shade where you can water it that would be great. you should have them sprouting pretty quick in the summer like this. mulch and sometimes I use straw mixed with mulch is the way to go. no need to pot anything up until you get sprouts.

I do similar, I put a bunch of brown coconuts (with water inside) in a very large nursery pot, cover with horse poo and put in the sun. The coconuts seem to like the heat to pop. When I see the sprout's coming out of the poo I pull them out of the community pot and pot them up in individual pots. Seems to be very effective particularly if the nuts are ripe in the winter as the poo keeps them warm as it composts.

[Jose Maria]

Hello Meg,at my place I have coconut germinating all the time.

I agree with the above recommendations . The nuts should remain on the tree until they turn brown. Then they will fall down.

Those that don´t have "milk" inside , and don´t slosh when shaken are dead, forget about those.

The good ones ;let them lie in the shade or sun, they will germinate.

The thing is not to move them anymore( everybody who comes along and for the fun of it shakes them!) .They should be in a secluded spot...

Then let them rest so that the coconut "knows" which side is up ...and can send the shoot up, and at the same time the roots down.

[Danilopez89]

That coco tree is BEAUTIFUL! I really want to try several kinds here in desert. Good luck with germinating them.

[Coconutman]

Nice!

[Mr. Coconut Palm]

I would like to try one here in South Texas. They could probably make it okay in Brownsville, Port Isabel and South Padre Island, maybe even in a protected microclimate here in Flour Bluff and at North Padre Island.

[Carlo Morici]

Hello Meg and all, I am in the same process, with a very similar tree!

A few years ago I got one seed of Cocos Red Spicata for the Palmetum. The palm is now starting to fruit for real and we will try to sow the first ones.

I suspect it is a hybrid too, since inflorescences sometimes do have branches, but we are all very excited, because we have never grown a domestic coconut!

There are lots of "african talls" on the island. But this one has started to bear much, much earlier, with LOTS of round, brightly coloured, think-husked fruits. I felt they are even sweeter,but I might be biased.

Our fruits do look much like Meg's fruits but our tree is smaller and compact. Here there are a few unripe ones - and sorry for the blue paint!

Carlo

[Pedro 65]

Awesome Meg

Pete