How Medjool Dates Grow: From Flower to Fruit on a Date Palm

A Medjool date starts as a flower on a female date palm, gets pollinated by hand in spring, and ripens over about five to six months of desert heat. Here is the whole journey, in order, from our farm in Sky Valley, California.

1. Spring: flowers open

In early spring, a female palm sends up flower spathes, which are woody sheaths that crack open to show clusters of tiny flowers. Date palms are either male or female, and only females make fruit.

We grow these. Fresh Jumbo Medjool Dates — Shipping Included | California Farm-Direct from our family farm in Sky Valley, California — from $19/lb, shipping included. See them →

2. Pollination, by hand

In a commercial grove, we do not leave pollination to the wind. We collect pollen from male palms, then climb each female as her flowers open and dust the pollen on by hand. Because the sheaths open on different days, each palm needs more than one visit. Then we tie a bag over the pollinated cluster. Here is what hand pollination looks like.

3. Thinning and tying

A palm sets more fruit than it can ripen well. In late spring we remove some strands and shorten bunches so the dates left can grow large and soft. Bunches are then tied and arched down so they can be protected and picked without bruising.

4. Summer: the fruit grows and ripens

Through the hot months, the fruit swells and moves through the stages dates are known for: green, golden (khalal), soft and brown. Desert heat and dry air are what date palms like. They need hot summers, little rain at harvest time, and water at the roots.

5. Harvest

Late summer into fall, we pick in several passes, taking only the ripe fruit each time. See how Medjool dates are harvested.

Why it takes so much work

From pollination to packing, hands touch every palm about fifteen times a year. It is why dates are one of California’s most labor-intensive crops. Read the fifteen touches.

Taste the result

This is the fruit we grow: fresh jumbo Medjool dates, shipped from the farm with shipping included. Or send a gift box. Back to the home page.

Common questions

Do dates grow on trees?

Dates grow on date palms, which are palms and not true trees. The fruit hangs in bunches under the fronds.

Why do you need male and female palms?

Only female palms make dates, but they need pollen from a male palm to set fruit. See male vs. female date palms.

Are Medjool dates a fruit or a seed?

A fruit. Each date has one long seed, the pit, inside the flesh.