Date

Dates

The date palm is a palm tree that produces very sweet fruits. It grows well in hot climates, often in an oasis in desert areas.

Names

Scientific
   Phoenix dactylifera
English
   Date
   Date palm
   True date palm
Dutch
   Dadel
   Dadelpalm
Spanish
   Dátil
   Palma datilera
   Palmera real
French
   Datte
   Dattier
   Dattier cultivé
   Palmier-dattier
German
   Dattel
   Dattelpalme
   Echte Dattelpalme
Italian
   Dattero
   Palma da datteri

Taxonomy

Genus
   Phoenix
Family
   Arecaceae
Order
   Arecales

Basic information and facts

Origin:

Persian gulf area or possibly desert areas of north
Africa.

Distribution:

Mainly in northern Africa, south and south west Asia:
Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Algeria, Iraq, Sudan.
Also grown but less important in Spain, Italy,
Mexico and California.

Evergreen or deciduous:

Evergreen

Flowers:

These palms have separate male and female plants. Only female plants produce fruits. The flowers are also edible.

Leaves:

The pinnate leaves are 3 to 5 meter long.

Fruits:

The fruits have an elongated oval-cylindrical shape. They are 3 to 7 cm long and 2 to 3 cm in diameter. Each fruit has one seed of about 2 cm long and 6 to 8 mm in diameter. Depending on the variety, the unripe fruits have a bright red to bright yellow color. Date fruits are very sweet as they have a high sugar content of around 80%.

Climate and weather:

Datepalms do well in hot climates, and are often grown in oasis in desert areas.

Pollination:

Normally they are wind pollinated, but in orchards they are usually hand pollinated.

Height:

These palm trees can be 15 to 25 meters tall.

Crown size:

Diameter 6 to 10 meters.

Growth rate:

It takes usually about 7 years before a datepalm starts producing fruits.

Spacing (close range)

Spacing (wide range)

Propagation:

By seed. Only 50% of the seeds will produce a female tree which can produce fruits.

Insect pests:

Diseases:

Fruit development:

Harvesting:

Uses:

Date fruits are used as a staple food in the middle east. They are also used as a
snack or to make date wine
Not only the fruits, but also the flowers of date are
edible.
Date palms can be tapped and the sweet sap is then used to make palm sugar or to produce alcoholic drinks.
Young leaves of the date palm can be cooked and eaten as a vegetable.

Proverbs and Quotes

Better a handful of dry dates and content therewith than to own the gate of Peacocks and be kicked in the eye by a broody camel.
Don’t show me the palm tree, show me the dates.
From little date seeds, great things are born.
He has fallen from the donkey, but has found a date.
If heaven drops a date, open your mouth.
Mock the palm tree only when the date harvest is over.
Swallow a date with its stone.

Crop categories

Fruits
Food crops
Tropical crops
Subtropical crops

Pictures