Trunking Coconut palm growing outdoors in Southern California!

Well, its the Newport Beach Coconut, but this was taken this week on my vacation down there.

The following thread was started by Kyle on December 31, 2004 at 8:15 pm PST

I measured one of the fronds and it was 11 feet long. It is almost getting to the proportions of the tropics, and it looks like the crown is getting denser. I also noticed that it had two trunks sort of - the reddish brown trunk you can see easily, and then below that, there was a trunk that was dark gray. It looked like the 'trunk' I saw on all of the other photos of it from when it was smaller, and since then it has shot up, incase none of you noticed. I wouldn't be surprised that one year it would put out some infrustructures, although I doubt it will get any coconuts any time soon, but I definatley think it is possible.

The above followup was added by kyle on December 31, 2004 at 8:20 pm PST.

I think this photo was taken in 1998 - anyway, you can see the "other trunk" I was taking about I think at the base (the black thing that looks like dirt at the base) Anyway, it has a lot of improvement - and I think its grown a lot for 7 years.

The above followup was added by kyle on December 31, 2004 at 8:31 pm PST.

I was looking up some information about the black sapote and came across this hardiness chart from ECHO. They have coconut listed as being hardy down to 29F. I suppose with enough determination a person might be able to pull it off and grow one here.
http://www.echonet.org/eln&herbs/eln_catalog/coldtolerance.htm

I am thinking of giving it a try.

William Visalia Ca

The above followup was added by William on January 01, 2005 at 6:36 am PST.

William, The only way coconuts will grow here in the vally is in a heated greenhouse. They could take our low temps, but hate cold soil. I had one growing in a pot on my back porch one year.... did fine until feb when the roots rooted.

Jeff

The above followup was added by Jeff on January 01, 2005 at 1:21 pm PST.

If I get back to Northern California I am going to try one anyway. I think I have an idea on how to make one survive, at least one winter.

The above followup was added by kyle on January 01, 2005 at 10:18 pm PST.

You buy cable soil heater for under $50. Set it at 70f and keep the plant potted and under and awning might work.

Jeff

The above followup was added by Jeff on January 02, 2005 at 10:17 am PST.

... that coconuts in marginal areas just don't look any good. In that first picture, the Queen palm across the street looks a lot nicer. I've seen the same thing a lot in subtropical areas of Australia, coconuts grow, but always look a little sad and sick, while Queens look a lot nicer. The effect would be highlighted in a warm temperate climate. And please understand that I am a palm lover who does not rate Queens all that highly...!

The above followup was added by Ben on January 02, 2005 at 5:32 pm PST.

A coconuts a coconut to me... I think it looks nice now. They trim that palm too mcuh though, because someof the petioles were still bright yellow (instead of brown) so they trimmed them, and it looks like the crown is gettting denser.

The above followup was added by kyle on January 03, 2005 at 3:49 pm PST.

I managed to winter one for 5 years here in San Diego (Zone 23 mesa top). I remember in the late 1960s our neighbor in Westminster CA had one that was trunked up to the 5 foot masonary block fence that separated our back yards. Every year it had many small coconuts about the size of a solo papaya. Of course winters were milder in SoCal 40 years ago- we used the pool up past Thanksgiving.....

The above followup was added by Harvey Stewart on January 29, 2005 at 5:49 pm PST.