Pistachio Tree (Pistacia vera)

The right climate: For your Pistachio Tree to grow, it will need to be planted in the right climate. Pistachio trees do not thrive in humidity, so a dry heat is essential. They also need a long cold winter to have a successful harvest – during years with a shorter winter you might not see as many nuts.

The right spot: Plant your Pistachio Tree in any kind of soil, but make sure that it is well-draining. Plant in a spot that receives direct sunlight and little to no shade. Trees need to be planted at least 15′ apart, as Pistachio Trees do not grow well when crowded.

Planting Instructions

Plant in a hole as deep as the root ball and twice as wide. Spread the roots out in the hole and backfill with soil. Make sure the top of the rootball is flush with the soil. Gently tamp down with a shovel. Add a layer of mulch to prevent weeds, and then water deeply. You will likely need to stake both sides of your tree when it is young.

Watering

Water only every few weeks. It is better to do an infrequent deep irrigation than shallow and frequent. If the leaves begin to turn yellow, you are watering too much. Pistachio Trees are very drought tolerant and are sensitive to overwatering.

Fertilization

Add a 10-10-10 NPK fertilizer in the spring of your trees 2nd year and every spring after.

Pruning

When the branches of your tree have grown to be longer than 6 feet, it’s time to prune. Each spring, create a scaffolding with 3-5 branches. To do this, choose a few strong branches that are 24-32 inches above the soil. Cut everything below these branches and remove the highest branches. Then cut all remaining branches down to 4-6 inches. In the summer, prune the scaffolding branches down to 2-3 feet. Repeat each year.

Pests and Diseases

There should be no pests or diseases on your tree, but to deter and prevent, be sure to always remove anything that’s fallen from the tree in Autumn including dead leaves, broken shells and husks.

Harvesting

Your Pistachio Tree will likely start producing nuts after 5-7 years as long as you have planted both a male and female tree. Your nuts will be ready to harvest when they turn from green to yellow and red and when they begin to split from the outer husk. Simply lay a tarp down and shake the branches to encourage nuts to fall from the tree.

Post-Harvest

First, remove any remaining husks from the nuts. Then, separate the nuts with split shells from those that have not split. Discard any black, empty or moldy shells. Then remove the shells from the nuts that did not split. This is necessary for the drying process. If the shell is split, you do not need to remove the shell. Then lay all the nuts down on a tarp in the sun and allow them to dry. You will likely need to also lay a screen on top to deter birds and critters from eating your pistachios. The drying process varies, but the best test is a taste test. Your pistachios should be firm and crunchy. If they are soggy, you’ll need to keep drying them. Soggy pistachios are not shelf stable.

Storage

Store your pistachios in a sealed container, glass jar or plastic bag. They will keep for a couple months. If you need to store them longer than 2 months, place them in the fridge or freezer where they will stay fresh until the next harvest.