Coconut in North Tampa

[Robbzilla13]

I’ve seen a few Coconuts around Clearwater, and even fewer north of that. I bought a small coconut and planted it in a pot, any advice to keep this palm thriving? I keep it in full sun and plan to bring inside if we get some cold nights this winter. 

 

[kinzyjr]

@Robbzilla13 Welcome to the forums!  You have the basics down pat.  They grow very well in our climate minus the half dozen or so days where we get freezes.  As far as planning for the future, you may want to consider getting a wagon to wheel them in and out if you plan on keeping them once they get large and require bigger pots.

[RedRabbit]

Welcome to the forum. I guess you're in the New Tampa area? 

Coconuts are easy to grow, but the problem with keeping them in a pot is they grow so fast. In a couple years they'll be too big to move around.

 

Edited September 30, 2019 by RedRabbit

[Robbzilla13]

Appreciate the replies, yes in the North Tampa area (Lutz/Odessa). If I can get them to survive a few years they could go in the ground. I could try wrapping them up, or whatever other tactics may work to keep them warm during the possible couple of cold nights we get. 

[PalmatierMeg]

You should be okay hauling them inside for a winter or two until they get too large. Long term winter survival rates for coconuts north of Tampa are grim if nothing is done to help them. If you eventually plant it you must protect/heat the meristem to ensure survival. Fronds can be sacrificed to cold damage as long as the growing point survives. Coconuts grow quickly in FL heat and yours will replace burned fronds when spring comes.

We have a member here, Walt, who grows a large coconut and an Adonidia merrillii in Central FL and has documented how he protects them from winter cold. I hope he will join in and give advice and links.

Welcome to PalmTalk.

 

[Robbzilla13]

Great information, thank you! 

[RedRabbit]

17 hours ago, Robbzilla13 said:

Appreciate the replies, yes in the North Tampa area (Lutz/Odessa). If I can get them to survive a few years they could go in the ground. I could try wrapping them up, or whatever other tactics may work to keep them warm during the possible couple of cold nights we get. 

West of Dale Mabry isn't too cold, particularly if you're around Odessa. As Meg said, @Walt has been able to keep a coconut alive in a slightly colder area than where you're at so its doable with sufficient determination. 

Edited October 1, 2019 by RedRabbit

[Robbzilla13]

I’ve planted these coconuts in the ground, they are doing very well. I put them in a conservation type are to keep the wind off them as the weather  cools off. At what temp should I be concerned and start working to keep them warm? I’ve read as low as 25 they can handle, another article said 27, and also heard freezing at 32 is the coldest. Also, is a frost blanket and extra mulch sufficient? If not what are some of the other recommendations? 

[kinzyjr]

7 hours ago, Robbzilla13 said:

I’ve planted these coconuts in the ground, they are doing very well. I put them in a conservation type are to keep the wind off them as the weather  cools off. At what temp should I be concerned and start working to keep them warm? I’ve read as low as 25 they can handle, another article said 27, and also heard freezing at 32 is the coldest. Also, is a frost blanket and extra mulch sufficient? If not what are some of the other recommendations? 

I've gotten by with tying the fronds up and wrapping beach towels around them at that size.  As far as the lowest temperature they can handle goes, that varies from freeze to freeze.  There was a pair of them planted out in the open about half a mile from me.  The advective freeze in Jan. 2018 had an ultimate low of 28.2F, ~10-12 hours below freezing depending on which part of the city you were in, and a consistent 10-15mph wind all night.  Both of the palms mentioned experienced 100% leaf burn.  One perished, and one recovered completely and is very happy today.

I typically covered mine if it was set to go below 40F when they were young.  As they got a little older, I usually held off unless the forecast calls for below 35F.  The Jamaican Talls are at a point where they will be mostly on their own.  My Green Malayan Dwarf was nearly killed by the cable company tech's decision to start digging around the area, damaging the roots.  It is mostly recovered and will get some extra attention this winter due to its weakened state.  The Maypan is probably still small enough that I can wrap it, if necessary.

Jamaican Tall #1

Jamaican Tall #2

Green Malayan Dwarf in back recovering, Maypan in front

[Robbzilla13]

Those are nice! How long did it take to get them that big? I guess I will plan for anything below 40 to wrap them up at night, at least for the first year. Definitely appreciate the information, and thanks for sharing the photos. 
 

I will post pics of mine (have no idea what type of coconut, tag just said Coconut palm) this weekend. 

[kinzyjr]

@Robbzilla13 You're welcome!  The Jamaican Talls are two years in the ground from strap leaf seedlings.  I got them off of Calusa Palms Nursery.  The Green Malayan is 8 years in the ground and was a lot fuller before it got damaged.  The Maypan is the same age as my Talls and was an impulse purchase when I saw the coconut was larger than a basketball.  If I had to guess, I would say yours are Green Malayan Dwarf since they have the green petioles and a more vertical crown.  That's usually what the box stores sell in our region.

If you want to see the progressive growth of my coconut palms, it is documented here: Palms and Others of Interest

If you want to see the damage and subsequent recovery of the palm that survived the advective freeze: Coconuts in Lakeland, FL

[Robbzilla13]

I will do some digging to see if I can find out what type of coconut these are. Those are impressive for 2 years old, I guess I can expect them to look dramatically different this coming summer. Does one type grow faster then the other? 

[kinzyjr]

2 minutes ago, Robbzilla13 said:

I will do some digging to see if I can find out what type of coconut these are. Those are impressive for 2 years old, I guess I can expect them to look dramatically different this coming summer. Does one type grow faster then the other? 

The talls are speed demons compared to the dwarfs.  The Malayan Dwarfs aren't true dwarfs; they will eventually get large but it just takes a lot longer.

[Robbzilla13]

I need to find a Tall! Lol 

just looked at all your pics, looks really good. I’m inspired to keep my coconuts alive this winter. I’ll get some pics over today! Good stuff!

[Robbzilla13]

Also, what’s a good way to identify the 2 coconuts?

[kinzyjr]

45 minutes ago, Robbzilla13 said:

Also, what’s a good way to identify the 2 coconuts?

Some rules of thumb I go by:

If it has green petioles and an umbrella shaped crown coming out of coconut of moderate size (Bonus if it came from a box store) => Probably a Green Malayan Dwarf

If it has similar growth patterns to the above with golden petioles instead of green => Probably a Golden Malayan Dwarf

If the crown is so full that it is almost spherical => Usually some kind of tall.  In Florida, higher probability of a Jamaican Tall

If the crown is in the middle ground between the Malayans and the Talls and the coconut is huge => Probably a Maypan

I'm by no means an expert.  There are others on the forums, particularly Zeeth with coconuts, who have expertise in Palm ID that dwarf my own by a significant margin.  If we were at Fairchild where they have Red Spicata, Fiji Dwarf, etc. then the probability that my ID is correct is going to go down significantly.  In Central Florida, the typical types that people grow are Jamaican Tall, Green Malayan, Golden Malayan, and once in a while a Maypan.  That narrows the room for error significantly.

That being said, if you want something easier to protect that has recently proven not to be as cold tender as once presumed, Fiji Dwarf for the win.  It's also easier to remove the coconuts before a hurricane since you won't need an extension ladder or lift truck.

[Robbzilla13]

Here they are planted! I have no clue what type! Lol

[Robbzilla13]

All 3 are Green Malayan Dwarf coconuts.  

[RedRabbit]

7 hours ago, kinzyjr said:

I typically covered mine if it was set to go below 40F when they were young.  As they got a little older, I usually held off unless the forecast calls for below 35F. 

Yep, I think 40 is the right threshold to protect coconuts. Below that and you risk getting damage from frost. 
 

@Robbzilla13, If you’re in the Lutz/Odessa area I’d be careful about your source for weather forecasts. The Tampa forecast might be 5f warmer since TIA is right by the bay and has some  urban heating.