30 Young Coconut Trees arrive at Vanilla Paradise Nevis

Honouring a pledge

Discover how Vanilla Paradise Nevis is acting on its Biodiversity Day pledge by planting coconut trees, fostering biodiversity, and supporting organic, sustainable practices. Explore the interesting world of coconuts and their impact on our vanilla farm's future.

Witnessing the Fragile Bond Between Humans and Nature

Nothing matches working on a farm in order to witness what a tenuous relationship humans have with nature. Previously confined to desk-bound jobs, I was merely a spectator of the ongoing battle to preserve biodiversity for future generations. Now, from my vanilla farm, Vanilla Paradise Nevis, I can actually do something about it.

UN Biodiversity Day: A Pledge for a Greener Tomorrow

Back in May we celebrated the annual UN Biodiversity Day which aims to increase public understanding of biodiversity - the variability among living organisms and the ecological roles they perform.

At Vanilla Paradise Nevis I pledged to plant coconut trees, not only as our contribution to Biodiversity Day but also to replenish our stock of trees on the estate and to provide shade and shelter for our vanilla shade houses as well as mulch for the plants in the future. You can read more about the pledge in our article here.

Honouring the Pledge: Welcoming Young Coconut Trees

In August of this year I finally honoured my pledge and took delivery of 30 or so young coconut trees, Cocos nucifera, sourced from a local nursery.

Coconut trees, also known as “The Eyes of the Sea”, can grow from about 30cm to a metre a year, depending on the climate and environment. Their fronded crowns flourish skyward supported by sturdy stipes as well as an extensive and hardy root systems capable of withstanding coastal flooding, and are ideally suited for resisting the onslaught of monsoons and hurricanes.

Unveiling the Kaleidoscope of Coconut Colours

Did you know that coconut trees come in different colours? Ours are green, orange and yellow. The coloration of coconut foliage stems primarily from genetic variations, and the most commonly encountered is the green variant, characterized by dark foliage adapting these flora optimally for photosynthesis across the photic zones of tropical coastlands. However, sporadic mutations have produced lemon-hued or tangerine-tinged leaves. There is no evidence that the colours impact either the growth or the fruit yields. It seems that they are grown according to regional preferences.

For those of us who are fascinated by the botanical aspect of plant cultivation, here is how we get from a flower to the mature brown coconut we see in stores, taking on average, around 12 to 18 months. - it's quite a journey!

Flowering: It all starts with the coconut palm tree flowering. The coconut palm produces both male and female flowers. The male flowers release pollen, which is carried by the wind to pollinate the female flowers.

Fruit Development: Once pollinated, the coconut starts to develop. The fruit is initially green and smooth. It takes several months for the coconut to reach its full size.

Nut Formation: The coconut is technically a "drupe" rather than a true nut. It has three layers: the outer husk (exocarp), a fibrous layer (mesocarp), and the hard woody layer surrounding the seed (endocarp).

Water Accumulation: Initially, the inside of the coconut is filled with a liquid often referred to as coconut water, or JELLY WATER in St. Kitts and Nevis. This liquid serves as a nutrient source for the developing coconut embryo.

Kernel Development: Over time, the coconut water is gradually replaced by the solid white coconut meat or kernel. This is the part that can be eaten.

***The coconut tree (Cocos nucifera)***

The coconut tree provides food, fuel, beauty products, medicine, materials for construction, and more. (Credit: Wikipedia)

Maturation: The coconut gradually matures, and its color changes from green to yellow or brown, depending on the variety. The husk becomes fibrous, and the coconut gains its characteristic brown appearance.

Falling from the Tree: When mature, the coconut falls from the tree. This can happen naturally due to the ripening process or be prompted by external factors like wind or animals or harvesting by humans.

Seed Dispersal: The coconut is well-designed for seed dispersal. It can float on water, allowing it to be carried by ocean currents to new locations. This is one reason why coconut palms are found in coastal areas.

Germination: If conditions are right, the coconut can germinate and grow into a new palm tree. The husk provides protection and nutrients for the seedling until it establishes roots and begins its own life cycle.

A Glimpse into the Future: Watching Our Young "Charges" Flourish

Vanilla Paradise Nevis is heavily reliant on coconuts, as we have seen in an earlier article you can read here. Our future crop of coconuts will help us keep up the stock of husks that are used as mulch in the shade houses. We are committed to this practice in our pledge to being an organic and sustainable enterprise as well as keeping the biodiversity of this beautiful island thriving.