Under the right conditions, you can also plant a pistachio in this country. Here you can find out what to look out for and how best to go about it.
Actually, pistachio trees do not grow in Europe – it is too cold for them here. The pistachios you can buy in the supermarket come mainly from the main growing regions of Turkey, Iran and the USA. The trees grow there mainly in hot, dry desert areas.
For this reason, it is not easy to grow a pistachio tree in this country. Since they can’t withstand our winters, you should cultivate your pistachio – if you want to give it a try – in a container.
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Planting Pistachio: Location is key
If you want your pistachio to thrive, you need to choose the right location for it. It is important that the conditions are as close as possible to their original origin. The ideal location should be:
- full sun,
- as warm as possible
- and protected from the wind.
In addition, the soil should be well-drained and not too rich in nutrients. Tip: If you are interested in the condition of your garden soil, you can perform a soil test.
If you have a greenhouse, you can use it for your pistachio tree. There it is warm and bright. A sunny house wall, a sheltered terrace or a large balcony are also suitable.
You can plant pistachios by sowing them or propagating them via cuttings. If you know someone who has his or her own pistachio tree, you can ask him or her for cuttings. You can get fresh pistachio seeds in special online stores.
Sowing pistachio: this is how it’s done
Most likely, you’ll need to seed your pistachio, because cuttings are usually hard to come by. Seeding is not too complicated if you keep a few things in mind:
- First, water the fresh pistachio seeds. Put them in a small bowl and fill it with tap water.
- Then fill a plant container with suitable substrate. For example, normal pot plant or cactus soil is suitable. It is best to mix the soil with a drainage material so that it is really well permeable. You can use expanded clay, small pebbles or sand.
- Then press the swollen seeds a little bit into the soil.
- Always keep the soil moist and store the pots in a warm place. High humidity is very conducive to germination.
By the way, if you want to harvest your own pistachios someday, you need to plant a male and a female pistachio tree. These will then pollinate if they are close enough to each other.
Care for pistachio properly
If your pistachio sowing was successful and small trees grow, you have to care for them properly. You do not have to pay much attention.
Pistachios like it dry and warm, so you don’t have to water them too much. Above all, you should wait until the soil has dried between watering. In winter, you should bring your planted pistachio indoors and let it overwinter in a cool winter quarter. Watering and fertilizing can be almost completely discontinued from October to April.