Many people love dates. But many have tried them only as dried fruits, and not everyone has seen and tasted this exotic fruit fresh. A date tree can be grown in a garden plot or in an apartment. True, you won’t be able to expect fruit from it, but the plant is very decorative.
History of the date tree
Archaeologists have found that dates were grown in Egypt back in the Neolithic era, and on the coasts of the Indian Ocean - at the beginning of the Bronze Age. There is evidence that date trees were grown on the lands of modern Iran as early as the 6th century BC.
Palm with dates
According to legends, the date palm was considered the tree of life, which symbolized immortality and restoration. In the countries of the Middle East, the date palm was revered as a “tree from space.” Ancient people believed that dates were a tree whose fruits could be called the food of the gods and the first people on earth.
The date palm was considered a symbol of wealth and a good harvest. Ancient people believed that dried date palm fruits had a healing effect on the entire body. This tree was worshiped and described in poetry, and many artists depicted it in their paintings. Martiros Saryan “Date Palm” is a famous work that was painted by the artist in 1911.
Decorative date palm
In European countries, date trees have been grown only recently and mainly as a houseplant.
The importance of culture in the homeland
The culture of ancient eastern Arab countries is closely associated with the cultivation of this tree. Many researchers, not without reason, believe that it was the date palm that contributed to the formation of the geographical relief of these territories. Such changes made it possible to survive in local climatic conditions.
This tropical desert culture is considered the founder of oasis agriculture. Thanks to its height and spreading top, it provided sufficient shade in which other crops that could not tolerate the scorching sun were grown.
The situation was well understood by local farmers, so they practically idolized the palm tree; for them it was a “nurse,” “oasis queen,” “tree of prosperity.” As for the fruits of the date palm, they were called “bread of the desert.” A person's wealth was then measured in the number of camels and date palms.
And today, the fruits of these trees are actively used as food by the local population; there are many oriental recipes in which fruits are the main or additional ingredients.
general description
The date palm (Latin – Phoenix dactylifera) belongs to the Palm family (Arecaceae). The average height of a tree is 12-32 meters. The growth rate of a young plant is about 50 cm per year. At the age of 15 years, the palm tree reaches 7 meters in height. As a rule, the trunk of palm trees is shaggy, from the base of fallen leaves.
How dates grow, what date palms look like
The top of the date palm is decorated with a rosette of 15 feathery leaves that reach five meters in length. Long paniculate inflorescences form in the axils of the leaves. As the fruits ripen, the inflorescences bend under their weight.
The fruits are dates, are oblong or oval in shape, reach 2-7 cm in length and 3.5 cm in diameter. The date is a completely edible fruit; when ripe, it is yellow-brown or red-chestnut in color.
Interesting! Date fruits have high nutritional value and are easily absorbed by the human body. Based on its taste properties, the date can be called a premium dessert fruit.
It has a sweet, nutritious pulp, which hides a hard bone with a longitudinal groove on the side. For full ripening, a stable air temperature of about 35-40 degrees is required.
The fruits of the date tree are consumed fresh, dried, dried and candied. Fresh fruits do not last long, so they are presented on store shelves in the form of dried fruit. Pitted dates, what are they - the fruit of a date palm from which the pit has been removed before drying.
Date palm blossoms in natural conditions
The taste of dates is very sweet, sometimes even too sweet, depending on the variety. How much sugar is in dried dates with pits - dried date palm fruits contain 60-65% sugar (mainly fructose and glucose, which does not have a negative effect on the body), this is much more than in other fruits.
Dates for weight loss: is it possible or not and how much?
Dried dates, like all dried fruits and nuts, are high in calories. On a weight loss diet, you should not avoid any type of food and take care of a sufficient supply of energy every day, which is selected individually for the patient, taking into account his anthropometric characteristics, age and nutritional goals.
You can eat dates while on a weight loss diet. But provided they are consumed in controlled quantities. For example, as an addition to 3-4 pieces of muesli or a natural sugar substitute in healthy homemade baked goods.
The question of how many dates you should eat during a diet can be answered as follows: Dates are a rich source of potassium, dietary fiber and simple carbohydrates. They are successfully used for home baking as an element that gives an interesting taste and aroma, an addition to meat and an independent snack. People on a weight loss diet also do not need to give up eating these delicious fruits, but they should pay attention to their quantity.
Types of Phoenix Date Palm
Washingtonia palm - home care
There are more than 17 species of date trees, which are grown as a houseplant and fruit tree. The most common types of date palm include:
- Canary (canariensis);
- Palmate;
- Robelini (roebelenii).
Canary
Date Canarian - in its natural habitat, the columnar trunk of the tree grows up to 15 meters in height and up to 1 meter in width. When kept indoors, the plant is significantly smaller in size. The Canarian date palm has fairly large, divided malachite-colored leaves.
Canarian date palm
The tree blooms only in nature; the plant does not bloom when kept at home. When caring for the Canarian date at home, it requires careful adherence to the watering regime and good lighting.
Palmate
Palmate date - in nature, the tree trunk reaches 30 meters in height and 30 centimeters in circumference. On the tree trunk there are numerous remains of dried leaf petioles. The leaves are separate, quite long (up to six meters), arranged in bunches, like a bouquet at the very top.
Note! Due to their large size, young plants are grown at home.
Palmate date palm
Robelini
The Robelini date is a multi-trunked or single-trunked squat tree that grows up to 1-3 meters in height. The trunk is about 10 cm in circumference. The leaves are pinnate, of medium length (up to 1-2 meters), their color is dark green.
Date Robelini
Due to its small size and slow growth, this species is very easy to grow at home.
Possible dangers
The first thing to remember about dates is that they are a very high-calorie product. High glucose concentrations can cause hyperglycemia, which is extremely dangerous for people with diabetes. The glycemic index of dried fruits is 103 units, which exceeds the GI of pure glucose, and only 1 gram of fruit contains approximately 3 kilocalories [15].
Date allergies are rare. It usually occurs in people with reactions to histamine (the same substance is found in fermented milk products and most dried fruits). Excessive consumption of these fruits can cause stomach pain and bloating due to the high fructose content.
Many people probably like the bright shiny appearance of dates. However, few people know that dried fruits are given shine artificially using sulfites. These chemicals extend the shelf life of dates and maintain their beautiful appearance. At the same time, this substance can cause disorders of the digestive organs.
People with intestinal problems should also consume dates with caution. Children should be given this fruit after removing the pit.
Home care
The rules for caring for a date palm are the same as for other types of palm trees.
Lighting
The date tree loves good lighting, but will also feel great in partial shade. A pot with a plant can be placed on the windowsill of a western or eastern window. In order for the crown to develop evenly on the palm tree, the plant needs open light, and it should also be regularly turned in different directions towards the light source.
Palm tree in a floor pot
In summer, when the nights are warm and the temperature does not drop below +12 degrees, the palm tree can be kept outside in the garden, under the shade of other trees. If this is not possible, then you should take the plant to a loggia or balcony, but provide it with protection from direct sunlight.
Important! If the palm tree is not turned with different sides to the sun, the crown will develop well only on one side.
Watering
When kept at home, the plant must be provided with regular watering. Do not allow the earthen ball in the pot to dry out. As soon as the top layer (2-3 cm) of the soil becomes dry, it is necessary to water it. During the period of active growth (from early April to August), the palm tree needs the greatest amount of watering.
During extreme heat, water the plant every two days and spray the leaves with a spray bottle once a day. During the dormant period (September - end of March), the plant should be watered less often (no more than once a week) and not so abundantly.
Watering a palm tree from a watering can
To maintain soil moisture, you can place the pot with the plant on a tray with wet expanded clay or moss. When watering a palm tree, you should not pour too much water, otherwise, due to the high soil moisture, the roots may rot and the plant will die. It is very important that the pot has good drainage.
Air temperature and humidity
In the spring and summer months, when the growing season is active, the ideal temperature for maintaining a tree is considered to be +20-25°C. During the dormant period (autumn, winter), the optimal air temperature for the plant is considered to be +15-18°C, but there are types of date palms that overwinter well at +8-10°C.
When maintaining a date tree, it is worth considering that it does not react well to drafts. Leaves may darken or even fall off. The plant also has a very sensitive root system, so the pot with the palm tree should not be placed on a cold marble floor or windowsill.
The tree loves high air humidity, and the higher it is, the better (about 70-85%). It is recommended to install air humidifiers in the room where the plant is located, and also regularly spray the leaves with warm filtered water.
Spray bottle with water
Once every two weeks it is necessary to wipe the palm leaves with a soft and damp sponge. Once every 7 days it is worth moisturizing the plant from the shower, and the water should be warm and soft.
Top dressing
During the active growing season, the date palm is fertilized once every 14 days. During the dormant period, fertilizers are applied once every 30 days. They are used in liquid form. Complex fertilizers for decorative growing deciduous plants and special mineral and organic complexes for palm trees are considered the best.
The plant is fed both by the root method and by foliar feeding, by spraying the leaves of the plant with fertilizer. For a good growth of green mass of leaves, palm trees need a large amount of nitrogen.
Transfer
Despite the fact that the date palm does not like replanting very much, it still needs to be replanted. Young plants, aged 1-5 years, require annual replanting. Palm trees over 5 years old need to be replanted every 2-3 years.
Transplantation is carried out using the method of transshipment with an old earthen lump. First, a drainage layer of expanded clay is placed on the bottom of the new pot, then the palm tree is placed along with the old soil and sprinkled with the required amount of new soil mixture.
Transplanting a plant into a new pot
When replanting, it is worth considering that the pot for the plant must be selected very high, since the roots of the palm tree are quite long. To transplant a date palm, as a rule, the following soil option is used: turf, leaf soil and sand. All components are taken in equal proportions.
Problems when growing palm trees
If you do not follow the necessary rules of care, water a lot or a little, then the plant may soon get sick, and pests may even appear on it.
Insects and pests
The most common pests that attack the home date palm:
- Red spider mite. This insect, as a rule, appears due to improper watering and non-compliance with the temperature regime in the room. First, the mite infects the stems and then the leaves of the palm tree;
- Shield. These insects look like brown dots. They infect the surface of the leaves, sucking all the juice out of them. As a result, the leaves on the palm tree begin to turn yellow, dry out and fall off;
- The spider mite is common. This insect can appear due to too dry air in the room. When a palm tree is infected by this pest, you may notice a small cobweb on the leaves.
The leaves of the palm tree are drying up - Mealyworm. This pest attacks the plant stem and the leaves themselves. If no measures are taken, the tree will dry out very quickly;
- Thrips. Very small midges that lay their eggs on palm leaves. If the plant is infected, you may notice brown spots on the inside of the leaves and white spots on the outside.
If you find these pests, do not panic - it is quite possible to cure the plant.
You can control pests using the following methods:
- Mechanical removal using a sponge and soap;
- Spraying with drugs: Pyrethrum, Phosfamide, Actellik, Fitoverm. These products are used in the form of a solution, using 2 grams of the drug per liter of water;
- Treat the leaves and stem with alcohol (wipe the damaged areas with a soaked cotton swab and spray with water).
Additional Information. It is necessary to periodically inspect the trunk, leaves and stems of the date palm in order to promptly notice pests that can lead to the death of the plant.
Common diseases
Date palms are not only susceptible to insect attack, but also to disease.
The tips of the leaves dry out
As a rule, the tips of the leaves of a palm tree begin to dry out when there is insufficient watering, when the ground becomes very dry. Another reason is insufficient fertilizer. If watering is carried out regularly and fertilizing is applied in a timely manner, then the reason may be increased soil moisture at the roots.
This happens when the soil is not loose enough. You can solve the problem by removing the plant from the pot, cleaning the roots and replanting it in another pot, but be sure to lay a layer of drainage at the bottom.
Leaves turn yellow
If the leaves of a palm tree turn yellow, this means that it was either poorly watered or an insufficient amount of nutritional supplements were applied. Also, the reason may be watering with hard water and too dry air in the room.
Leaves are drying
The problem can be solved by frequent spraying and watering with purified warm water.
Brown leaves
Why brown leaves appeared on the palm tree - the plant was subjected to too much waterlogging or hypothermia. To save the tree, you need to pull it out of the pot and inspect the roots, cut off the damaged ones, sprinkle with crushed coal and replant the plant in new soil.
Other beneficial functions for the body
Researchers say that dates can reduce the risk of developing abdominal cancer, as well as ease its consequences. These fruits act as a tonic for the body. They contain a lot of magnesium, a mineral known for its anti-inflammatory properties [13]. Thanks to it, the risk of arthritis, cardiac diseases, and Alzheimer's disease is reduced. Rich mineral composition and high levels of vitamin B6 make these fruits beneficial for brain function.
As the results of many experiments convince, dates are useful for pregnant women, since they have a beneficial effect on the development of the fetus and support the well-being of the expectant mother [14].
How to grow a palm tree from a date seed
The unique thing about the date palm is that it can be grown from a seed. For reproduction to occur, it is important to choose those dried fruits that have not been subjected to heat treatment. But such a palm tree will not bear fruit.
Date pits, potting soil and sprouts
Preparing and germinating the seed
Separate the seeds from the dates, rinse thoroughly and soak in warm water for a day. For better germination, you can scald the seeds with boiling water. Next, the date seeds must be placed on a layer of wet cotton wool and covered with another layer.
Place the cotton wool in a container and place it in a very warm place for germination. It is necessary to constantly moisten the cotton wool and ensure that mold does not appear. Germination may take more than one month, so you should be patient.
Soil selection and planting
When a sprout appears on the seed, it can be planted in previously prepared soil. To prepare it, take: turf, peat, sawdust and humus in equal quantities. You can also use store-bought palm substrate.
Important! Place a layer of drainage on the bottom of the container. Deepen the pit a third into the ground. Place the container with the plantings in a warm place. Make sure that the soil in the container is slightly moist. A layer of sphagnum moss can be laid on top of the soil.
Sprout care
The first shoots will appear in 1-6 months. When they grow to 10-15 centimeters, they need to be transplanted into separate pots. It is important that the pots are high, as dates grow long roots. This is followed by an annual transplant into a larger pot.
During the growth period of young plants, pruning should not be carried out, since the growth point is located at the very top. The sprouts also need to be provided with full daylight and a stable air temperature.
Growing a date palm at home is the dream of many gardeners; it can easily be made a reality, you just need to put in a little effort and patience.
Beneficial features
The range of beneficial properties of dates is extremely wide. These fruits are useful for constipation, intestinal disorders, cardiac problems, anemia, sexual dysfunction, diarrhea, bloating, and some types of cancer. Dates are also a healthy food for people with underweight, as well as for people with vitamin deficiency. These tasty fruits contain healthy fats, sulfur, calcium, iron, phosphorus, potassium, manganese, magnesium, copper, which are necessary for the full functioning of the body, from the cellular level to the functionality of all systems. Nutritionists recommend eating at least 1 date daily to maintain mineral and vitamin balance.
The nutritional value of Phoenix dactylifera fruits has made it one of the best foods for muscle growth, as well as recovery from illness or injury. Some studies have shown that these sweet fruits can prevent abdominal cancer. In Muslim countries, it is customary to end fasting by eating dates. Nutritionists say this is a good practice because it helps prevent overeating after long-term dietary restrictions. On the other hand, dates allow you to quickly restore your supply of minerals and vitamins. Due to their high potassium concentration, they are an extremely important product for the nervous system [5].
