Thursday

Growing Your Own Pistachio Nuts Pistacia Vera

Pistachios are a great source of vitamins and minerals and are naturally cholesterol free. A serving of pistachios contains 170 calories and is a good source of many key nutrients containing over 10% of the Daily Value of fiber, protein, vitamin B-6, thiamin, phosphorus, magnesium, and copper.
In addition, scientific evidence is mounting to show that consuming nuts can play a role in managing your weight.

They aren't hard to grow and the seedlings potted up in a cute container will make a nice exotic Holiday Gifts for colleagues at the office.

Pistacio makes broad feathered, glossy, dark leaves and terminal clusters
of small flowers followed by red-skinned fruits on female plants.

The fruits contain the well-known Pistachio nut inside. The reddish, wrinkled fruits are borne in heavy clusters somewhat like grapes. Although known as a nut, the fruit of the pistachio is botanically a drupe, the edible portion of which is the seed. The oblong kernel is about 1 inch in length and 1/2 inch in diameter and protected by a thin, ivory-colored, bony shell. Normally the shells split longitudinally along their sutures when mature.
Pistacia vera develops strictly either male or female plants, thus several plants have to be grown together for pollination. An ornamental container plant suited for any well drained, rich soil in a sunny spot.

Pistachios should be planted in full sun. The size of the slow growing trees can be further controlled by pruning. When planting, avoid rough handling since the budded tops are easily broken away from the understock.
The trees do best on soils that are deep, friable and well drained but moisture retaining. It can, however, survive in poor, stony, calcareous, highly alkaline or slightly acid, or even saline soils. The root is deeply penetrating.

US Seed source

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3 comments:

Unknown said...

Those Pistachio trees are actually quite nice. I've never looked them up before. Thanks for sharing, I think I'll try some of my own in the future.

1st Man said...

PISTACHIOS? I LOVE them! Do you think they are growable here in the upper Texas zone? I'm always looking/planning something to plant at our farm, at least that's what I tell myself on our blog, LOL! I love all of your info, just now found it by linking from someone who visited our blog to another blog and so forth, I love how that works. Thanks again for all the info, can't wait to learn what I need to do...

Garden Medusa said...

Not sure how far up you are in upper Texas but pistachios are cold hardy to zone 7 if that helps. It sure is an adventure to grow something new.
Thanks much for the comment on the blog. I've invited myself to your blog as well ;)