Stages of Growth
Dates have to pass five stages of growth before developing into ripe fruits (Tamr, تمر) that are harvested in August and September:
- Tamim (تميم): During the first 15 days up to one month the emerging fruits are of no use.
- Dafiq (دفيق): The subsequent green stage lasts for about 2½ months and the growing fruits are still bitter. Depending on the variety a certain ratio of the fruits falls off prematurely. These green dates are fed to the livestock.
- 'Aifanunah (عيفنونة): This interval lasts between 10 and 15 days during which the fruits acquire their sweetness. Children will start eating fruits that are about to fall off.
- Safuri (صفوري): During the following month the maturing fruits don't fall off easily anymore. Some date varieties can already be harvested.
- Umm Ra's (أم رأس): This final stage of ripening is also called Rutab (رطب). The fruits are turning brown from their end towards the perianth. The Manasir never cut the whole fruit bunch called Shakhlub (شخلوب) but only single spikelets, with the result of thinning out the clusters and letting the remaining fruits gain in size.
Read more about this topic: Date Cultivation In Dar Al-Manasir
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