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Planting,
Growing, and Caring
For Pistachio Trees
Planting
& Growing
Pistachio nut trees
are suited for areas where summers are long, hot, and dry, and the winters
are moderately cold. It is a small, slow growing tree, reaching about 30
feet of height at full maturity. Pistachio trees flourish and bear well in
well-drained soils. They begin to produce nuts in the 4th or 5th
year after planting, and good production takes 8 to 10 years, with full
bearing maturity occurring at 15 to 20 years. Average yield per tree is ½
pound the 5th year, increasing to up to 80 pounds at maturity.
The trees are deciduous, being dormant from December through February and
begin to bloom with the arrival of warmer weather in late March. The male
pollinates the female via the April winds, and the shell of the nut is
fully developed by mid-May. Before June ends, the seed inside the shell
has begun its rapid expansion and by the first of August, the seed has
filled the shell. The nuts, splitting at the seams, are usually ready to
be harvested around Labor Day. One male tree will provide enough pollen
for up to nine female trees.
Care Instructions
Dig a hole a little
larger than the dirt in the pot. The level of the dirt in the pot should
be ground level after planting. Remove the bottom of the pot by tearing or
cutting it away from the sides of the pot. Check to see if there are any
long roots curled at the bottom. If there are, cut those off even with the
dirt. This "root pruning" will actually stimulate more roots to
form. Make a cut up the side of the pot, but do not remove it yet. Set the
potted plant in the hole and fill in the hole loosely with dirt. Now
remove the pot by gently pulling it up. "Heel in" or tamp the
loose dirt around the tree. Water in well. Do not put fertilizer in the
hole during the planting procedure, but do fertilize with a tree
fertilizer containing nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium each spring,
following manufacturer’s instructions.
Keep the tree in
good moisture content April through mid-September. Do not water October or
November to aid the tree in going dormant. After the tree is dormant, a
monthly watering during the winter months will help the tree be more cold
resistant.
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