Growing the pistachio plant – grow the pistachio tree yourself

The right seeds

The pistachio kernels from the store shelf are unsuitable for use as seeds. The ability to germinate is lost during processing. In order to grow a pistachio tree yourself, please keep an eye out for suitable offers from specialist retailers you trust. When choosing, pay particular attention to the freshness of the seeds. The shorter the storage time, the better the germination mood.

time

Basically, it can be grown from seeds all year round. You significantly improve the chances of successful cultivation if you adjust the timing of sowing to the natural growing season of a pistachio plant. If you start work in January / February, the young plants will benefit from the improved light and temperature conditions after germination.

Pretreatment

Start growing a pistachio plant within 6 weeks of receiving the seeds. The kernels’ ability to germinate is optimized by soaking them in room warm water 48 to 72 hours beforehand. To do this, use boiled water in which the seeds and their pods are placed.

Substrate

You give the seed ideal starting conditions if you pay special attention to the quality of the potting soil. Seed soil from the discounter does not meet the special requirements of pistachio seeds. Instead, use a high-quality seed compost, which you mix with coconut oil and some coarse sand. In this way you create a fine crumb that ensures adequate air supply to the tender seedling roots. Before you put the seeds in it, the potting soil is placed in the oven for 30 minutes at 150 degrees for sterilization.

sowing

Please do not let the soaked seeds dry out, but start sowing as soon as possible. The sterilized, cooled substrate is poured into a seed tray or small pots and moistened with distilled water. Proceed in these steps:

• Place the seeds in the soil in such a way that half of them peek out from it
• Spend in a heated indoor greenhouse with temperatures of 18 to 22 degrees Celsius
• Keep the seeds constantly slightly moist in a bright, not full sun location

During the following 6 to 8 weeks, the seed soil must not dry out under any circumstances. It is an advantage if you ventilate the greenhouse daily to prevent mold from forming. Ideally, you water from below by placing the seed pots in soft water for a short time so that the moisture rises to the seeds due to the capillary force.
No fertilizer is used at this stage of cultivation. In nutrient-poor soil, germinating seeds make all the more effort to promote root growth.

Prick out

Under ideal conditions, the first cotyledons will emerge from the seeds within 6 to 8 weeks. Continue the recommended maintenance program unabated, with constant light and temperature conditions. Separation can only be considered when a seedling has at least 2 pairs of leaves after another 4 to 6 weeks. How to prick pistachio seedlings correctly:

• Medium-sized pots two-thirds full with pricking soil or a mix of cactus soil and perlite
• Before doing this, place a pottery shard over the water drain, which will act as a drainage against waterlogging
• Drill a planting hole in the middle of the substrate with the pricking wood
• Use a spoon to lift a strong seedling out of the seed soil
• Insert in the hollow so that the roots do not kink

Fill the pot with piquing substrate, except for a small pouring rim. Please make sure that the soil reaches up to the lower pair of leaves, press them a little and pour soft water. From this point on, the greenhouse has done its job. Place the pots in a partially shaded window seat with an average temperature of 15 to 18 degrees. Water regularly as soon as the surface of the potting soil has dried. Pricking soil is usually lightly pre-fertilized. If these supplies are used up after 4 weeks, give a liquid fertilizer every 3 to 4 weeks.

Repot

The growth phase in the prick pot is complete when the vessel is completely rooted. At the latest when the first root strands grow out of the opening in the ground, repot the young pistachio plant in a bucket with a volume of 5 to 10 liters. From this point on, high-quality, structurally stable potted plant soil, enriched with perlite or lava granules, serves as the culture substrate. Continue to water moderately, because a pistachio tree tolerates dryness better than wetness. After 3 to 4 years, the wood creates its flower dress for the first time. If female and male specimens emerged from the seeds, there are legitimate hopes for a harvest of aromatic pistachio kernels.

Care tips

Life force rests in a pistachio tree for up to 300 years. If the successful cultivation leads to the following care program, you will enter into a long-term community with the oriental rarity.

location

From April to October, the pistachio plant likes to stay in the tub on the sun-drenched balcony or in another, full-sun location. Accustomed to the blazing sun by nature, even midsummer temperatures do not cause problems for the sumac plant. Rather, heat is even desirable and has a beneficial effect on vitality and fertility.

Watering and fertilizing

While cultivation requires a constantly moist substrate, this requirement changes with increasing age. The water requirement on the adult pistachio tree turns out to be low. Only pour lime-free water when the substrate surface has dried 2-3 cm deep. Let the water run slowly onto the root disc and stop as soon as the saucer fills. By the next watering pass, the soil should be well dried again, because waterlogging puts an end to any hope of a long plant life.
The stone fruit trees are just as frugal in terms of nutrient balance. A dose of organic liquid fertilizer every 14 days from April to September completely covers the need.

Overwinter

The long life expectancy is based not least on the winter growth pause that a pistachio tree uses for regeneration. If the temperatures fall in autumn, move the potted plants into the light-poor winter quarters. At temperatures between 8 and 10 degrees Celsius, pour every now and then. There is no fertilization between October and March.

To cut

You can choose to cut the pistachio plant immediately after harvest or at the end of the hibernation period. To do this, shorten the shoots to the desired length, with the individual cut being made just above a bud. Furthermore, thin out the crown thoroughly.

frequently asked Questions

Is a pistachio tree suitable for bonsai?

In fact, the pistachio tree is very popular among bonsai enthusiasts. Thanks to its cut tolerance, the wood is ideal for numerous variants of Asian garden art. It is important to note that you should cut regularly every 6-8 weeks during the growing season rather than making a single topiary. In addition, the pistachio plant proves to be tolerant of measures such as wire and leaf pruning.

Is the pistachio plant hardy?

Native to the hot and dry regions of the Middle East, the pistachio plant can only endure light frost for a short time. The wood is therefore not suitable for outdoor cultivation. Since the tree sheds its leaves in autumn, it should spend the cold season in frost-free, low-light winter quarters.