Cocos Nucifera "Tall" pollination question

[GottmitAlex]

I read on the forum that the Tall variety of Cocos nucifera, namely Jamaican and Pacific, do not self pollinate.

Does this mean someone has to climb those palms and manually do it? Can bees do it? Or are they like date palms: Male and female flowers grow on different trees.

Thank you

 

 

[Zeeth]

The male and female flowers generally open at different times on one bracket, so selfing isn't as reliable when pollinated by bees. Yield will be low unless there are multiple coconuts in the area or you hand-pollinate. Selfing is more likely in the hot humid months when multiple brackets can open at once. 

[GottmitAlex]

Thank you very much Zeeth!

[GottmitAlex]

Btw, there is  a seller on Ebay who currently has sprouted and unsprouted Pacific/Panama Talls for sale:

I know folks on Palmtalk have been looking for sprouted Panama Talls without much luck.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/162273620369

 

 

Edited November 13, 2016 by GottmitAlex

[Mr. Coconut Palm]

Often times, the talls will produce cross pollinated hybrid nuts that have been cross pollinated with other varieties of talls growing in the vicinity, and in the case of South Florida, where you have multiple different varieties of dwarfs growing nearby, they will often produce Mayjam and Maypan hybrids.  I have what appears to be a healthy Panama Tall from Florida, but it is growing very slowly, and right next to it is a very fast growing Maypan.

[GottmitAlex]

8 minutes ago, Mr. Coconut Palm said:

Often times, the talls will produce cross pollinated hybrid nuts that have been cross pollinated with other varieties of talls growing in the vicinity, and in the case of South Florida, where you have multiple different varieties of dwarfs growing nearby, they will often produce Mayjam and Maypan hybrids.  I have what appears to be a healthy Panama Tall from Florida, but it is growing very slowly, and right next to it is a very fast growing Maypan.

Are Panama Talls slow growers compared to other varieties? (Generally speaking)

[HurryUp&Grow]

C'mon people! Post more pictures!

Edited November 14, 2016 by HurryUp&Grow

[Mr. Coconut Palm]

47 minutes ago, GottmitAlex said:

Are Panama Talls slow growers compared to other varieties? (Generally speaking)

I think they are supposed to be fast growers, but mine for some reason, even though it looks healthy is VERY slow growing.  I have a Maypan on one side of it that is growing like it's on steroids (which is normal for them), and a Golden Malayan Dwarf on the other side of it that is younger than the Panama Tall by about a year or more, and yet is about to surpass it in height!

[GottmitAlex]

Just now, Mr. Coconut Palm said:

I think they are supposed to be fast growers, but mine for some reason, even though it looks healthy is VERY slow growing.  I have a Maypan on one side of it that is growing like it's on steroids (which is normal for them), and a Golden Malayan Dwarf on the other side of it that is younger than the Panama Tall by about a year or more, and yet is about to surpass it in height!

Wow. I see. I can only assume you checked the soil already. Comparing between the three cocos.

[Mr. Coconut Palm]

13 minutes ago, GottmitAlex said:

Wow. I see. I can only assume you checked the soil already. Comparing between the three cocos.

I haven't done a soil test or anything like that, but I planted them all within about 3ft. of each other to make a nice cluster of coconut palms of 3 different varieties.  The Panama Tall looks healthy, so I don't think there is any kind of soil born disease.  It is just growing extremely slow.  I did lose a Jamaican Tall there about a month before I planted it, but I think that was due apparently to Jamaican Talls not liking their roots disturbed (something that happens with all plants when you take them out of the pot and put them in the ground) when they are young, which is something I didn't know about till after I planted it.  I have had bad luck with Jamaican Talls here, and no longer intend to plant any.  For some reason, they just don't seem to do well here on the South Texas coast, whereas other varieties due okay between our bad winters.

[GottmitAlex]

1 hour ago, Mr. Coconut Palm said:

I haven't done a soil test or anything like that, but I planted them all within about 3ft. of each other to make a nice cluster of coconut palms of 3 different varieties.  The Panama Tall looks healthy, so I don't think there is any kind of soil born disease.  It is just growing extremely slow.  I did lose a Jamaican Tall there about a month before I planted it, but I think that was due apparently to Jamaican Talls not liking their roots disturbed (something that happens with all plants when you take them out of the pot and put them in the ground) when they are young, which is something I didn't know about till after I planted it.  I have had bad luck with Jamaican Talls here, and no longer intend to plant any.  For some reason, they just don't seem to do well here on the South Texas coast, whereas other varieties due okay between our bad winters.

Thought about a different variety? Pacific tall?

[User00]

On 11/13/2016, 5:42:10, Zeeth said:

The male and female flowers generally open at different times on one bracket, so selfing isn't as reliable when pollinated by bees. Yield will be low unless there are multiple coconuts in the area or you hand-pollinate. Selfing is more likely in the hot humid months when multiple brackets can open at once. 

so tall types need same verity trees near by to produce pure breed seeds ??

 

16 hours ago, Mr. Coconut Palm said:

Often times, the talls will produce cross pollinated hybrid nuts that have been cross pollinated with other varieties of talls growing in the vicinity, and in the case of South Florida, where you have multiple different varieties of dwarfs growing nearby, they will often produce Mayjam and Maypan hybrids.  I have what appears to be a healthy Panama Tall from Florida, but it is growing very slowly, and right next to it is a very fast growing Maypan.

any panama tall pics if you have

[RR soFLA]

There are a good number of Atlantic Talls growing here in S.W. Florida. Here are a few from Pine Island, I  always see multiple adjacent talls as an opportunity to collect what are hopefully pure tall coconuts. Often the nuts themselves will display tall characteristics in size and form. I have to say I've enjoyed  sprouting about ten this year.

[GottmitAlex]

21 minutes ago, RR soFLA said:

There are a good number of Atlantic Talls growing here in S.W. Florida. Here are a few from Pine Island, I  always see multiple adjacent talls as an opportunity to collect what are hopefully pure tall coconuts. Often the nuts themselves will display tall characteristics in size and form. I have to say I've enjoyed  sprouting about ten this year.

 

RR, thank you for the pictures. From your experience, can you tell me if the nut pictured on post #4 of this thread displays the characteristics of a tall?

 

[RR soFLA]

It could be, usually they are triangulated often with ridges on the thinner or bottom end. Yours looks kind of ridged. I usually plant in a mix of composted cow manure, top soil and native soil (here is sand). Good luck with it!

Here is a shot of some of this years sprouts,  the previously pictured have since been planted in front of the house.

[Mr. Coconut Palm]

On ‎11‎/‎13‎/‎2016‎ ‎11‎:‎14‎:‎05‎, GottmitAlex said:

Thought about a different variety? Pacific tall?

I have thought about trying to get a Green Variety of Hawaiian Tall, which according to Keith in Florida is pretty cold hardy, hardier than the Golden Variety of Hawaiian Tall.