The Phoenix dactylifera prefers warm climates with temperatures rarely falling below - 6°C. It thrives in tropical and sub-tropical deserts and requires full sun. It is hardy up to 30 degrees latitude but needs a sheltered site. The plant is adaptable to various soil types, including sand, loam, and clay, as long as there is good drainage and aeration. It can tolerate alkaline soils and moderate salt levels. The rainfall typically ranges from 250 - 800 mm.
Date palm
The Phoenix dactylifera, also known as the date palm, is a tall palm tree native to the Middle East. It thrives in warm climates with full sun and requires well-drained soil. The fruit of the date palm, called dates, are widely used in various culinary preparations and have nutritional value. The tree has multiple uses, including providing shade, producing wood for construction, and offering medicinal properties.
Phoenix dactylifera
The date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) is native to Iraq.
The date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) is a palm tree native to the tropical and sub-tropical deserts of the Middle East. It has been cultivated for approximately 6,000 years and is now not found in the wild. This palm tree can grow up to 36 meters in height and requires full sun and warm climates. The date palm is typically found in areas where the temperature rarely falls below -6°C and rainfall ranges from 250 to 800 mm. It usually grows on saline soils near brackish water. The plant is tolerant of alkaline soils and fairly high salt levels, although excessive salt can affect its growth and fruit production. The fruit of the date palm is borne on large clusters and can be consumed fresh or dried. Dates are used in various culinary preparations, including cakes, biscuits, breads, pastes, syrups, jellies, ice cream, and alcohol. In the Sahara desert, dates are fed to camels, horses, and dogs. The seeds of the date palm are dried and ground to make bread, and they can also be soaked in water and fed to livestock as forage. Apart from its culinary uses, the date palm has other applications as well. The seeds can be dried and burned to make charcoal, which is used by silver smiths. The leaves of the date palm are used to make thatch huts, mats, baskets, screens, packing crates, and fans. The stripped fruit clusters are used as brooms, and the trunks are used for posts and rafters in construction. All leftover wood is used as firewood. The date fruit is known for its nutritional composition. It contains carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins (such as vitamin A, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, and ascorbic acid), and minerals (such as calcium, potassium, sodium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, chlorine, sulphur, and iodine). In addition to its culinary and material uses, various parts of the date palm have medicinal properties. The fruit is used as a detersive and astringent for intestinal troubles, and an infusion is used to treat sore throat, colds, and bronchial catarrh. It is also taken to relieve cystitis, gonorrhea, edema, liver and abdominal troubles. The gum that exudes from wounds in the trunk is used to treat genito-urinary ailments and diarrhea, as it is demulcent and diuretic. The roots of the date palm are even used for toothache. When cultivating date palms, it is important to note that they can grow readily from seed, but it can take up to ten years for them to start fruiting, and the fruit quality can be variable. Additionally, about half of the raised seedlings are likely to be male. Therefore, if suckers of known plants are available, they are usually preferred. Suckers weigh about 45 kg when transplanted. In cases where suckers are not available, it is recommended to plant a large number of seedlings and propagate suckers from the best specimens. Males will be required for pollination.
The date palm thrives in sand, loam, and clay soils with good drainage and aeration. It can tolerate very alkaline soils and fairly high salt levels, although excessive salt levels may affect its growth and fruit production.
Native to the tropical and sub tropical deserts of the Middle East: this palm has been cultivated for about 6,000 years. It is now not known in the wild. It is an erect palm growing to 36 m.
It requires full sun, and warm climates where the temperature rarely falls below - 6°C. It is hardy to 30 degrees latitude, but requires a sheltered site. Rainfall is typically 250 - 800 mm.
The Arabs claim that it must have its feet in the water and its head in the fire of heaven. It usually grows on saline soils near brackish water. For date production, a rain free fruiting period is needed. Planting densities range from 100 - 500 per hectare depending on soil type and water availability. The plant does well in sand, loam and clay provided that drainage and aeration are good. It is tolerant of very alkaline soils and fairly high salt levels although the latter can affect growth and fruit production.
The fruit is borne on large clusters. Dates are eaten out of hand fresh and dried. They are used in cakes, biscuits, breads, pastes, syrups, jellies, ice cream and alcohol. In the Saharah desert they are fed to camels, horses and dogs. The terminal bud is eaten but this kills the palm. The seeds are dried and ground finely and mixed with flour to make bread. The seed is also soaked in water and fed to livestock and is a good chicken forage. Palms can be tapped (no more than two or three times) for sugar and wine production.
Nutritional composition of the dried date per 100 grams of edible portion is: Water - 22.5%, Energy - 274 calories, Carbohydrate - 72.9 g, Fat - 0.5 g, Protein - 2.2 g, Ash - 1.9 g, Calcium -59 mg, Potassium - 648 mg, Sodium - 1 mg, Magnesium - 58 mg, Iron - 3.0 mg, Phosphorous -63 mg, Chlorine - 390 mg, Sulphur - 120 mg, Iodine - 0.001 mg, Vitamin A - 50 I.U., Thiamin - 0.09 mg, Riboflavin - 0.10 mg, Niacin - 2.2 mg, Ascorbic acid - 2 mgs and the digestion time is 3.5 hours.
The seed is burned to make charcoal for silver smiths. The leaves are used to make thatch huts, mats, baskets, screens, packing crates and fans. The stripped fruit clusters are used as brooms. The trunks are used for posts and rafters in most constructions. All left over wood is used as firewood.
The fruit is used as a detersive and astringent for intestinal troubles. An infusion is used to treat sore throat, colds, bronchial catarrh. It is taken to relieve cystisis, gonorrhea, oedema, liver and abdominal troubles. It is mixed with beer to counter alcoholic intoxication. The gum which exudes from wounds in the trunk is used to treat genito - urinary ailments and diarrhoea. It is demulcent and diuretic. The roots are used for toothache.
Although date palms grow readily from seed, fruiting can take ten years and the fruit quality is variable. Also half of the raised seedlings are likely to be male. Where suckers of known plants are available, they are usually preferred. Suckers weigh about 45 kg when they are trans-planted. Where suckers are not available, large numbers of seedlings should be planted and suckers propagated from the best specimens. Males will be required for pollination.