Will these dates be edible when mature

[Twill17]

So I bought my house in 2020. Previous owners were a bit eccentric and planted way more palms, cacti, shrubs, trees etc than you would ever need. Fast forward to 2024 and this date palm just started to produce fruit. I am not sure if these are the edible variety of dates. Climate wise, it is Phoenix AZ which means intense heat in the summers, very dry, and mild winters. 
 

Can I eat these once mature? And also recommendations for care (how much water, how often, etc)

 

Thank you!

[PalmatierMeg]

Where is Cave Creek?

[aztropic]

Fruit from the Phoenix sylvestris, (your tree) would be edible,but not like the medjool type you're probably thinking of. There just is very little fruit covering the seed.🤷‍♂️ 

Waterwise,a deep soaking (50 gallons) every other week April thru November,then whatever nature provides over the winter is more than adequate. 

 

aztropic 

Mesa, Arizona 

[Twill17]

Palmatier Meg Cave Creek is a suburb of Phoenix.

[Twill17]

Aztropic, is there a name for the variety of dates I will get? 

[aztropic]

2 hours ago, Twill17 said:

Aztropic, is there a name for the variety of dates I will get? 

Your tree is a Phoenix sylvestris. They are an ornamental palm,never grown for their fruit.

The date species commercially grown for its fruit is Phoenix dactylifera. There are dozens of named varieties. Some common ones are medjool,zahidi,deglet noor,and black sphinx. ASU has an edible date farm at their power road campus (old Williams AFB) with many edible varieties being trialed. 

 

aztropic 

Mesa, Arizona