How to Take Care of Pistachio Tree for Best Growth

Pistachio is known to be a kind of nut, but actually it is not really a nut. Pistachio is considered as seeds rather than nuts even though it is a member of the cashew family. Native to Persia, the pistachio tree is a small tree you can grow in your house despite its unique climate. If you have planted it, see how you need to care for the tree.

Plant in Sandy or Loamy Soil
Basically, you can grow pistachios anywhere because there is no specific type of soil for this plant. But no matter how adaptable the tree is, you might want it to be successful. That is why you need to prefer light, sandy, and loamy soil for pistachios. Make sure the soil is a well-drained type because wet, heavy soil won’t be good for the tree.
Water Deeply but Infrequently
Pistachios are grown easily because they are known to be drought-tolerant. However, you still need to water the tree deeply as long as it is infrequently to have an abundant harvest. If you have several trees, you may consider using an irrigation system that is active in the early morning. Keep the humidity high in a short period of time so that you can avoid any risk of disease problems.
Choose the Right Fertilizer
For young trees, you need to give them nitrogen fertilizer, but the fertilization should also depend on the soil fertility. Use a balanced NPK fertilizer such as 10-10-10 that you can do every late winter to early spring. Fertilize the trees once a year so that they can get the nutrients they need.
Pay Attention to the Light and Temperature
Pistachio tree care should also focus on how much light the tree gets and how right the temperature is. To grow optimally, the tree needs full sun at least 6-8 hours daily. Do not worry because pistachios are the plant that can survive well in hot, arid climates.
Best temperatures that are suitable for growing pistachios are in 100 degrees Fahrenheit. They should be at 45 degrees Fahrenheit or lower at least part of the year to thrive in warm climates. But you have to anticipate a reduction in yield during the dormant period with temperatures above 65 degrees Fahrenheit.
Prune Properly
Pruning is also required when planting pistachios, especially during late winter to early spring. You can normally prune the tree even when the tree is still dormant. The purpose of pruning the plant properly is to maintain the size. But, never prune too much of the older branches.
Harvest in the Right Time
You are ready to harvest when the pistachio's full color is reddish and it even reveals the shell below. Usually, the harvesting process would be complete in 2-3 weeks because they are not ripe at the same time. In harvesting, prepare a tarp laid below the tree and you shake the branches. By doing this, you can collect all the pistachios falling onto the tarp.
Before storing, you have to dry them first by putting them under the sun for 3-4 days. Alternatively, you can dry them in the oven for 10-14 hours at 140-160 degrees Fahrenheit. After making sure they are dried well, prepare airtight containers as the storage.

Pistachio is not that easy to grow, because when the tree is constantly wet, foliar diseases can easily affect them. If you do the care properly, the tree’s growth range can go from 20-30 feet. Also be patient, because it needs 5-7 years for the tree to produce its first crop.