Many people like the taste of pistachios. This delicacy can not only be bought in stores, but also grown independently. Pistachio tree grows in hot countries, its planting and care are simple, you just need to have a warm temperature. It is difficult to grow it in Russia, but still there are some recommendations that will make it possible to do this at home.
Description
Pistachio tree has another name - green almonds. It grows up to 30 feet tall, usually on poor, stony soils. Another plant comes across on slopes and in areas with cool winters, since it can tolerate frosts down to -20 degrees. And what a pistachio tree looks like, you can find out from the photo.
It can tolerate drought, and also does not require special care. Because of the beautiful leaves and reddish fruits, the plant is valued for decorative purposes. In Central Asia, where pistachios grow, there are rocky slopes. It is there that trees grow. They have an unusual root system, therefore they are able to extract moisture from semi-desert and rocky zones. Because of this, thickets do not form.
How and where does it grow?
Pistachio tree was first mentioned in 7000 BC. e. The first copies were found in the Middle East, but they soon spread to Europe due to the simple care and original taste of the fruit.
Pistachios grow in the highlands of Asia. Artificially planted crops have taken root in Iran, Afghanistan, and Turkmenistan. Cultivation in our country is carried out in the Caucasus and Crimean mountains. Another culture is planted in areas as a decorative element.
In a deciduous tree, dissected leaves are medium in length (up to 20 cm), a branched trunk having a rough surface. Crohn - low set and dense. How does a pistachio tree bloom? Flowers are divided into male and female species. The former are presented in the form of wide panicles (5-6 cm), and the latter in the form of long inflorescences. Flowering occurs in March-April.
When does the pistachio tree bear fruit? The first fruits can be harvested at the end of September. They are presented in the form of a long seed with a hard shell, inside of which there is a soft core. Walnut may have a green or yellowish tint. It is edible, so a lot of pistachio oil is created from it, which is used in cooking, medicine, cosmetology.
Landing Features
Pistachios are hard to take in the garden. To get a leafy crown, you need hot, sunny and arid weather - summer. It is not easy for culture to survive a long winter with lower temperatures.
To grow pistachio trees at home, you need sandy soil that maintains the required acidity - 7-7.8 pH. The best soil is rocky and salty. It is advisable to apply top dressing, which must be regularly alternated.
Germination
Today, everyone can plant a crop on the site. Allowed growing and decorative view of the window. You just need to follow some rules. How to grow a pistachio tree? Germination Required:
- fresh drupes are soaked in a growth stimulator;
- then it must be planted in sandy soil;
- then abundant watering is performed;
- at the end, it should be covered with lutrasil - non-woven fabric used in the manufacture of greenhouses.
The seedlings that appear are fragile, so it takes a lot of effort to grow a crop. It is all the more difficult to establish which of them are “girls” and which are “boys”. But you can buy a stronger seedling in the nursery.
Growing by cuttings
With this method of cultivation, the culture bears fruit after 10-12 years, it all depends on the conditions. How to plant a pistachio tree by cuttings? To plant a seedling in the ground, you need to make a large hole. For several seedlings, it is preferable to make holes at a distance of at least 3 meters. Before this, you need to check the roots, cut the damaged areas and sprinkle ash with slices. Then landing is carried out, and then it is necessary to tamp and water.
Young cultures do not need special care. In the summer, they need to be watered every 2 weeks, and in the fall, watering is reduced. For the 2nd year, top dressing is required with the help of phosphorus, potash, nitrogen fertilizers. The soil around the plants should be clean, without weeds.
Conditions and care
The pistachio tree does not require frequent watering, it is easy to tolerate drought. You can find out when watering is required by the dryness of the soil. If you want to receive fruits from the culture, then you need to plant male and female seedlings nearby.
The fruitful tree is also grown from walnut, but from natural (collected from a tree and not treated with chemical components). Germination is carried out with the help of a fruit whose seed is tightly closed. The first fruits should be expected in 6-8 years, and when planting a nut - 12-14.
Gardeners recommendations
Experts recommend adhering to the following rules.
- Cultivation should be performed in a lit place, for example, on a balcony, and with a reduced level of humidity (a dehumidifier is used).
- The plant needs high temperatures, so in winter you need to take it to a warm and bright room.
- You should prepare a long flowerpot or pot, and then fill up the sandy salt soil.
- In many cities of Russia it is difficult to buy seedlings, therefore tightly closed seeds are usually grown.
- Seeds should be planted in the soil to a depth of 4 cm. Planting should be done in groups to improve germination.
- Then moderate watering is required.
To grow a culture at home, you can, most importantly, adhere to simple recommendations provided by experts. In addition, not only the tree will grow, but also the fruits.
Harvesting
This usually occurs in September. Dry the nuts in the sun, and then they are suitable for storage for 1 year. Often they are soaked in saline and roasted.
It is necessary to collect the fruits when the outer husk weakens. They fall easily, you just need to shake the tree. The husk covers a pale green fruit, placed in a beige case. About 25 kg of peeled nuts can be from one crop.
If you remove the fried pistachios in a sealed package, then they can be stored for several months. And when frozen, the fruits are preserved for many years without loss of taste and minerals. Pistachios are the best nuts, about 80-90% of fried and salted are used as a snack. Unroasted peeled fruits have a sweet taste and are used in culinary business.
Benefit
The product has tremendous value for human health.
- Nuts are indispensable for people with circulatory problems. If you constantly consume them in small quantities, it will turn out to improve the state of the circulatory system, as well as normalize cholesterol.
- For liver problems, pistachios will be the best helpers. According to experts, a moderate amount of the product cleanses the bile ducts and eliminates bouts of hepatic colic.
- Nuts have a positive effect on the functioning of the intestines and improve digestion. They have an important role in the treatment of tuberculosis, because when they are taken, heart rate and breathing normalize.
- With constant intellectual stress and fatigue, you can eat these healthy nuts. Fruits are a powerful aphrodisiac for men.
- The use of pistachios in cosmetology is known, since the oil from them has a rejuvenating, restoring and nourishing effect for the skin. In addition, it protects the skin from ultraviolet radiation.
But there are also negative aspects of pistachios. They are recognized as a strong allergen, therefore, they can lead to anaphylactic shock, therefore, it is important to carefully eat the product, especially if it is tried for the first time. It is advisable to eat a few nuts and control the reaction of the body. In addition, pistachios include a lot of fat, and excessive consumption leads to excess weight.
Interesting Facts
There are facts that are not even suspected.
- Trees have a long lifespan. On average, it is 500 years old, but about 1/3 survives to 800.
- The height can be between 5-7 meters.
- The collection of ripe nuts is performed at night. The reason for this is the sharp smell of leaves. It is believed that essential oil is harmful to health, it increases pressure.
- Nuts have all the necessary vitamins for dental health. The use of the product improves tooth enamel and strengthens the gums.
- Fruits have a tonic effect, as well as the ability to improve mood. The reason for this, scientists call the presence of essential oil, which in small quantities positively affects a person.
- The cost of nuts is high. The difficulties of growing with low yields, requirements for places of growth do not allow to obtain fruits in large quantities.
- There are no pistachio forests, because cultures grow one by one. This does not affect pollination. One male tree can be pollinated many female.
Thus, growing pistachios at home is noticeably complicated, but still possible. The recommendations of specialists make it possible to do everything correctly.