How do you know when your pistachio nut crop is ripe, ready and delicious to eat? Spring frosts during the flowering period generally do not damage the trees, due to late bloom. Before planting pistachio trees, you should make sure you live in the right climate. Jan 29, 2012 - How to Grow Pistachios. For tips from our Horticulture co-author on how to harvest pistachios from your trees, read on! Growing pistachio trees commercially for nut export occurs primarily in Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Italy and Syria where the arid climate is optimal for growth. A mature pistachio tree can survive temperatures down to 0 degrees, but younger trees are injured when temperature drop into the low 20s. Set the potted pistachio in full sun, outdoors on a patio or lanai. Pistachio trees only start to bear fruit when they’re about eight years old, and a full harvest will only come fifteen years into the tree’s life. They will provide you with grafted ones. You can get your seeds from a nursery. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. How To Grow Pistachios Indoors | Gardening Story: https://youtu.be/kzk_kw8-8SY Hello Friends, In this video, I will tell you How To Grow Pistachios Indoors. Pistachio trees are dioecious, which means that trees produce only male or female flowers, so you need both a male and a female tree to produce nuts on the female tree and they’re wind-pollinated . By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Backfill the hole so that your pistachio can be planted at the same height as it was in the pot. Additionally, they are quite drought tolerant but dont do well in areas of high humidity. Pistachios grow very slowly, so don't expect fruits before the 5th year. Did you know you can read expert answers for this article? Put a damp paper towel in a plastic baggie and put the pistachio seeds into the damp paper towel. The pistachio tree is originally from the Middle East and Central Asia, but its now been cultivated in many other places including China, India, Italy and the USA. Pistachio trees can grow well in altitudes up to 2200 feet (670 meters), but in some cases they are grown even in altitudes up to 3300 (1000 meters). The earliest reference to it being grown for food is in the work of the Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder, who wrote that pistachios had been cultivated since 6,750 BC and farmed in Italy since 35 AD. Dig holes deep enough to contain their roots without bending. It has been reported to grow well when irrigated with water having 3,000–4,000 ppm of soluble salts. Tree Type This is an ornamental tree, typically planted for the visual interest and beauty it can bring to landscape. Conversely, pistachio trees do well in all soil types but really thrive in deep sandy loam. Pistachios belong to the Anacardiaceae plant family, which includes a number of familiar plants like mangos, cashews, smoke tree, sumac, and – believe it or not – poison oak. Not only are they the lowest calorie of the nuts, but they are rich in phytosterols, antioxidants, unsaturated fat (the good stuff), carotenoids, vitamins and minerals, fiber and are just plain delicious. Although we think of pistachios as nuts, the delicious, nutritious treats are actually seeds. This article was co-authored by Lauren Kurtz. To cure an infestation, spray the tree with an insecticidal soap as per the manufacturer’s instructions. You would find the most success buying pistachio seed from a supply house or buying trees from a supplier. Is it typical for a small forest of Pistachio trees to still not produce nuts after eight years of growth? ... We inspire people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees. Make sure you don’t put too many; five seeds is fine. Support wikiHow by Pistachio trees are fairly hardy in the right conditions and can survive temperatures ranging between … Pistachio Tree Planting. Mature Size The Chinese pistache grows to a height of 25–35' and a spread of 25–35' at maturity. When it’s time to transplant the trees, dig holes twice as wide as the root balls, removing any stones or debris that could hinder their growth. Pistachio trees should be planted about 20 feet apart. In addition, pistachio nut trees don’t do well at high elevations due to the cool temps, or anywhere where it dips below 15 F (-9 C). The scientific name for the pistachio is Pistacia vera L. It is a member of the family Anacardiaceae which contains such widely known plants as the cashew, mango and poison oak. So its a little picky about its temperature requirements. Pistachios also need winter months cold enough to complete their dormant period — 45 F (7 C) or below. Allow 15 to 18 feet between individual trees and 20 to 22 feet between orchard rows. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Spring frosts during the flowering period generally do not damage the trees, due to late bloom. Plant it and then watch it grow. Continue watering once a … Pistachio is a desert plant and is highly tolerant of saline soil. Most trees produce around 50 lbs. The pistachio tree is originally from the Middle East and Central Asia, but its now been cultivated in many other places including China, India, Italy and the USA. Find more gardening information on Gardening Know How: Keep up to date with all that's happening in and around the garden. Check every 2 or 3 days for root development and also to see if … For young trees, select the three to five branches you wish to use as scaffold branches or the primary structure of your pistachio in April of the first growth season. 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