How Long Does It Take For A Date Palm Tree To Grow?

Date palms have been one of the most picturesque elements of a desert environment. It has been recorded to go as far as 6000BC when it was used in the construction of buildings and a source of food in the desert lands of Egypt and surroundings, but it is found to be in many more locations worldwide today, including parts of the US. If you have been delighted by the looks and appeal of a date palm tree just enough to have it planted in your garden, it is only right to question the time it would take.

Since the date palms classify as a form of grass, they mature quite quickly and then just keeps on getting taller and taller, but if it is the stage of bearing fruit that you are asking then that is an entirely different story depending on many factors. An average date palm takes anywhere between 4-8 years to reach a decent height and start bearing fruit, but that is not the most difficult waiting period. The main problem with the growing of a date palm is the specific requirements of the soil it is being planted in as it has one of the lowest seed germination rates. 

Generally, a date palm seed should be able to germinate anywhere between 14-21 days and will die if there is a slight difference in the requirements. The foods inside the seed itself are sufficient enough for it to sprout roots and finally start growing, but any attempt to boost that process by adding fertilizers to the soil will burn the newborn roots and kill the seed altogether. The seed requires mildly moist soil to germinate properly and will again burn if it gets too dry, any minor changes may even prolong the process of germination to over a hundred days!

The best option left for you to plant a date palm tree in your garden is to buy 2-3 years old plant from a nursery to skip past the peculiar and hard-to-meet requirements of germination. The other factors to bring a tree to bear fruit are the presence of a male plant around a female to promote pollination and the supply of adequate water for the fruit to ripen. These being the general outlines for most of the date palm trees around the world, you can still come across various species that have a much shorter or longer lifespan, but since all date palms have a finite life you have to choose wisely for which one you pick. It is also important to note that the date palms are native to desert climates and will not survive at low temperatures, which is why the growth will depend highly on the area you are living it. If it is a sub-tropical or dry area that receives just the right amount of rainfall but a bright sun, you will have no problem in taking care of the plant to grow.