BRADENTON BEACH – With 80 coconut palms planted on Bridge Street last month, questions have arisen among commissioners, downtown merchants and residents about the safety of the trees and their potential for falling fruit and limbs.
Brian Bahder, Ph.D., an associate professor at the University of Florida Institute for Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), whose research includes the study of diseases and parasites infecting palm trees and other tropical plants, responded by email to questions from The Sun about the characteristics of coconut palm trees.
Bahder is affiliated with the Fort Lauderdale Education and Research Center. Among the program efforts there are general maintenance and diseases of palms.
According to Bahder, the fruit from the coconut palm tree can range anywhere from 1 pound to the size of a soccer ball weighing from 5-10 pounds.
“Removal of the fruit on a regular basis is needed. It is easiest before fruit set, so as soon as an inflorescence (flowering) emerges, remove it (ideally before it opens up),” Bahder wrote.
The Bradenton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) approved on April 3 the planting of the coconut palm trees in a partnership with developer Shawn Kaleta based on the assurance of City Attorney Ricinda Perry that a signed maintenance, hold harmless and indemnification agreement would be in place prior to the trees being planted, and that Kaleta would be responsible for tree maintenance and liability for any damage caused by the trees.
As of May 26, that agreement has not been made available to The Sun, despite multiple requests.
The typical coconut production per tree can vary, according to Bahder.
“Each palm’s annual production is also variable on things like age, cultivar, health, location, but once mature, start producing regularly; the range is 50 to 200 coconuts per year,” he wrote. “In cultivation where palms are properly maintained and cared for, I have seen up to 60 or 70 fruit on a single inflorescence (the flower head of a plant).”
Bahder wrote that mature coconut palm trees will produce flowers and fruit year-round.
“The rate will change, it is obviously slower in the cooler, drier months and more rapid in summer. Generally, the fruit set tends to be better in warmer months also,” he wrote.
Bahder recommended planting mature palm trees prior to rainy season and to be mindful of hurricane season.
“If it is a large plant that is transplanted, April is probably better. This way it is in the ground for when the rains begin in April to May, that way it has access to more regular water and helps it establish faster,” he wrote. “However, you can plant whenever as long as you water regularly to get it established. I would probably avoid planting large palms in August and September (peak hurricane season). If they are not rooted and we get hit they could get blown over easier.”
The coconut palms on Bridge Street were planted the week of April 24 and are on a regular watering schedule. The installation of an irrigation system on Bridge Street was discussed at a recent CRA meeting.
Bahder said coconut palms typically do well in the southern third of Florida.
Related coverage:
Editorial: Palm trees and other shady endeavors
FDOT: Wrong trees, wrong place
No signed agreement released on palm trees
Signed palm tree agreement remains elusive
