Date palm

They suit dry subtropical climates. It needs hot, dry arid climates while fruit mature. It can tolerate salty or brackish water. It can also grow in alkaline soils but with reduced yields. In cold temperate regions the palm grows but rarely flowers. It does best in areas with long dry summers and sufficient heat for fruit to ripen. It should not have rain during flowering and fruit set. For best production it needs 3,400 heat units above 10°C for fruit to fully mature. It can grow in arid places. It suits plant hardiness zones 9-12. In Yunnan.

Also known as:

Akarap, Arabi khejur, Belah, Dabino, Dadel, Datil, Datilera, Dattelpalme, Dattero, Dattier, Dibinodje, Hai zao, Imae, Ita, Ittappazham, Karchuram, Khajur, Kharjura, Kharjuramu, Khorjjuri, Mtende, Nakhla, Nakl-el-balah, Natsume yashi, Palma datilera, Perichchankay, Sunbalun, Sunpalun, Tamar, Tamareira, Tamr, Tenitta, Timir, Ye zao

Edible Portion

Fruit, Cabbage, Sap, Palm heart, Flowers, Nuts-oil

Where does Date palm grow?

Found in: Africa, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Arabia, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central Africa, Chad, China, Cuba, Cyprus, East Africa, East Timor, Egypt, Egypt - Sinai, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Greece, Guam, Guatemala, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Marquesas, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mediterranean, Mexico, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, North Africa, North America, Oman, Pacific, Pakistan, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Rotuma, Sahel, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sinai, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, South Sudan, Spain, Sudan, Syria, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, UAE, United States, Vietnam, West Africa, Yemen

Notes: There are 17 Phoenix species.

Status: A major food. It is cultivated.

Growing Date palm

Cultivation: Plants are grown from seed. Seed take 4-5 months to germinate. They begin bearing 5-6 years after planting and reach full production by 15 years. A palm lasts about 80 years. Female plants need to be pollinated before they bear fruit. A single male is sufficient for 50 females. Taking suckers from good producing plants is a more reliable means of growing new plants. A well established palm can give 8-18 good suckers over a 6 year period. These suckers should have some leaves cut off during transplanting. About 10% of plants should be male, for pollination. Selection of a good pollinator tree is important. Fruit thinning is often needed to give good sized fruit. Three to four bunches per tree are sufficient.

Edible Uses: The fruit is eaten fresh or dried. They are also used for jams and preserves. The date stones can be fermented or roasted and used as a coffee substitute. They can be pressed for oil. Dates are also pressed for juice. The sap is used for jaggery and sugar. The male flower can be eaten. The pollen is eaten.

Production: Trees take about 6 years before good production. There can be 45-70 kg of fruit per tree. Trees continue to bear for 50 years.

Nutrition Info

per 100g edible portion

Edible Part	Energy (kcal)	Protein (g)	Iron (mg)	Vitamin A (ug)	Vitamin c (mg)	Zinc (mg)	% Water
Fruit	143	0.9	1.3	50	6	-	58.5
Fruit - dry	275	2	1.2	5	0	0.3	22.5

Date palm Photos

Date palm

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