GROWING THE PISTACHIO. HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A PISTACHIO TREE?

The pistachio is a nut we all know. It is another thing to say that you have a pistachio tree in your garden, most people will be surprised. Oddly enough, the pistachio is extracted from a tree and not a plant and is known as the pistachio or  Pistacia vera. We teach you to incorporate it into your garden, do you dare?

 A LITTLE INTRODUCTION TO PISTACHIO CULTIVATION

The main pistachio producing countries are the United States, Iran, China and Syria among others. Its cultivation is ideal for desert areas or areas with difficult access to water, and it has proven to be a profitable crop but not very feasible (we do not know why) due to some considerations, such as the long period until fruit production, the little experience that is has, gathering, etc. However, if it were grown extensively and more research was done on growing it, it could become a very commercial crop . We do not have those airs of greatness and we simply teach you how to grow it in your garden, because having a pistachio tree makes the difference;).

Agromático, don’t get scratched and teach me how to grow it!

For those who need more information, this book is the alma mater of pistachio cultivation and one of the ones that provides more information. Do not stop reading it.

CLIMATIC CONSIDERATIONS

The pistachio tree is a species that is usually cultivated in warm and temperate climates . It easily overcomes high temperatures in which other crops would be affected (38 – 45º C). Pistachio is especially suitable for areas with hot and dry summers, as it is resistant to drought. That is why you have to be careful not to overdo it with watering (we will comment on it later), because it does not tolerate excess humidity .

THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SOIL IN THE CULTIVATION OF PISTACHIO

The pistachio does not have disadvantages to grow in any type of soil , be it poor, alkaline, acid. When choosing its crop, it benefits if it is done on silty or slightly sandy soils, in deep soils and with a medium pH, between 6 and 8. Fertility is not important (that is why we have commented on poor soils), but It is clear that if your soil is fertile or you put all the means to make it so, the pistachio will greatly benefit, doubling its production. If you only have one tree, it is best to treat it like a king.

IRRIGATION, BETTER TO FALL SHORT THAN TO OVERSHOOT

We have already said it, but we will say it again, the pistachio is a tree used to drought . It benefits from abundant waterings (plant it as if it rained once abundantly and infrequently) and spaced. Its roots are superficial, but if necessary they penetrate deep to obtain moisture (success lies here).

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Pistachio can get used to poor soils, but it suits him well if we regularly add manure . It is a slow-growing tree, so its nutritional requirements are not high. A mixture of organic matter in the soil before planting and a fertilizer 3 or 4 times a year improves flowering, fruit thickening and production.

IS IT NECESSARY TO PRUNE THE PISTACHIO TREE?

The pruning in pistachero is an important element when grown in large areas, to facilitate mechanical harvesting. If your crop is ornamental, or because you want to grow it for fun (and because you like pistachios, of course), it is not that important, but something can be done about it. Pruning in our case serves to ensure that all branches are ventilated and have good lighting, preventing the formation of branch tangles that contribute to the appearance of diseases in the pistachio tree. We can also eliminate crossed branches, very woody, diseased or dead. As it is a slow growing tree, pruning for rejuvenationit can be counterproductive, because we practically paralyze flowering and fruiting. It is only allowed for cases in which the tree is sick or very old.

 THE MULTIPLICATION OF THE PISTACHIO TREE

The propagation of the pistachio tree can be done by grafting or by seeds . In most cases they require grafting of commercial varieties on loam roots. Currently, the study of multiplication in pistachio is not as developed as in other crops. In our opinion, it is best to acquire a pistachio tree in any nursery, where it usually comes already grafted and in a container.

By the way! That you know that its cultivation is booming! Increasingly there are subsidies and commitments from farmers and the government to promote increased production. Here you have some information in case you are interested in the subject!