Since you can find coconuts at the grocery store pretty much 365 days a year, it’s a little tricky to pin down a specific “coconut season.” But here’s the cool thing: you don’t really have to! Just like many of our favorite tropical plants, coconut palms produce fruit all year round.
A Long Road to Ripeness
Believe it or not, it can take up to twelve months for a coconut to go from a tiny blossom to a fully ripe nut. Because of this long growth cycle, the tree is constantly churning out new fruit. In the tropical regions where they grow, it’s totally normal to see a palm tree blooming with new flowers at the exact same time the mature nuts are being harvested.
One major perk of the coconut is its shelf life. Once a nut is fully ripe, it can be stored for several weeks without any issues. However, keep an eye on those “young” or “drinking” coconuts you see in the refrigerated section. Unlike their mature cousins, these are perishable and need to be enjoyed quickly, even if you keep them chilled.
A World of Varieties
Coconuts are actually pretty flexible when it comes to genetics—different varieties cross-pollinate easily. This has led to a huge range of types, though we don’t often see them labeled by name at the store.
When growers look at different varieties, they focus on:
- Size
- Shape
- How much coconut water is inside
- The thickness of the meat
- Overall weight
Once a farmer finds a variety that grows well, they stick with it. But gardening with coconuts requires some serious patience! It takes about 15 years for a palm to start producing a significant harvest. Their peak production lasts until they’re about 60, at which point the yield starts to drop. But don’t worry—the tree still has plenty to give; the fibers and the wood are used for all sorts of products.
The Hard Work of Harvesting
Since coconuts are always in season, a single tree will have clusters of nuts at all different stages of ripeness at the same time. This makes harvesting a bit of a puzzle. It’s hard to tell exactly which ones are ready just by looking, especially since the nut we recognize is actually tucked inside a thick, fleshy outer husk.
To get to the goods, workers often have to climb palms that reach up to 80 feet high, which can be pretty dangerous work. In some regions, farmers have even trained small species of monkeys to do the climbing and picking. In plantations where these clever helpers are used, workplace accidents have actually seen a significant decrease.
