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Shaneo starts with ... Hi, I would like to try growing a Malaysian coconut tree here in southern Victoria. Sounds bananas, right (we've got ripening bananas at the moment...)? Coconuts are a big ask, I know. But we're getting quite a few successes with some Northern trees with the right microclimate. My idea for the coconut tree is (and we have hilly, slightly acidic, fertile soil) to create the hot humid microclimate it's after by putting a wall of corrugated iron around it. Waddya reckon? Shane | About the Author Shaneo Latrobe Valley, Victoria 28th June 2014 9:10pm #UserID: 10138 Posts: 2 View All Shaneo's Edible Fruit Trees |
| About the Author Markmelb , 28th June 2014 10:06pm #UserID: 7785 Posts: 1192 View All Markmelb's Edible Fruit Trees |
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Original Post was last edited: 28th June 2014 10:05pm | |
JohnMc1 says... I'm thinking you'd have to build an artificially heated glasshouse over it to get through winter alive. Have you done any temp monitoring in the area you want to grow this palm in past winters? There's some excellent wireless set ups that record a wide range of weather conditions at user controlled intervals. You can then go back and dissect your data any way you want. I have heard that there is one fruiting coconut as far south as northern NSW. I have tried to grow Cacao here but you only needs one single slip up and it's bye bye. The last slip up was when I watered it with tap water, the cold shock was enough to knock it for a six. | About the Author JohnMc1 Warnervale NSW 29th June 2014 12:37am #UserID: 2743 Posts: 2043 View All JohnMc1's Edible Fruit Trees |
| About the Author sternus1 Australia 29th June 2014 8:48am #UserID: 8314 Posts: 1318 View All sternus1's Edible Fruit Trees |
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jakfruit etiquette says... It can be done, go the tropical house at any Botanic Gardens to see an artificial climate. Thats probably beyond your capabilities. Its not just heating up a structure during the day with sunlight, its also retaining the heat overnight, and not going below the plants limit. I would say soil temp is going to be far more important than the variance of air temp overall. Investigate heating cables in a very large pot, then enclose that in a glasshouse type structure. Solar hot water can also heat structures. Heat retaining(Infra red) green house plastics may be useful. ditto JohnMc1 esp about watering temps. | About the Author jakfruit etiquette vic 29th June 2014 8:56am #UserID: 5133 Posts: 915 View All jakfruit etiquette's Edible Fruit Trees |
JohnMc1 says... My small polyhouse is heated overnight by a small thermostatically controlled industrial electric heater. The thermostat is set on 20°C but the temp can fluctuate from 20°C to 30°C or more during the day. I have a combustion fireplace in there but having to keep it alight and juggle to keep a reasonable temp was a nightmare. So, for reliability and minimum effort the electric heater has been a winner, hang the expense, it's only for a few months at most, and I get to enjoy the benefits of a truly tropical climate. | About the Author JohnMc1 Warnervale NSW 29th June 2014 10:20pm #UserID: 2743 Posts: 2043 View All JohnMc1's Edible Fruit Trees |
| About the Author Shaneo Latrobe Valley, Victoria 30th June 2014 11:47pm #UserID: 10138 Posts: 2 View All Shaneo's Edible Fruit Trees |
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Mike Tr says... It would be easier than trying to grow equatorials like durian and mangosteen but vastly more difficult than mangoes,jackfruit,jaboticaba,guava and others that go ok in the subtropics.The technical term for growing coconuts at your latitude is crazy.Malay dwarfs are more heatloving than standards and a kew gardens set up would help. | About the Author Mike Tr Cairns 1st July 2014 7:07am #UserID: 8322 Posts: 614 View All Mike Tr's Edible Fruit Trees |
| About the Author JohnMc1 Warnervale NSW 1st July 2014 7:13am #UserID: 2743 Posts: 2043 View All JohnMc1's Edible Fruit Trees |
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