Planting oil palms requires knowledge :
Fertilize oil palms today…See the results in 1-2 years
Because the development of oil palms from flower buds to palm bunches takes 14-22 months (refer to the timeline diagram below),
Therefore, fertilizing and watering the oil palms must be done continuously to ensure the palms are healthy throughout the development of the flowers. Thus, any actions taken today, such as fertilizing and watering the oil palms, will show results in 1-2 years.
…Conversely, the symptoms that the palms exhibit today are all the result of actions taken 1-2 years ago.
Normally, there is always one flower bud at the base of every leaf axil, but whether it becomes a male or female flower depends on the palm’s fertility at the time the flower bud forms (around the 22nd leaf, approximately the 7th-8th month).
If the palm is fertile during this period, the flower bud will develop into a female flower. However, if the palm lacks fertility, the flower bud will either die or become a male flower.
Studies have shown that planting oil palms in unsuitable environments, such as areas with long dry periods, insufficient rainfall compared to the standard, lack of nutrients for the palms, or problematic soil conditions, often results in some leaf axils having female flowers, while others have no flowers at all. There may be more male flowers than female flowers, or the palm may produce fruit bunches intermittently, leading to lower yields compared to oil palms planted in more fertile areas with adequate rainfall.
