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My Birmy has been in the ground about 15 years (from a small Mail-order). It’s getting some nice trunk.
BUT, this June as well as last June, the numerous & promising seed stalks have sort of wilted, with the tips turning black and ultimately producing no seed. I was so looking forward to a bumper crop to share with friends. Am I doing something wrong?
Re: My S. Birmingham
Posted by RyanTX8b on 6/13/2022, 10:17 pm, in reply to "My S. Birmingham "
Do you have any pictures of the inflorescence? There is a Sabal Moth, the larvae develop into caterpillars that will come out at night, in mid spring, eat the developing seeds, leave a slimy mess, and black droppings all over the ground, and vanish at dawn before the birds can eat them. They came out on the Blood Moon this year here ( May 15th), and I caught them in the act. Once they find the Palm, it is a yearly cycle, and they quickly find the other sabals in the area.
Looks like it could be the caterpillars. They burrow in sabals that have that furry fiber trunk. Do you have any inflorescences that have not opened? If so would hit the palm with a systemic. I caught them in the act this year. I had been watching for them every night. I hit them with the spray, but they had cleared a whole Texas Sabal before I caught them, and were attacking another, I have not seen them since.
Posted by Jim Wilmington DE 7a on 6/16/2022, 1:53 pm, in reply to "My S. Birmingham "
Here's my non-expert opinion:
Charlotte may have some Sabals, but my guess is the bulk of them are in palm enthusiasts' yards like Ken's. I just don't think there are enough Sabals in the area to support the Sabal moth or any Sabal-specific pests.
When the lethal yellowing thing was going off in Florida, I remember thinking that if the pathogen killed all the Sabals in Florida, and the contiguous populations of Sabals in the Gulf states, up through the Carolinas, the palm nuts growing them outside their contiguous range will be the saviors of the genus. In theory, disjunct populations ought to be relatively safe from Sabal-specific contagions and insect pests.
I have a Birmingham & a Palmetto - both in-ground since 2008ish - and I feel pretty confident that the only threat they face are the winters here. How is a palm moth or a lethal disease gonna find them in Delaware? And in my mind, Charlotte would be nearly as safe. Jim, Wilmington, DE, 7a Last 30 Years Avg. Winter Low: 7.50F Last 20 Years Avg. Winter Low: 8.35F Last 10 Years Avg. Winter Low: 8.40F Favorite Palms: Species: Phoenix Canariensis / Genus: Sabal
in the past I recall Butterflies or moths landing in Texas from the Yucatan of Mexico after a Hurricane or tropical system by the millions. I am sure Delaware isn't too far removed as its on the migration and prevailing wind direction.
Re: My S. Birmingham
Posted by WSimpson NC on 6/20/2022, 5:40 pm, in reply to "My S. Birmingham "
Ken , I had a nice crop year before last but I'm not seeing any inflorescences on my biggest Birmy this year ? My smaller one has a couple small inflorescences , but I don't think it will be much of a crop ?
WillWinston-Salem Ten year lows: 20F 5F 4F 15F 7F 8F 14F 19F 16F 16F(2022) 10 Year Average Winter Lowest Low 12.4F ; 30 Year 12.3F Profession:Trachy Defiberer and Palm Spear Puller (free estimates)
Re: Article From NC State, Says they Exist Already
Fascinating read!!Jim, Wilmington, DE, 7a Last 30 Years Avg. Winter Low: 7.50F Last 20 Years Avg. Winter Low: 8.35F Last 10 Years Avg. Winter Low: 8.40F Favorite Palms: Species: Phoenix Canariensis / Genus: Sabal
Re: Wind/Hurricanes
Posted by Jim Wilmington DE 7a on 6/29/2022, 3:14 pm, in reply to "Wind/Hurricanes"
As we get tropical weather systems up this way during hurricane season, I suppose it's possible.
I guess the lesson may be that no Sabal anywhere is safe.Jim, Wilmington, DE, 7a Last 30 Years Avg. Winter Low: 7.50F Last 20 Years Avg. Winter Low: 8.35F Last 10 Years Avg. Winter Low: 8.40F Favorite Palms: Species: Phoenix Canariensis / Genus: Sabal
on 6/13/2022, 2:24 pm
