The pistachio tree is small and the fruits it produces are widely used in cooking. There is a great variety, but some are more commercial than others and the one that is cultivated the most is called Pistachio Vera.
The pistachios can be bought in small trees to later transplant them or the seeds to later germinate them. The pistachio is a plant that needs pollen in order to reproduce. For this reason, to begin with, it is good to have a female and a male plant, the best time to plant these little trees is in the spring, and the soil that works best for them is sandy, which in turn is very well drained and with enough, since it has deep roots that have to be developed.
Pistachio fruits grow best in hot and dry climates; they can withstand temperatures that can reach up to forty and fifty degrees.
It is quite resistant to drought and therefore care must be taken with its irrigation, which cannot be done in excess, what is recommended is that it be done a few at a time and in a spaced way, in addition, the one that area where it receives plenty of sun. Let’s see below in more detail about the plantation of pistachios.
The pistachio is an alfonsigo or alfoncigo tree (sometimes called pistaciaceae or pistachio Vera L, Anacardiaceous) this tree is small in stature and belongs to the genus called Pistachio, it has its origin in Greece, Turkey, Syria, Western Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan, specifically in the more mountainous areas. It produces a fruit that has been quite important for use in cooking.
The soil for planting pistachios
This type of tree has its advantage in that it adapts to various types of soil, although it prefers sandy ones, because its drainage is quite good. Having a good soil is highly recommended, one that is slightly alkaline and sandy will make the plant more productive.
The risks of planting pistachios
These trees like drought better, so they would not tolerate excess water, so they should be watered infrequently. Irrigation should be controlled with a maximum of twice a week.
If they are planted in the northern hemisphere, they should stop watering in October and if it is in the southern hemisphere, they should not be watered in April. It is sought that the trees can better withstand the following weather conditions.
The pistachio plantation
You must start by getting the seeds, you can do it online or in a specialized center, but the ideal is better to buy as a small tree and plant them later, this way you will have plants that are more resistant and the care is less.
These trees should be planted with a distance between six and eight meters, really this is not as much as it seems, since when time passes they will begin to fill all these spaces, due to their roots.
The proportions of females and males must be respected, which must be from one to eight, this means that there must be one male who is a pollinator for every eight productive female trees.
Following the advice well, the trees can bear the fruit of the pistachio for more than fifty years.
It will be necessary to make a hole that is proportional to the pot where the small tree comes from, then check that it is in optimal conditions and bury it well. Once it has been planted, it should be watered with plenty of water so that it settles correctly and there are no air spaces left.
Germination of pistachio seeds
If what you want is to germinate seeds, you should buy pistachios that have not been roasted. You should use a container with water that is at room temperature and then leave the pistachio seeds to soak for forty-eight hours. Then a small towel should be used to roll up these fruits, later it should be taken to the snow for forty-five days. The towel should always remain moist. Once this time has passed, the fruits will be removed from the refrigerator and left to rest in a dark environment between twenty and thirty degrees. This will be the easiest way for the seeds to germinate.
You have to be patient while the trees bear fruit, because the first ones can take up to thirty months to appear, the ideal time to collect them will be in autumn.
Tips for planting pistachios
Although it begins to bear fruit after thirty months, it takes time to grow and bear fruit in optimal conditions between seven and ten years.
Remember that it will be easier if you buy the little tree instead of the seeds to germinate them.
