Coconut palms - the timber of the future

News release from the Department of Primary Industries & Fisheries. We see them along our beachfronts and in many streets and gardens, but the iconic palm tree may soon have a new place in the Queensland lifestyle as a high-quality building product. Research conducted by Queensland Primary Industries and Fisheries (QPIF) has found that cocowood, produced from coconut palm tree trunks, is suitable for use as high-value flooring, bench tops, kitchen cabinets and furniture. QPIF senior technician Gary Hopewell said the latest findings from the three-year $520,000 cocowood project showed that processed coconut palm wood was actually superior to many other commercially available timbers. "A number of Australian flooring product manufacturers are evaluating the material for their domestic manufacturing operations," he said. "Timber industry representatives from Australia, Fiji and Samoa, including flooring market and production specialists and potential suppliers and processors, are studying drying and processing technologies to ensure strict quality control of the product. "Even medium-density palm logs can be processed to make attractive veneers and plywood. "The positive results achieved to date support development of palm stem processing in Pacific island countries of origin, with value-added flooring and other products produced in Australia." Read the full article at the DPI website (opens in new window)

Finally found ‘wild’ Coconuts!

Finally, after regularly visiting this beach for 3 years, I found some stranded coconuts! This is at Rules Beach, close to Baffle Creek (between Bundaberg & Agnes Water) on the East Coast of Australia. There were quite a few this time, but most felt very light, to my knowledge a good sign that they won’t germinate. I’ve got a bunch here which are promising, I’ll keep you informed on their progress.

Coconut website Reference

Here’s a list of coconut websites we’ve come across so far. If you would like to add your coconut site, just leave a comment! Note that CocoNutters is in no way affiliated with any of the websites below.General

General Coconut websites

Wikipedia – a whole range of general coconut information including propagation & cultivation.

Coconut Research Centre – Your source for information on the health and nutritional aspects of coconut, coconut oil, palm, palm oil and related topics.

Cocotap – the handy little tool to drink coconut water easily. Invented by Paul Richardson.

The Coconut Odyssey – the bounteous possibilities of the tree of life

Asian and Pacific Coconut Community – The Asian and Pacific Coconut Community (APCC) is an intergovernmental organization of 15 major coconut producing countries accounting for over 90% of world coconut production and exports of coconut products.

Coconut – The web guide to the tropical world of coconuts

Coconuts in Thailand – Farming Coconuts in Thailand

Coconut Oil websites

Nature Pacific – Very friendly suppliers of organic Fiji Grown Virgin Coconut Oil

Kokonut Pacific – Developers of DME virgin coconut oil

Coconut-info.com – The purpose of this site is to provide information on the health benefits of coconut products, particularly coconut oil.

Coconutoil.com – Source for research on the health benefits of coconut oil

Coconut health benefits

The Coconut Diet – An internet discussion group discussing the health benefits of coconut oil.

Stunning Malayan Red Dwarf Coconut Palm

malayred
Originally uploaded by Coconutters

Dwarf Coconut Palms - Backyard Dwarves

Solomon varieties of dwarf coconuts open up possibilities for the backyarder. A recent global survey found 780 described coconut varieties. Many have been developed specifically for certain commercially important traits. Tall varieties represent the majority in commercial production due to a higher copra yield and longer productive lifespan, but the merits of the dwarf varieties are well worth considering, especially for the backyard or small scale production.There were eight dwarf varieties selected from the Solomon Islands and imported by the Townsville council in the early 1980’s. The original plan was to replace some of the tall palms along The Strand with these impressive compact varieties for foreshore stability and tourism appeal. I won’t elaborate on the perceived danger issue but it is said “coconuts have eyes of their own and have long served mankind”.The original Solomon collection has been well maintained and one of the originals, the Malay Golden Dwarf found its way to the far north, with thanks to the old Kamerunga research station in Cairns. There are also a number of the shorter palms, known as village dwarfs, growing around the Cape York Peninsula. They are very compact palms – small enough to grow in containers and bear numerous, small, golden orange fruits, with thin husks and great flavour. Others are the Red Spicata Dwarf, which has a stalk-less fruit attached directly to the main stem of the bunch, a Malay Yellow dwarf which is also very thin husked with medium sized light flavoured fruits, and a Giant Green dwarf, which has a full size crown but extremely compact trunk.
Click here for the full dwarf coconut article written by Paul Richardson from Cocotap

Coconut care - Some hints on establishing your palms

These nuts have been in the post for a couple of days so it will pay to get them out of the packaging and into a tub of half strength mix of liquid fertilizer or at least water, in the shade, as quickly as possible. The nuts were growing in filtered sunlight so will handle full sun when settled in but need at least 50% sun for as much of the day as possible.
The nuts are the most advanced that packaging or State requirements allow. They will gain nutritional benefit from attachment to the nut for about 18months and even longer in sub optimal conditions. Coconuts have a fibrous root system. Each root will develop with equal importance both feeding the plant and anchoring it. No tap root develops.

Click here to read Roger's full coconut care article
Further notes on growing coconuts are available by email from Roger Goebel. Current June 2009, Roger Goebel. To buy dwarf coconut palms visit Cactus Island Online & Mail Order Nursery