Grow A Coconut

If you're in the tropics or have a nice warm sheltered spot in the sub-tropics, then you can grow your very own coconuts. Smaller dwarf varieties are ideal for home gardeners as it's much easier to harvest from a 5 m plant than a 30 m tall behemoth! Look out for dwarf 'Malay' coconuts which come in green, gold, red and bronze varieties that can be used for drinking as well as their delicious coconut meat.

Coconuts need high humidity and temperatures of at least 20oC all year round, as well as a freely draining soil. You'll also need to be patient, with dwarf coconuts taking at least 4-5 years to start producing fruit.

Incorporate Yates® Dynamic Lifter® Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser into the soil when planting a new coconut palm and then mulch around the plant well with bark chips or sugar cane mulch to keep the soil protected and preserve soil moisture. Reapply Yates® Dynamic Lifter® Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser each spring and autumn to promote healthy palm growth and encourage lots of coconuts