How Many Dates Can One Date Palm Produce?

Desert Palms Is Your Source for Palm Tree Expertise

Several factors can affect date production by female date palms, but luckily the Mediterranean climate in Southern California is great for producing dates. The Coachella Valley date palm experts at Desert Empire Palms can help you create a date palm oasis that will not disappoint. Our team can work with you to design a landscape that you love, one that includes date palms that provide fruit for years to come. Date palm production varies based on environment, pollination, and palm tree age, meaning the location, planting conditions, and climate at home are crucial in determining how well your date palms do.

Learn more about date palms and their fruit from our team at Desert Empire Palms. Call us to schedule an appointment today!

Date Bearing Palms: The Female Date Palm

Dates are produced by the female date palm. A mature female palm can produce approximately 100 to 200 pounds of fruit each year. The fruit produced during a crop will depend on the age of the tree, the growth conditions and environmental conditions, the local climate, and the proximity to male pollination trees. Your tree will happily produce for years to come if you treat it well and keep it healthy.

Climate and Growth Conditions for Date Palm Production

Date palms do best in warm, mostly dry weather. They prefer a Mediterranean climate, which is the primary climate for most of Southern California. Date palms also enjoy a light coastal influence if possible and do not like cold, damp conditions.

Ideal growth conditions for date palms include full sun exposure and fast-draining soil. This tree species needs a good amount of hydration but should only be watered when the soil is completely dry to prevent root rot. You do not have to use fertilizer to procure dates from your female date palms, but if you choose to include it in your tree care regimen, it may promote increased fruit production. Be sure to use caution when applying fertilizer and only apply to moist soil. Overexposure to fertilizer can damage the delicate roots of the palm.

Date Palm Age and Fruit Production

Date palms can produce for decades if healthy and well cared for. A female date palm can produce its first crop at age 5-8 years old. The amount of fruit a single tree produces will vary as they age.

Average crops may look like this:

  • 1st crop at age 5-8 may bear 17-22 lbs. of fruit
  • Mid-age crops at around 13 years can be 130-170 lbs. of fruit
  • Peak age crop is between 30-35 years where your tree may bear up to 200 lbs. of fruit
  • Late age crops, at and beyond 60 years, begin to diminish in production
  • The end of crop production is at approximately age 80 when reproductive life ends

Pollination: The Male Date Palm

Female date palms need to be planted within proximity of a male date palm to produce fruit. The male date palm can pollinate up to 50 female date palms, but you can also plant the two date palms on a one-to-one ratio. This is perfect for smaller landscapes and at-home planting.

Coachella Valley Date Palm Trees at Desert Empire Palms

When you are ready to plant trees that will provide fruit for you for decades to come, call on the team at Desert Empire Palms. We can help you design and install your palm trees so that they have the best chance of thriving. Our Coachella Valley palm tree installers and design experts have lived and worked in the area for years, cultivating their experience and knowledge to deliver only the best to customers and designers alike. Trust the team at Desert Empire Palms to create a wonderful palm tree oasis for your home or business and let us plant date palms that you can enjoy for esthetic and fruit, alike.

Call Desert Empire Palms in Coachella Valley today.