How and where do coconuts grow?

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:53

Coconut is an exotic, amazing fruit that many people like for its unusual taste and amazing delicate aroma. For those who are fans of this product, in our article we want to talk about how and where coconuts grow.

History of the Coconut

Before talking about where coconuts grow, it is worth mentioning the history of this amazing plant. Oddly enough, but it is still not known exactly how such interesting palm trees appeared on the planet. But there are a number of legends, assumptions regarding this issue. It is difficult to judge how true they are. However, all botanists are still inclined to believe that the plant has a very ancient origin, its history goes back to those distant times when dinosaurs still roamed the earth.

Coconut fruits have an interesting property - they are incredibly light and waterproof. Since trees grow on the coasts of the oceans, ripe nuts fall into the water and are carried by currents to all corners of the planet. Almost all versions say that Southeast Asia, India, California, islands in the Pacific can be considered the birthplace of coconut palms.ocean. An interesting fact is that fossilized coconuts were discovered in New Zealand, it is also known that palm trees have been growing in India for 4000 years. Therefore, some scientists are inclined to believe that the shores of the Indian Ocean can be considered the birthplace of the plant. In general, there are many opinions, and they are all quite different. However, it is reliably known that the place where the plant grows is the equatorial belt.

Where do bananas and coconuts grow? It would seem that this question is easy to answer: “Where it is warm …” This judgment is partly true. But not all readers know that coconuts grow in Asia, Africa, Oceania, Central and South America. In total, the plant is distributed and successfully produces crops in 89 countries around the world.

Ocean coasts are places where coconuts grow naturally. As we already mentioned, this is due to their way of moving through the water. But at present, coconut palms grow in many countries far from the coast, which is already the result of human activities.

Coconut tree

The uniqueness of the coconut palm lies in the fact that it is the one and only representative of the genus Coconut, belonging to the Palm family. There are only intraspecific varieties. The basis of classification is the size of the plant.

Tall coconut palms stand out and are widely used for commercial and home cultivation. The height of such plants is 25-30 meters. Such palm trees in adulthoodgrow slowly, and begin to bear fruit 6-10 years after planting. An interesting fact is that the coconut palm bears fruit for sixty years, and sometimes even longer. Each plant produces dozens of nuts every year. These palms cross-pollinate and are therefore planted in groups.

Dwarf plants

Dwarf palms (coconut) grow up to only ten meters in height, they begin to bear fruit in three years, as soon as they reach one meter. Plants live much less than their large counterparts - only 30-40 years. Such palms are self-pollinating, and therefore they do not need relatives in the neighborhood.

Root system of palm trees

Sometimes people wonder where coconuts grow: on a tree or on the ground? Do not confuse pineapples that actually grow on the ground with coconuts that grow on palm trees.

It should be understood that where coconuts grow, any other plant would quickly die. And palm trees feel safe for decades thanks to their root system. The peculiarity of plants is that they do not have taproots, but they are armed with many fibrous roots, which together look like a broom. And they grow from a thickening at the bottom of the trunk. The outer roots spread along the horizontal surface, while the inner roots go down, penetrating to a depth of ten meters.

It is this unusual structure of the roots that allows palm trees to grow beautifully on a sandy coast, which is subject to winds, ebbs and flows. But even such a system is sometimes not enough. Often you can see bizarre plants with curved trunks and roots washed out of the soil.

Structure of a plant

The trunk of the plant has no branches, it grows from one apical bud. It is called the heart of the coconut. It is a collection of folded leaf primordia. The trunk at the base in adulthood reaches eighty centimeters in diameter. The rest of the trunk has one diameter - forty centimeters. It must be said that in the first years the plant develops very quickly and can produce a 1.5-meter increase in a year. But over time, the palm matures and begins to slow down in growth and adds only 10-15 centimeters. The stem of the plant does not have a cambium, and therefore it cannot repair damaged tissues. If a plant loses a single bud, then this leads to its death.

But adult palm trees grow 18,000 vascular bundles on their trunk, which help them withstand significant damage. We have already mentioned that in areas where coconuts grow, storms, winds, high and low tides are not uncommon, and plants are sometimes injured.

The first leaves of the future palm tree, sprouting from a nut, look like feathers. Only after 8-10 first leaves begin to grow real ones. An adult plant produces 12-16 new leaves per year.

At the same time, up to 30-40 of them grow on a palm tree. A mature coconut leaf is 3-4 meters long and is divided into 200-250 stripes. It remains on the trunk for three years, after which it disappears. And it leaves a scar on the tree. Bysuch scars can determine the approximate age of the plant. To do this, divide the number of scars by thirteen. This will be the approximate age of the coconut tree.

Flower plant

Where do coconuts grow? On the tree, inflorescences are formed in the form of an ear, each of which is located in the axil of the leaf. Palm trees have masculine and feminine flowers. There are always more men than women. Four months after the leaf is separated, the inflorescence germ appears, and the flowers themselves grow after another 22 months. And a year later, the shell of the inflorescence itself will open. The male flowers bloom first, then the female flowers. Approximately 50-70 percent of flowers are not pollinated, especially in dry weather. And from the pollinated, fruits develop that ripen throughout the year.

What is the fruit?

The coconut fruit itself is a fibrous drupe. The young nut has a smooth green or red-brown surface on the outside. Ripe fruits are covered with fibers that are successfully used in various sectors of the national economy, and then there is a waterproof shell inside. It protects the core. It is thanks to this shell that coconuts travel the world. Inside the nut is covered with pulp (12 millimeters), and in the very center there is a liquid.

When unripe, it is transparent. Further, it becomes cloudy and decreases in quantity, turning into coconut milk. Fruits have many useful properties, which is why they are actively used in cooking and other areas of life.

Where growcoconuts?

We mentioned that a typical habitat for plants is the equatorial belt. Where bananas and coconuts grow, they have long been industrial crops that are grown for further sale and processing. Plants not only decorate the coasts, but are also planted in huge plantations.

For example, India is known as the birthplace of spices. However, the country is engaged not only in their cultivation. At first glance, it is difficult to say where coconuts grow in India. Yes, in principle, everywhere, including the famous Goa - this is an island that has a suitable climate and geographical position for growing coconut palms, cashews, and fruits. There are a huge number of plantations on which coconuts grow.

For example, the Pascoal plantation, located near the village of Khandepar, borders on a tributary of the Mandovi River. The owners of the land are engaged not only in the cultivation of coconuts, spices, breadfruit nuts and mangoes, but also receive tourists. There are built cottages in which guests can stay. Tours are conducted around the plantation, during which you can learn about how crops grow, what they do with them and what they are for.

In addition, there are a number of similar farms on the island that grow coconuts. These are Savoy, Sakahari plantations, etc.

On the mainland, coconut trees also grow everywhere. However, there are some features. For example, in the central part of India, plants grow to the height of a five-story building, and they themselvesthe fruits on them reach the size of a human head. Such a coconut weighs up to two kilograms.

But to the south, palm trees grow much lower, but at the same time their fruits are smaller. In general, it is worth noting that coconuts in India grow almost everywhere. They are very much loved here and their products are widely used in life.

Where do coconuts grow? New Zealand, China, Cambodia, Mozambique, Guinea, Cameroon… The list of countries is incredibly long. In general, we can say that the plant grows in areas with a tropical climate, which is a real paradise for coconut palms.

Coconuts in Russia

Where do coconuts grow in Russia? This plant can be found here exclusively in botanical gardens or miniature options - in home greenhouses. Of course, it is unlikely that it will be possible to wait for fruiting at home, but there may be a small exotic plant in the house. If you really want to plant a coconut, then the greenhouse is the best place to plant it. The care process itself is quite troublesome, but with a strong desire it is still worth a try. The most suitable are two types: walnut and Wedel. A high-quality ripe fruit should be half immersed in the ground and wait for the sprouts to appear. After a while, sprouts will appear from the coconut, which will turn into leaves. And later, a wide trunk will begin to form from them.

Plant care

The plant likes warmth, but not extreme heat. The optimum temperature is 20 degrees. The coconut tree will need additional lighting. It is also worth remembering that the plant loves moisture, andtherefore, it needs daily spraying and abundant watering during the warm period. The palm tree should not be disturbed once again, and even more so transplanted, since the root system can be disturbed.

It is worth noting that coconuts are very common around the world. They are not only on the European continent. Of the countries of Europe, the plant is only in Spain, and even then not on the mainland, but on the Canary Islands, located near Morocco in Africa.

Instead of afterword

Concluding the conversation about where coconuts grow (the photos are given by us in the article), I would like to say that the plant is associated in our imagination with white sandy beaches and the ocean, and therefore attracts with its exoticism. But do not forget that the fruit itself is incredibly useful. No wonder it is so popular in places of growth. Its pulp and oil are actively used in cooking. And nut milk is tasty and he althy. Of course, in our latitudes it is difficult to buy a really tasty and good fruit, since coconuts are often removed while still green for transportation. Yes, and during transportation, coconuts deteriorate. But if you happen to visit tropical countries, be sure to try a real ripe fruit, you will surely appreciate its taste and aroma.