While technically called drupes, pistachio nuts have been a favorite food for thousands of years.
While it’s possible, you probably wouldn’t want to because of the variability of the resulting tree.
Aside from giving youpistachio nuts, the trees themselves are also attractive and fit well in the home landscape.
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Fortunately, only one male is necessary for upwards of eight female trees.
Regions in the United States with a Mediterranean climate such as California are best for growing pistachios.
At home, provide a full sun location withwell-drained soiland access to water during the hot, dry summers.
Male trees should be planted equidistant from all nearby female trees for best pollination.
However, the best time to plant pistachio trees is while they are dormant.
Planting pistachio trees is similar toplanting most trees.
Begin by digging a hole twice the size of the root ball.
Then water the tree thoroughly to remove air pockets and add additional soil as necessary.
Pistachio Care Tips
Light
Pistachios requirefull sun (8+ hours per day).
Without full sun, trees will become leggy, not produce fruit, and be more susceptible to disease.
Standing water and high humidity can lead toroot rot and fungal diseases.
Temperature & Humidity
Hot, dry summers are necessary for pistachio trees to thrive and produce fruit.
However, the trees arehardy down into the teensand can tolerate summer temperatures well over 100F in the summer.
Because pistachio trees bear in alternate years, mature trees can be fertilized less during off years.
Beginyearly pruning by removing any dead, broken, or crossed branches.
Any branches from below the graft should always be removed as well.
Flowers and fruit are produced on one-year-old branches.
Due to their year on/year off cycling, heavier pruning can be done on off years.
Toavoid infecting trees, always clean and disinfect pruning shears and saws prior to use.
Pests and Problems
Pistachio trees are highlysusceptible to a variety of pests and diseases.
Good air circulation will help dry the ambient air as well.
How to Propagate a Pistachio Tree
The vast majority of pistachios are propagated by grafting.
This allows for better control over the characteristics of the tree than a seed-grown tree.
Newer female cultivars include Golden Hills, Lost Hills, and Gum Drop.
Male cultivars should be selected to flower at the same time as female cultivars.
For Gum Drop, use the male cultivar Tejon.
And it can take upwards of 10 years before it can be determined whether they are male or female.
Pistachios are very long lived trees and under the right conditions can live to be over 300 years old!
