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Propagation Irrigation Fertilization Intercropping Pruning Pest Management Pollination Harvesting Marketing Storage
When can I remove and plant offshoots?
Before being cut, offshoots should be mature, that is, they have developed their own roots and leaves. There are certain times of the year when offshoots are removed from the mother palm; moderate temperature is preferred for transplanting offshoots. See table below.
|
Location |
Removal
Offshoots |
Planting
in field |
|
Southern hemisphere |
September/ October |
February/March |
|
Northern hemisphere |
March/April |
September /October |
How can I remove the offshoots?
To remove an offshoot, two skilled labors are usually needed.
1- Irrigate the offshoot several days before cutting.
2- It is advisable to trim the offshoot a week before it is removed. Cut back all leaves to at least one-half, or often one-third, of their length.
3- It may be necessary to entirely remove some of the outer leaves in order to give the cutters room to work. Do not remove all the stiff outer leaves and leave out the tender inner leaves.
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4- Tie or wire all leaves tightly together to keep them out of the way of the cutters.
5- Remove the earth from the base with a shovel.
6- The offshoot can be removed with a large chisel.
Chisel
7- The chisel is placed against the point of union of offshoot and mother palm. By manipulating the chisel up and down, the offshoot is loosened.
8- Several cuts must be made on each side before the offshoot is detached. Do not pull down on the offshoot in order to break it away from the mother palm.
9- The cut base of the offshoot is rubbed with moist earth. The cut surface of the mother palm is treated in the same way. The earth is then filled in again around the mother palm.
10- The offshoot should be planted as quickly as possible.
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How can I plant the offshoots?
After the offshoot is removed, it is ready to be planted in its permanent place in the orchard. The base should be planted vertically in the ground, regardless of the angle of the leaves, which will gradually attain an upright position as the palm grows.
1- The offshoot is normally planted in a cone-shaped hole 50 to 70 cm (about 2 feet) wide and 50 to 70 cm (about 2 feet) deep. Ideally, the hole should not be dug until the new palm is ready to be set.
2- If large numbers of holes are required, dig the holes in advance.
3- The hole may be filled with water a day or two before planting.
4- In most soils it is not necessary to put any fertilizer in the hole. If any is used at first, it should be well rotted manure, put in the bottom of a deep hole, well-mixed with earth, and covered with at least 20 cm (about 8 inches) of pure soil.
5- Apply insecticide, especially fungicide, in case the source of the offshoot and the condition of the permanent place are unknown.
6- The offshoot should be placed in the hole with care, and the leaves at the base should be clearly above the ground level. The remaining space in the hole should be filled in immediately with a shovel and the earth settled firmly by pressure of the feet.
7- After planting, the new palm should be irrigated as soon as possible.
8- The soil near the newly planted offshoot must be kept moist, but not wet, at all times by light and frequent irrigation, depending on the type of the soil.
9- In summer and winter, put up shading net or a tent of palm leaves to protect the young offshoots from the sun, cold, and wind.
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The all-important factor in rooting an offshoot is irrigation. The soil must be kept continually moist, yet not too wet. Irrigation is naturally governed by the texture of the soil. One can water the newly planted offshoot by hand very day for a week or several weeks. In soils that retain moisture fairly well, two or three irrigations a week should be enough. It is important that the water actually reach the base of the offshoot. The ground should be cultivated to discourage weeds and keep in good condition. Under favorable conditions, an offshoot may be well rooted in 2 months. Some offshoots may remain dormant for a year or even several years.
If the offshoot is planted immediately after being cut from the mother palm, and its leaves are trimmed back, it will often continue to grow without any set back. However, in many cases, the leaves will dry out and turn brown, and new leaves will be put out. It is advisable to leave the dead leaves in place for the first year to give support to the new leaves.
The
recommended spacing between palms in rows is 7-10 m (about 24-34 feet), but the
ideal spacing is 8 m x 8 m (about 27 feet x 27
feet).
Some date palm growers plant offshoots close to old palms in order to replace them, and some interplant fruit trees such as citrus, or crops such as alfalfa.
More information about propagation by offshoots