GROWING COCONUT PALMS in MARGINAL CLIMATES | My EXPERIMENT IN HARDINESS

[@TropicalGardenGuy]

Follow along with my Coconut palm experiment in Californias zone 9b… Smash the SUBSCRIBE BUTTON! Have a great Day!🌴

[@johnnysworld-backyardorchard]

Great video Jeff and an interesting experiment you are conducting! I am really impressed with what you can grow in your climate zone, thank you for sharing!

[@TropicalGardenGuy]

You and me both!

[@juata77]

Love this! Your coconut’s plant is beautiful, hopefully it will survive thru this winter. Please keep us updated with your coconut’s plant. Thank you so much for sharing I love tropical fruit! Btw great job on your Lychee’s plants!! I see fruits so cool!!

[@TropicalGardenGuy]

Thanks. Its still alive but sulking. I will do an update shortly

[@flatjacks]

Cool stuff bro, I hope it matures and fruits for you because you could slowly start to acclimate it so the offspring can start inching it’s way up more north

[@TropicalGardenGuy]

My goal for now it to see if it will survive to see Christmas here. But hopefully I am giving ideas for those in SoCal that have a better chance!

[@MYFIDDLELEAF]

Currently growing mine !!! I’m in the germination process now . I am doing a white coconut and the other one that is wrapped up in plastic when you but it

[@AdamOnVinyl]

Awesome, you're doing this experiment!

[@TropicalGardenGuy]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@jimr4354]

Good luck getting the coconuts through winter. I would wrap them in a light felt material then with heavy duty frost cloth. At least 50gsm thickness. Without the felt the frost cloth will just transmit the cold. Put all your potted plants around it too as the more foliage the better insulated it will. A heater tube is next if you have access nearby.

[@TropicalGardenGuy]

Thanks Jim, To be honest , I have many things going against me. The worst being root rot when my soil temps drop below 60f in winter. I truly believe , the way described in my video would work in SoCal near the coast, I give it only 10 percent chance of making it to Christmas . But thats what this experiment is about.

[@gartengeflugel924]

That's an interesting experiment for sure. I have heard that many marginally hardy plants survive just a little better in winter if they are kept very dry. Of course this only works if the plant also tolerates that, which I don't know if the coconut does. My other thought was that a simple greenhouse might be enough for the palm until it eventually outgrows it. Of course in summer this would need to be wide open or dismantled, but otherwise your climate is so warm I am pretty optimistic you could store enough heat in there even in winter.

[@TropicalGardenGuy]

Agreed

[@lizbecker1677]

This is a fun video. I haven't seen what actually happened to your coconut, but I wouldn't be surprised if it made it through winter. I live in Connecticut and brought a sprouted coconut home from my cousin's house in West Palm Beach two years ago. I planted it in a plastic planter with half sand and half potting soil. We have a really sunny backyard, so it lives out there from June through the end of September and is thriving. In the winter, it lives in the house in my living room widow. It seems pretty happy, but when we go away during the winter we need to make sure the temperature in the house doesn't go below 60 degrees F. I think 60 is the magic number with coconuts. Thanks for sharing your experience.

[@TropicalGardenGuy]

I did an update… it died.

[@0anant0]

Nice experiment, Jeff! A monthly update would be wonderful to see how it grows thru summer and fall!

[@TropicalGardenGuy]

I may just do that, thanks for watching…jeff

[@jared8268]

I’ll be interested to see how long the coconut lasts here in Modesto. Is there a reason you planted it in your front yard rather than the more crowded (and canopy protected) backyard? Are you thinking soil temperature is going to be more important than a little extra cover?

[@TropicalGardenGuy]

I used an ir thermometer and soil thermometer checking all my microclimates and that spot is warmest. BY FAR!… lol Some sunny days when air temps in my back yard were in the 60’s, that spot, the air temps were in the 80’s.

[@bigg368]

I love your videos. I look forward to them. Maybe one day give us an update on your beccariophoenix alfredii. I can't remember if I've asked you if you are trying parajubaea torryalli or not.

[@TropicalGardenGuy]

Yes I will

[@bigg368]

@@TropicalGardenGuy thanks that would be wonderful. I live in palm springs and I have two but you are the only person in CA I know who has one.

[@TropicalGardenGuy]

@@bigg368 There’s a real nice sized on at a condo complex in Del Mar… You have to do a google search. I know of at least 6 growing in SoCal

[@tinyjungle_]

What a timely video. I've been trying to source a dwarf coconut tree here in Southern California for a while. I'm looking for dwarf because it's my understanding they are self fertile and I can get away with having only one. I've been inspired by the Newport, Del Mar and Santa Ana coconut trees and want to try to grow one to full maturity with fruits. I know how difficult and unlikely it will be but that hasn't stopped me before. Do you have any recommendations where I might be able to find a dwarf Coconut Tree in Southern California without breaking the bank? Thank you.

[@TropicalGardenGuy]

Excellent! Happy growing!

[@CrazyAsian1]

I live in San Diego and I got my dwarf Malayan coconut palm from EBay for like 30 bucks total

[@lyonheart84]

Certainly interesting to see how cold it can go, I'll be watching for early winter updates 👍

[@TropicalGardenGuy]

Thanks Brett, was gonna with you a happy 4th but… lol

[@lyonheart84]

@@TropicalGardenGuy haha I'm aware of the July 4th celebrations 😂😂

[@TropicalGardenGuy]

I kinda figuired. Ironic considering history that US and UK are closest friends… But man I hate iOS spell check!

[@zeroformal]

I admire you, I’m working on my own tropical paradise in my backyard in Modesto CA too. So far I have: a mango tree, several guava varieties, I have soursop seedlings, a banana tree, Tamarillo or tomato trees, passion fruit, ice cream bean trees I started from seed, red hog plums. I’m thinking to I want to get lychee and achacha soon and hopefully I can finally grow anona sugar apple too.

[@TropicalGardenGuy]

Happy growing!

[@centripetal6157]

I have a few lychee saplings growing! They actually grow well in California. Tried a bunch of times with many, many Rambutan seeds but it never grew.

[@TropicalGardenGuy]

Yea, Rambutan are just to sensitive to cold.

[@zeroformal]

@@centripetal6157 nice! What area in California?

[@centripetal6157]

@@zeroformal north California, in the valley

[@samb2463]

Hi Jeff, how's the coconut doing now that its getting colder

[@TropicalGardenGuy]

It’s still doing fine. The soil is still somewhat warm, I expect that to change quickly. I ll do an update video soon

[@MrPsarn]

When the palm is young it is at its most vulnerable to cold. In California, as a general rule until it develops at least 1 foot of solid trunk and the leaves open out, it must be kept in the pot so that it can be taken indoors during any prolonged chilly Winter spells. Then it can be planted into the ground; but also beware that some palm types (e.g. Mexican Fan) may deprive the Coconut of water if planted too close. The most succesful current long-term ones (e.g. Santa Ana) were carefully looked after when young, as well as being in a very favourable location.

[@TropicalGardenGuy]

Agreed!

[@junebrown3465]

Hi did that coconut tree make it thru the winter😊

[@TropicalGardenGuy]

Nope, it died by Jan 1st🫣

[@mirandacastel7316]

did you wrap it or just let it be?

[@cpdudeyt]

Its been a month. My 3rd attemp to sprout a coconut. And i used the baggie method. All didnt work. My house is 75f temparture. Is there are idea where to put it somewhere warm or Keep it warm?

[@TropicalGardenGuy]

Put mine on a seed starter heating pad at 85f

[@cpdudeyt]

@@TropicalGardenGuy Will 75f be enough?

[@CrazyAsian1]

I also have a coconut palm, but in San Diego. The older fronds were losing their color and turning yellow and drying up. Is it alright to trim them back? Mine’s in the ground so hopefully it survives this upcoming winter.

[@TropicalGardenGuy]

🙏

[@coconutterrence8549]

thank you🦘👍terry

[@TropicalGardenGuy]

Very welcome!

[@coconutterrence8549]

i am glad that you are doing so well with all tour tropical plants and i was wondering what temprerature does it reach at night in winter where you are.🤙👍🦘🌴 my name is terry from aust victoria

[@TropicalGardenGuy]

December / January average is 55f/39f which is our coldest months . Coldest temps of the year varies from 26f to 28f, but in 1989 it hit 18f

[@Will_Grow_Plants]

Fun! Are there any other marginal palms you might try?

[@TropicalGardenGuy]

lol… just about all my plants are “ marginal” for my area. I have 200 videos on youtube and the list is too large to link to them all. As far as palms go, I have trunking dypsis, Becarriophonix , Chambreyonia, Euturpe etc

[@lanisehoward8397]

Some mean temps in Southern California cities for the coldest month is 60 degrees. So technically very close to tropical

[@TropicalGardenGuy]

Agreed, even NorCal has been about 5 degrees above average

[@lanisehoward8397]

@ no I mean historical averages look up Anaheim. Several others so cal cities have Jan average mean of 60 degrees

[@centripetal6157]

I just got a second store bought coconut today, in California also... Tried growing the first one but it molded. : (

[@TropicalGardenGuy]

Sorry to hear that

[@jeffreywickens3379]

I live in Hawaii at 3000 feet, and I don't have any coconut palms, but I am going to try.

[@TropicalGardenGuy]

definitely borderline

[@bankmaster777]

I guess it didnt work?

[@TropicalGardenGuy]

Nope dead by Christmas

[@billlam7756]

I gave up and just bought 9x coconut pack at Asian market for $19 😂

[@TropicalGardenGuy]

🌴😎🌴

[@bbsara0146]

I wouldnt plant all those trees so close to your house mate. coconut trees get massive...

[@TropicalGardenGuy]

Thank you for your input. I’ve Been doing this for 40 years. If something gets too large I have it removed.

[@bbsara0146]

@@TropicalGardenGuy wasnt hating on you mate. I just get triggered when I see large trees planted close to a foundation. be good mate

[@jhost0311]

Did it die? Lol

[@TropicalGardenGuy]

Yup