The right date palm fertiliser at the right time is what separates a palm with a weak crop and small dates from one with a heavy load of large, sweet fruit. Palms need organic feeding to improve the soil, a balanced mineral fertiliser with plenty of potassium, and micronutrients such as magnesium, boron and iron.
This article sets out a year-round palm fertilising programme, rates by palm age and the correct way to apply fertiliser.
What nutrients do date palms need?
- Nitrogen: for vegetative growth and strong new fronds.
- Phosphorus: for roots, flowering and fruit set.
- Potassium: the most important nutrient for fruit; it increases date size and sugars and strengthens the palm against heat and salinity.
- Magnesium: for green fronds and photosynthesis; deficiency shows as yellowing at the tips of older leaflets.
- Boron: important for pollination and fruit set; deficiency deforms the heart and spathes.
- Iron, zinc and manganese: deficiencies are common in alkaline soil. See our nutrient deficiency and yellow leaves article.
A year-round palm fertilising programme
Winter (December and January): organic fertiliser
- The best time to add well-rotted organic fertiliser such as cow manure, because it breaks down slowly and prepares the soil for the season.
- You can add part of the phosphorus with it, as phosphorus moves slowly in soil.
Before and during pollination (February and March)
- A balanced or high-phosphorus fertiliser with boron to support spathes and fruit set.
- Avoid excess nitrogen at this stage.
After fruit set and during fruit growth (hababouk and kimri)
- The palm now needs more potassium, so a high-potassium palm fertiliser or potassium sulphate is useful.
- Split the amount into several applications with irrigation.
Khalal and rutab
- A final potassium application to improve colour and sweetness.
- Stop nitrogen near ripening, as it delays ripening and lowers date quality.
How much fertiliser per palm
By palm age
From the granular 12-6-24 palm fertiliser label:
- Young palms (up to 3 years): 1 kg per palm per year.
- Medium palms (3 to 10 years): 2 to 4 kg per palm per year.
- Fruiting palms (over 10 years): 4 to 6 kg per palm per year.
- Split the amount into several applications through the year.
By fruit stage (fruiting palms)
From the acidic soluble 15-17-27 palm fertiliser label, the annual need is about 6 kg per palm over 4 to 6 applications:
- Flowering: 0.5 kg per palm to improve fruit set.
- Hababouk: 1 kg per palm to support fruit formation.
- Kimri (green khalal): 1.5 kg per palm to build sugars.
- Coloured khalal and rutab: 1 kg per palm to improve quality.
How to fertilise date palms correctly
- Spread the fertiliser in a ring around the trunk 1 to 2 metres away, not against the trunk.
- Mix it into the soil, or make a shallow circular trench and cover it.
- Irrigate straight after so it dissolves and reaches the roots.
- With drip irrigation: soluble fertilisers work best, preferably acidic ones that prevent salt build-up in the system.
- Foliar micronutrient sprays give faster results when deficiencies appear.
Important tips
- Test soil and water every few years, especially with saline water.
- On saline land use agricultural gypsum with leaching irrigation.
- A liquid such as fish fertiliser gives a quick boost between granular applications.
- A well-fed palm resists pests better, but regular checks for palm pests such as the red palm weevil are still essential.
Common palm fertilising mistakes
- Placing fertiliser against the trunk: feeder roots are away from the trunk, and fertiliser touching it can burn.
- Using raw manure: it carries pests and weed seeds and burns roots.
- Too much nitrogen near ripening: delays ripening, reduces sweetness and attracts pests.
- One large dose: it is better to split it.
- Neglecting potassium: the most common cause of small dates.
Products from Orkida
- Blaukorn 12-12-17 granular fertiliser by COMPO Expert, 25 kg
- KALI SOP granular potassium sulphate 0-0-50 by K+S, Germany, 25 kg
- Kelpak seaweed extract for root growth, 1 L
- Palm Secrets 12-6-24 palm fertiliser by Astrachem, 25 kg
- Optifert 15-17-27 acidic palm fertiliser, 25 kg
Date palm fertiliser FAQs
When should I fertilise date palms?
Organic fertiliser in winter (December and January), and mineral fertiliser in several applications from pollination to rutab, increasing potassium after fruit set.
How many kilos of fertiliser per palm?
A large fruiting palm needs roughly 4 to 6 kg of compound fertiliser a year in split applications; younger palms need less depending on age.
Is urea suitable for date palms?
Yes, in moderate amounts during growth, but do not increase it near ripening. More in our urea article.
Why are my dates small?
Usually potassium deficiency or water stress during kimri, or too heavy a crop without thinning the bunches.