Dates are grown on plants that love warm weather.They grow well indoors if you give them plenty of sun, but they take a long time to produce fruit.All you need to start growing your seeds is a container and some soil.You can have beautiful date plants with a little care.
Step 1: To remove the seeds, split the dates in half.
Purchase fresh date fruits from your local grocery store.Pull out the large seeds, which are roughly the size of a pecan, if you split the dates in half.It is a good idea to use at least 4-5 date seeds.You can split dates in half by pulling them apart.
Step 2: If you want to get rid of extra fruit, wash the seeds.
To keep the seeds clean, hold them under the water.The cleaner the seeds, the less likely they are to grow mold.
Step 3: The seeds should be soaked in a cup of water for a day or two.
All of the seeds should be placed in a cup with room temperature water.The seed coating absorbs as much water as possible if the seeds sit in the water for at least a day or two.
Step 4: The seeds should be wrapped in a damp paper towel.
It is a good idea to damp a clean paper towel with fresh water.Place the seeds in the paper towel to spread them out and then fold the towel up to completely cover each seed.The paper towel can be folded multiple times to make it smaller.
Step 5: The paper towel should be placed in a sealed bag.
A plastic bag or a plastic container can be used.Put the paper towel in the bag or container and seal it.The seeds will not be able to grow if the paper towel is dry.
Step 6: For a couple weeks, put the bag in a warm place.
Setting your bag in a warm area helps create humidity so the seeds can grow more easily.Make sure the seeds are still damp by checking them at least once or twice during these 2 weeks.If you want to get the best results, try to set the bag or container in a spot that is 75 F.If the paper towel is wet, apply water to it.You could put the bag in a cabinet in the kitchen or on the windowsill.
Step 7: Once the sprout have begun to grow, remove the seeds.
Unwrapping a paper towel is a good way to check on your seeds.If you see white sprout growing from the seeds, they are ready to be moved into the soil.It's okay to wait the full 2 weeks so that the sprout can grow stronger and more visible.
Step 8: You can fill a small pot with palm soil.
Pick out a container that is at least 13 cm wide and fill it with potting soil.Use soil that has a mix of sand, vermiculite, and peat moss in it and fill the pot up about three-fifths of the way full.The holes at the bottom of the container will allow the water to drain out.The sand and vermiculite ratio for the soil is either 1: or 1:4.Peat moss encourages draining in your plant.
Step 9: In the soil, make 2 small indentations that are separated by one another.
Press your finger down into the soil to form the hole.The seeds have enough space to grow if the holes are spread out.The seeds should be away from the side of the pot.
Step 10: Place the seeds in a hole and cover it with soil.
Set each seed in a different hole with the sprout facing upwards.Sprinkle soil over the seeds and pat them down lightly.The white sprout is where the leaves will eventually grow.
Step 11: An area that gets lots of morning sunlight is where the pot should be.
Dates should be set in a spot that gets a lot of sun each day.If possible, place the pot near a window that gets several hours of morning sunlight, and if not, in a spot with plenty of sun in the afternoon.
Step 12: The soil needs to be soaked every time it gets wet.
To make sure the soil is moist, water it thoroughly when you set the seeds down.Put your finger in the soil to see if it has dried out.If it feels dry, make sure the water goes all the way down to the roots.When the soil is still moist, don't water it.If the top 1 cm (0.39 in) of soil is dry, it's time to water it.
Step 13: When the roots become cramped, transfer the sprouted seeds to a bigger pot.
The roots of your date seeds will start to grow out of the holes in the pot, signaling that it is time to put them in a larger pot.When this happens, fill a larger pot with the same soil you used the first time, gently lift the date roots out of the old pot, and water the dates and soil thoroughly.The pot should be at least 10 cm wider.Pick up the pot and look to see if the roots have grown out of the holes.You may have to transfer the plant several times.The roots must be placed in a hole in the top of the soil.
Step 14: For fruits to grow, wait 7 to 8 years.
Dates take a bit of time to grow tall and strong enough to produce fruit.Take care of your date plant and keep it watered.You should be able to eat fruit from your date plant after 7 or 8 years.When the top layer of soil is dry, give the date plant lots of sunlight.If you see the roots growing out of the pot, you can transfer the plant to a larger pot.