Date palms belong to the Palmaceae family; they are native to the Persian Gulf and grow in arid and subtropical regions. The world’s leading producers are Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Iraq, and Algeria (source: FAO). Their fruit, the date, grows in clusters weighing up to 25 kg of ripe fruit and takes several months to mature. It is oval-shaped, smooth, and contains a long, grooved seed. In many countries, bunches of fruit are covered with paper bags to protect them from the elements (rain, dust) and rodents.
Date palms tolerate wide climatic variations; the optimal temperature for growth is 30°C, although they can withstand temperatures ranging from 8 to 45°C. From a commercial standpoint, it is important to keep humidity low during the ripening and harvesting periods, as high humidity could cause problems for most varieties.
The date palm thrives in almost any type of soil, but it does particularly well in sandy loam with good drainage. It is highly drought-tolerant and extremely tolerant of Salinity. Dates grow in almost any type of soil—light, medium, or heavy—as long as it has good drainage and aeration. The date palm is resistant to drought and alkaline soils. When saline water is used for irrigation, there are declines in both yield and quality.
Planting distances vary depending on the variety. The most common planting patterns are 10x10m, with densities of approximately 100 trees per hectare. In small palm plantations, the density is about 200 trees per hectare.
Most modern date plantations are irrigated using drip irrigation systems, although many traditional plantations are still irrigated using furrow or flood irrigation. Date palms require a continuous supply of water; in some regions, they are irrigated up to twice a day. Irrigation is the largest expense on a date palm plantation, as the roots must have a constant supply of moisture.
