Date Varieties

The reproductive characteristics of the date palm ensure that growing plants from seed is a lottery with regard to the eating qualities and productivity of the palm. The only way to ensure particular characteristics is to propagate vegetatively. In practice date orchards are developed in this way as particular palms are selected for desirable aspects such as fruiting season, bearing capacity, keeping and transport characteristics, and above all flavour. Various numbers are quoted for the named varieties in any one of the main producing countries, with 600 being a common figure. Certain varieties have come to dominate the market and it is these dates which have entered world commerce.