3 types of nuts you can grow at home
Nuts are rich in flavour and make a tasty yet nutritious snack so why not start growing your own at home. These three nuts are great to start off with and will happily grow in a backyard garden.
Pistachios
Ideal for suburban gardens, pistachios will stand to around five metres high and wide. They are slow growing though and will only start bearing nuts after five years. As they are dioecious (male and female flowers grow on separate trees) you will have to plant two trees to produce nuts.
To grow: Pistachios grow best in areas with long, dry, hot summers and cold winter. They are a hardy tree but must be planted deep enough to accommodate their taproot. Grow male and female trees close together to promote pollination.
To harvest: Harvest in autumn when hulls begin to split. You can tell if the nuts are ripe by squeezing them and if the hull comes apart, it’s ready to be picked. Remove hulls within 24 hours of harvesting and once remove, rinse nuts in water and allow to dry.
Macadamias
An Australian native, the macadamia is a popular and favourite nut worldwide. While macadamias trees can grow to 20 metres in the wild, they usually grow to only half the size in most gardens. You can grow them from seed but that can take years to fruit. The best option is to buy grafted trees, which yield the best results.
To grow: Macadamias like tropical and sub-tropical climates but they can grow well in most temperate areas. They like full sun and protection from strong winds, but they’re quite hardy as they are native.
To harvest: Grafted trees generally fruit in three to four years (seedling trees around seven years to fruit). Nuts will fall to ground when ripe. Remove husks as soon as possible and then dry in shade for two weeks.
Almonds
As one of the most versatile nuts around (have them whole, blanched, slivered, flaked and grounded), growing your own almonds is a great investment. The trees are around three metres tall and wide. Look for self-fertile varieties otherwise you’ll need to plants a few trees to ensure cross-pollination for fruit production.
To grow: Almond trees grow best in warm temperate climates, thriving in mild, wet winter and hot, dry summers. Plant in full sun and moist, well-drained soil. Water well in summer but they do not tolerate overly wet soil. Feed in autumn and winter.
To harvest: Nuts will be ready after three years. Harvest when the hull splits and shell becomes dry and brown in colour. Collect as they fall and air dry for a few days.
Check out the latest catalogue from Plants Plus here for some great prices on some of these plants as well as more tips and inspiration for your garden.
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