If you’re in the US, a good way of determining whether your local climate is suitable for growing almonds is to use a USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. [2] X Research source These maps rate geographical areas by their minimum temperatures, giving an approximate indication of the types of plants that can survive there. For almonds, you’ll want your area to have a rating of at least “6” — higher is better. According to this system, suitable areas in the US include much of central and southern California as well as parts of Arizona, Texas, and inland Florida.
If you want to harvest edible almonds, you’ll want to be sure to pick seeds or seedlings for a fruit-bearing sweet almond tree. Keep in mind that bitter almonds are inedible and that not all sweet almond trees bear fruit. These varieties are only suitable for shade and decoration. Talk to the staff at your local garden supply store if you’re unsure of which almond trees are productive.
You’ll also want to make sure your growing spot has well-draining soil. Almond trees don’t do well if water is allowed to pool around their roots — this can lead to root rot.
Add water and let the seeds soak overnight. The next day, use a nutcracker to crack the almond shells open slightly — the shell should still hold itself together, but you should just be able to see the nut inside. Throw away any seeds that show signs of mold. Fill a few small flowerpots with potting soil. Make sure the pots have holes on the bottom for drainage. Plant the seeds an inch or two under the surface of the soil with the cracks pointing upward. Rest the flowerpot indoors in an area that will receive direct sunlight. Now, just wait for seedlings to sprout.
If you’re planting germinated seedlings, plant them at the end of winter or in the spring. Alternatively, if you’re planting un-germinated seeds, plant them in late fall so that they have a chance to sprout in the spring at the very start of the bloom season. [4] X Research source If planting multiple trees, space each tree at least about 20 feet (6. 1 m) apart. This gives the trees’ roots plenty of space and allows for easy, effective irrigation. [5] X Research source
Water each almond plant at least once a week unless it rains. Established trees can survive on two or three inches of water without rain, but growing plants will usually require more. [8] X Research source Alternatively, you may want to use a drip irrigation system. This is an especially convenient choice if you have many trees.
No matter what kind of fertilizer you’re using, be sure to “water it in” after you apply it. Fertilizer can have a harmful “burning” effect on the plant if it’s applied without water or an excessive amount is used at once. [9] X Research source
There are two types of almond tree: trees that grow “sweet” almonds and trees that grow “bitter” almonds. Bitter almonds and their fruit aren’t safe for eating. Bitter almonds contain prussic acid, a toxin. Just a handful of raw, unprocessed bitter almonds can potentially be deadly. [10] X Research source However, it is possible to process bitter almonds with a special toxin-leaching process, rendering them edible.
Pruning a tree encourages healthy, even, visually appealing growth. Smart pruning choices can also make a tree stronger, sturdier, and more resistant to certain diseases. [11] X Research source When pruning, try to thin out especially dense areas of foliage and eliminate spots where two branches rub against one another. You’ll also want to prune any stray branches that grow higher or further to the side than the others to encourage even growth. [12] X Research source
Once an almond tree begins bearing fruit, it will do so every year for as long as 50 years, ensuring plenty of almonds for years to come.
The easiest way to do this is usually just to have multiple trees of different varieties. Once you have two to three trees growing near each other, pollinators like bees will bring pollen from one tree to another as part of their natural behavior. You can also pollinate trees manually by taking a flower-bearing branch from another tree and rubbing it against the first tree’s flowers, mixing the tree’s pollen in the process. However, this is much more time-intensive and may not work as well as natural pollination.
There are several ways to graft a productive limb onto your tree. The simplest is usually a technique called T-budding that involves making a long, narrow cut on the “host” tree and slipping the new limb into the groove formed. After this, the new limb is secured with string or rubber ties until the host tree accepts it. Note that most grafting is performed in the spring when the material under the bark is moist and green. Keep in mind that grafting will not make an unproductive tree productive if it isn’t producing due to poor site selection, lack of nutrients, etc.
After harvesting, it’s a good idea to freeze your almond husks for 1-2 weeks to kill any residual pests. [13] X Research source
To help prevent over-watering, you may want to increase the drainage capability of your soil. This can be done by mixing in plenty of extra hummus or organic matter to give it added permeability. Note that shallow, heavy, and clay-rich soils have especially bad drainage. If you have a case of root rot on your hands (usually signified by drought-like symptoms, including yellowing, wilting, and dying leaves), dig up the plant’s roots and cut away any dark, slimy patches. If problems persist, dispose of the plant to prevent the fungus from spreading throughout your garden.
The best policy for weeds, especially during your plant’s first few months, is to start weeding early and often. Try to keep a five or six foot strip along each row of seedlings free of weeds — you can use manual methods (like your hands or garden tools) or herbicides to kill the weeds. You can use a layer of mulch, or landscaping fabric to control weeds. This works well for small, home orchards.
After the mummies are removed from the tree, be sure to destroy them by mowing. Orangeworms can still shelter in intact mummies on the ground.
In addition to the two examples above, a huge variety of additional pests can potentially attack almond trees — so many, in fact, that it’s impossible to list them all here. For more information, use a search engine query for “almond pests” or contact your local garden supply store or a local university’s botany department. You may also want to learn about integrated pest management. This is a method of controlling pests that combines biological, environmental, and chemical pest management techniques. It is more effective than using one method alone. [16] X Research source
