Pistachio tree care: plant, care and harvest the nuts

Pistachios are growing in popularity and becoming one of the most convenient and irresistible healthy snacks. Unfortunately, a bag of healthy convenience comes at a high price. If your pistachio cravings are weighing on your wallet, growing pistachios might be an excellent option! A fully grown tree can produce between 20 and 50 pounds of pistachios. Pistachios can be stored for up to a year so you will never have to buy pistachios from the store again.

Compared to other nuts, pistachios are low in calories and still contain a lot of protein, fiber and healthy fats. They can be eaten plain or with spices. They can be added to salads, topped on vegetables, and even made into ice cream! The possibilities are endless!

Growing pistachio trees takes a lot of patience and space, but the result is well worth it. Pistachios are desert plants, so they are drought tolerant and can tolerate a wide range of temperatures. They are robust to USDA zones 7-10. In a good climate, pistachio trees are easy to care for and have very few concerns about insect problems and disease.

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Brief instructions for care

Growing a pistachio tree takes time but is very rewarding. Source: Bradspry

Everything about the pistachio tree

A fully grown pistachio can also make a reasonably good shade tree. Source: Mabacam

Pistacia vera, commonly known as pistachio, is native to Central Asia and the Middle East. They are used to the desert climate and grow very well in areas like the San Joaquin Valley of California, which has long hot summers and cool dry winters.

Pistachio trees are deciduous with pinnate compound leaves. The flowers and fruits grow in large clusters. The nut or seed is encapsulated by a hard shell, and the shell is covered with a golden to red shell. At the time of maturity, the trees are 20 to 30 feet tall but can be pruned to bring the height to a more manageable size.

Pistachios are dormant in winter, bloom in spring, develop in summer, and are ready to be harvested in autumn. Trees will bear annually; However, because they are alternately stored, they bear a heavy harvest for a year and a lighter harvest the following year.

Pistachio trees are dioecious, meaning they are either male or female. In order for the female tree to set fruit, it must be pollinated by a male tree. One male tree can provide enough pollen for up to 11 female trees. Pistachio trees are predominantly wind pollinated so pollinators do not have to produce fruit. Pistachios also have a need for cooling for flower development. You need at least 800 hours below 45 ° F.

plants

Pistachio plantations thrive in the Mediterranean climate. Source: Philos from Athens

Trees are planted as annual trees in January or February. Always plant a grafted tree to ensure the correct ratio of male and female trees is growing. Planting trees from seeds is not recommended as there is no guarantee that there will be a balance between male and female trees. The only way to tell if the tree is male or female is to wait for it to mature, which takes several years.

Choose a sunny location with good drainage and a deep soil profile so the roots can grow properly. Growing in a container is not recommended as pistachios require space for their deep root system. Since female trees are wind pollinated by male trees, do not place them in an area that is completely blocked from the wind. Male trees must be planted against the wind by females to ensure pollination.

After choosing a good location for the trees, dig a hole that is as deep as the root ball and twice as wide. Fill the hole with soil, then compact it with a shovel. Add a layer of mulch to help prevent weeds and regulate temperature and soil moisture. Space trees 15-30 feet apart.

maintenance

Caring for pistachio trees is easy. The hardest part about growing a pistachio tree is patience. Pistachios are extremely easy to care for and well worth the wait after you've harvested the delicious nuts!

Sun and temperature

Unripe pistachios on a tree. Source: I carry your heart

Pistachio trees need full sun, so your growing pistachio will need at least 6 hours of sunlight for optimal growth. Trees are hardy in USDA zones 7 through 10 and grow well in many parts of the United States, including the southwestern states of Arizona, New Mexico, and California. They prefer a climate with hot and dry summers and cool winters.

The frost tolerance depends on the rhizome. Some rhizomes can withstand temperatures below 0 ° F while others can only tolerate temperatures of 27 ° F for a short time before damage occurs. Pistachios grow naturally in desert conditions, making them extremely heat-resistant. Indeed, dry heat is essential for good core development and production. Temperatures above 65 ° F will decrease the yield during the resting phase.

Water and moisture

The ideal time to water is early in the morning to prevent conditions that are conducive to the development of the disease. Long periods of high humidity can potentially lead to disease problems. Pistachios need a deep rinse every few weeks during dry periods. Pistachios are drought tolerant, so they can survive on very little water. However, if you provide plenty of moisture, you will increase nut yield and quality.

Drip irrigation is ideal for allowing the soil to absorb large amounts of moisture. Depending on the type of soil, sprinklers and drinking hoses can cause excessive runoff. There is no need to water during the rainy season.

ground

Pistachios can grow in different soils as long as they are well drained. Heavy clay soils are not recommended. Pistachios can survive in poor soil quality and are known to be salt tolerant. Pistachios prefer slightly alkaline soils between a pH range of 7.0 and 7.5, but grow well between a pH range of 6.0 to 8.0.

Fertilize

Fertilize once a year in spring with a balanced NPK fertilizer such as 10-10-10.

clipping

During late winter and early spring, when the tree is still dormant, prune the trees to maintain size and keep the canopy open. To keep the canopy open, choose 3 main branches and prune any overlapping smaller branches. Keep smaller branches between 1.5 and 2 feet. Remember that the fruit will develop during an annual growth. When pruning, be careful not to prune too much of the older branches as you will need some of the more mature growth.

In autumn and winter, all leaves and fruits should fall naturally. If old leaves and fruits remain on the tree during the dormant phase, they must be removed to prevent diseased plant material from being transported into the following season.

Multiplication

Pistachio trees are best propagated by grafting. The rhizomes are grown from seeds and later budded with the fruit variety. Rhizomes used for commercial production are species other than Pistacia vera. Pistacia altantica and Pistacia integerrima are the two most common species used for rhizomes. Hybrids of the two species have also been developed to combine the best and most favorable properties of the two rhizomes.

When the rhizomes are large enough, they are grafted with Pistacia vera. The two most common varieties are Kerman and Peters. Kerman is a female variety and Peters is a male variety.

Harvesting and storing

After peeling and drying, store your pistachios with or without clams. Source: kstaki

Harvesting pistachios is very easy and rewarding. Pistachios can be eaten fresh or preserved for later consumption.

harvest

Two signs that pistachios are ready to be harvested are when the hull turns a reddish color and when the hull splits to reveal the shell underneath. The easiest way to harvest nuts is to put a tarp under the tree and shake the branches until the pistachios fall onto the tarp.

Because pistachios are split before harvest, they must not land on the ground to reduce the risk of contamination. Remove the hulls immediately after harvest. Failure to remove the hulls will result in skin discoloration and possible mold growth. It also slows down the drying process.

storage

Pistachios need to be dried and stored in an airtight container. Pistachios can be dried naturally in the sun for 3-4 days or they can be oven dried at 140-160 ° F for about 10-14 hours.

Pistachios can be kept for a few months at room temperature. For long-term storage of up to a year, keep them in the freezer with or without a shell.

Troubleshooting

As they mature, the pistachio hulls turn reddish in color. Source: LibraryatNight

Growing pistachios is usually straightforward. However, below are some of the problems you might encounter and how to fix them.

Growing problems

Weather conditions are the main reason for little or no crop yield. Warm weather during the rest phase prevents the tree from producing flowers. Trees need at least 800 hours of temperatures below 45 ° F. If the tree does not receive sufficient cooling hours, then the flowering is negatively affected. High temperatures above 65 ° F during dormancy also cause flower loss.

Poor pollination is also a cause of poor fruit yield. Pistachios are largely wind-pollinated. The planting location should be considered to ensure that pollination occurs. Do not put them near a windbreak wall or put male trees of women against the wind.

Pests

Umbilical orange worm Adults are moths with gray wings and black markings. Moths lay eggs in split shells. The larvae are reddish-orange or cream-colored and feed on the pistachio. This pest can be combated with cultural methods. Removing old nuts from the previous year prevents or reduces overwintering pest insects. Harvesting immediately after the trunk has been split prevents the pest from laying eggs in the nuts. If you need a chemical spray, Bacillus thuriengensis (Bt) can be used for control.

Leafroller with oblique ribbons is another moth pest of pistachios. Adult moths are brown with dark brown sloping bands on their wings. The larvae feed on leaves and flowering branches. Damage is very evident in the leaves; The leaves appear rolled or tied together. The larvae are located in the rolled leaves. The larvae are yellowish-green with dark heads. Bacillus thuriengensis (Bt) is very effective in controlling this pest. Weekly sprays may be required until complete control is achieved.

Citrus flat mite is a small reddish mite that occurs in the summer months. Mites feed on the stems of nut tufts and the nuts, causing the grapes to shrink. Damaged grapes are more likely to remain on the trees than to naturally fall in winter and provide overwintering protection for umbilical orange worms and fungal pathogens. If treatment is needed, citrus flat mite can be treated with sulfur sprays.

Soft scales can be found on the twigs and twigs of trees. There are different types of soft scales of different colors, from yellow to brown to black. Damage doesn't come straight from the scales. Dandruff excrete large amounts of honeydew, which leads to sooty mold. Soot mold covers the leaves, which inhibits photosynthesis and leads to leaf droplets. The dandruff is usually controlled with natural predators and parasites. When treatment is required, dormant oil sprays are effective.

Mealybugs cause the same problem as soft scales in that they also excrete large amounts of honeydew, which leads to the development of sooty mold. Mealybugs typically live in the shoots and fruit clusters. Mealybugs are white to gray and form a white layer of wax around them. Nymphs, also called crawlers, are the most mobile stage and usually appear in June. When natural predators cannot keep populations under control, pyrethrin can be used to control. Crawlers are the most susceptible to pesticides, so application during the crawling phase is critical for most effective application.

Diseases

Botrytis and Alternaria are the two most common leaf diseases in pistachio trees. These two diseases both cause leaf and shoot death. These diseases occur when conditions are constantly humid, either from rain or high humidity. The most effective way to prevent this from happening is to keep the foliage as dry as possible and prune the trees well so that a lot of air flows between the branches and leaves.

On the ground floor Phytophthora and Verticillium are the most common root diseases in pistachio trees.

Verticillium starts in the roots and eventually infects the xylem. The infection hinders both moisture and nutrient absorption and leads to wilting and ultimately death. There is no treatment for Verticillium, so prevention is key. If Verticillium is present in the soil, a resistant rhizome must be used to avoid infection.

Phytophthora is a common problem that causes root rot. This fungal problem can be completely prevented with proper irrigation practices and good soil drainage. Above-ground symptoms of Phytophthora include decreased vitality and yellow leaves.

frequently asked Questions

This old pistachio tree shows its graft joint very well on the trunk. Source: mixedeyes

Q: Where do pistachios grow in the US?

A: Pistachios are grown commercially in California, Arizona, and New Mexico. Trees are planted in areas of these states where the climate consists of long hot summers and cool winters. California is currently the largest producer in the United States.

Q: How long does it take to produce a pistachio tree?

A: Pistachio trees take between 5 and 7 years to produce the first harvest. It takes up to 15-20 years to get maximum nut yields.

Q: How tall do pistachio trees grow?

A: Pistachio trees range from 20 to 30 feet.

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