Almond: how to plant and care

The almond plant is a small but very valuable fruit tree or shrub that is a relative of the plum. Contrary to popular belief, almond is not a nut, it is a hard stone fruit. Asia is considered the birthplace of this plant, but at present almonds grow in many parts of the world, it is successfully grown in some states of the USA, in the Tien Shan mountains, China, in Europe, almonds are distributed in the Mediterranean countries and in the Crimea, and , as is known, is located at the junction of Asia and Europe.

Almond grows in small groups on rocky slopes rather high above sea level. It prefers sunny places and is not afraid of drought, having a well-developed root system. The plant is cold-resistant, but it does not tolerate frost during the growing season.The soil for almonds must contain a large amount of calcium. Light pink five-petal flowers begin to bloom in late winter - early spring, and fruits appear in early summer. The average lifespan of a tree is one hundred years, but sometimes almonds live much longer. The period of fruiting - from the age of five to thirty - fifty years. Almond is a cross-pollinated plant. The almond fruit is green, covered with short villi, similar in shape to apricot, which, after full maturity, cracks along the internal seam. Thus, the almond fruit is similar to a nut, although the plant itself is not a nut. The fruits of almonds are very tasty, dietary and at the same time highly nutritious - the amount of oil in some species of the tree reaches almost 70%, protein - up to 35%. In terms of nutritional value, almonds surpass not only all the fruits and vegetables that are familiar to us, but even wheat, beef, milk and fish.

Also in the almonds are many vitamins and microelements, thanks to which the famous medieval physician Ibn Sina (Avicenna) used this plant in the treatment of the liver, spleen and kidneys.Due to its composition, almonds are indicated for diabetics, asthmatics and ulcers, and are also taken for gastritis, headaches, and nervous exhaustion. This plant tends to soothe and simultaneously stimulate the brain.

Almond oil cleanses the bladder and kidneys, reduces the content of bad cholesterol, is used for inflammation of the lungs, various sprains, and even contributes to the treatment of certain cancers. In the people it is believed that almond oil helps to get rid of age spots, freckles and dandruff (if you mix it with wine and rub it into your hair), as well as take it with a strong cough.

Almond fruits are high in calories, so they should not be abused. Nevertheless, the balanced composition of these fruits allows even people suffering from overweight to take it for a figure without special fears.

Almond is an excellent additive to confectionery. It sets off and enhances the taste of chocolates and other sweets, it is also added to various marmalades, jams, pastes, cheese curds and ice cream. Almond flour as a substitute for wheat flour is used in recipes for gourmet cakes and pastries. Pasta is prepared from crushed almond kernels, which is an independent delicacy, as well as an ingredient to enhance the taste of other products and saturate them with a unique almond flavor.

Where to plant almonds

Although almonds are able to tolerate drought, dehydration can greatly harm the plant - it slows growth and begins to shed leaves, as a result, the harvest is reduced, not only this year, but the subsequent one.Also, productivity falls in low light when the almond grows in places shaded by other plants or buildings.

These features must be considered when making a decision about the breeding of almonds.

What types and varieties are best planted

Before growing almonds, it is necessary to determine the purpose for planting and, depending on this, choose the most suitable variety.

There are more than forty kinds of almonds, but the most common is almond. Its height can reach six meters, but in dry places it grows with a low bush. Depending on the taste of the fruit, they emit bitter, sweet and brittle almonds, all of which belong to the plant species under consideration.

Almond varieties such as Pink Fog and Anyuta are very popular, but fruit growers prefer to grow White Sail.

If the purpose of growing almond is the decor of the plot, you should pay attention to such varieties as the three-lobed almond (it has a very beautiful one and a half meter crown and falling leaves, blooms with bright pink or crimson flowers); "Ledebour" (different special aroma,large dark leaves and large light pink flowers) and "Petunnikova" (decorative dwarf shrub with beautiful flowers of pink color).

What soil is suitable for cultivation

The almond tree does not make too high demands on the soil, it may well grow on gravel, in sand and stones. Optimally, the soil is light, fertile and has good drainage.

For this plant, acidic clay, saline, especially chlorine-containing soils are contraindicated, its root system does not tolerate the impact of high groundwater, as well as the absence of air and water permeability.

Almond Cultivation

How and when to plant almonds

Deciding how to grow an almond tree begins with choosing a place. In addition to the requirements for the composition of the soil and the abundance of light, it is necessary to provide the seedling with good protection from the wind. It is best to place the plant on the south side of the plot.

Planting almonds optimally in late autumn, planted in the spring plant takes root worse.

The technology of planting almond tree is as follows. Pits a little more than half a meter deep are dug two to three meters apart from one another (this can be reduced for shrubs and dwarf varieties). Fine gravel or crushed stone is poured at the bottom of the pit, up to 10 cm of sand from above, then top dressing, ideally phosphate fertilizers and manure.

The trees are carefully placed in the hole (the root neck should be 10-15 cm underground), after which the hole is filled with fertile soil and is well packed.

Near-root circle with a radius of one and a half meters should be mulched. Peat is best used for this purpose. A support is driven in near the seedling, with which the young tree is tied to protect it from the wind.

Each seedling should be poured abundantly.

Almond Breeding

Almonds are propagated by seeds, cuttings, and root division of the plant.

Growing almonds from pits

Almonds can be grown from the stone, but in this case, the biological and product characteristics of the almond can be lost. In order to germinate the almond seed as best as possible, it should be soaked in a strengthening solution and planted at a distance of 15–20 cm from each other to a previously prepared, well-excavated site in late autumn or early winter to a depth of 10–15 cm. In one hole can be laid on two bones, in this case, after germination leave a stronger seedling. Bones can be planted in early spring, but before that, from the end of January to the beginning of February, they must be stratified (germinated in conditions similar to those of natural wintering) in the sand. The process lasts up to one and a half months at temperatures from zero to ten degrees above zero.

When the seedlings reach 10-15 cm, the roots of the plant at the same depth must be trimmed with a shovel, after which water abundantly.

Budding of seedlings is carried out at the end of summer in the area of ​​the root collar, after which the oculant is spud. Annual seedlings must be transplanted, otherwise they will not form a crown.

Propagation of almond cuttings

To propagate the almond tree in this way, in early summer, cuttings of 15–20 cm in length (two nodes) are cut from the top of the plant and placed in a stimulating solution for several hours.After that, the cuttings are planted in the prepared mixture of sand and peat (1: 2 ratio) and placed in a cold greenhouse for 20-30 days. During this time, the cuttings must be fully rooted, after which the young almond tree continues its cultivation in the training bed.

Almond Cultivation

If the almond tree is very pruned, it gives abundant growth. In the second year after the onset, such sprouts can be separated, preserving the roots, and transplanted into a separate place.

Almond reproduction by layering

Almond seedlings can also be used for propagation by layering. To do this, it must be bent to the ground, pinned with a metal or wooden hairpin and lightly sprinkled with earth. Own root system of such shoots is formed in about a year, all this time they need to be watered regularly, weed around them and weed the soil. Subsequently, the seedlings are separated from the mother tree and planted in a permanent place.

How to care for almonds

To obtain a good harvest of almonds, it is necessary to observe not only the rules of planting, but also to provide a rooted plant with competent care in the open field.

How to water almonds

Almonds need abundant watering only if it grows on sandy soil. The abundance of moisture is very harmful for the plant, but with a lack of water the tree does not bloom well and does not bear fruit. Watering almonds should be when the soil around the plant has dried to a depth of about one and a half centimeters. The rate of watering is from seven to ten liters of water per bush.

Fertilizer and almond nutrition

Almonds need a lot of strength so that the fruit is properly formed and poured; This feature of the plant determines the agrotechnology of its cultivation. In the spring, the adult tree is fertilized with organic matter and ammonium nitrate (20 g per bucket of water). In autumn, the soil must be fed with double superphosphate and potassium sulfate - 20 g of each and another per square meter.

Almond Cut

Pruning and cutting almonds is very beneficial for the plant. Even flowering branches cut for decorative purposes will not damage the tree. Be sure to remove damaged and dried branches. It is necessary to form a tree as soon as it fades. Pruning is necessary for the almond nut, as it grows very quickly and without proper haircut.takes an untidy look. To plant pleasing to the eye, annual shoots should be pruned.

Almond Grafting

Almonds can be grafted not only on the plant of the same variety, but also on other varieties of almond, as well as plum, cherry plum or sloe. It is best to do this in the middle of spring or at the end of summer, when sap flow is especially active. The weather should not be too hot.

A couple of days before the procedure, the stock must be poured very well (the bark should be easily separated) so that during the budding the bark is well separated from the wood. A graft is taken as a straight stalk with a formed bud, from which it is necessary to carefully cut the leaves, leaving, in order not to damage the kidney, cuttings of a few millimeters.

In the area of ​​the root collar of the graft (first it must be cleaned of dirt) a cut is made in the shape of the letter “T” with a sharp knife, and in the place where the cut lines converge, the bark is gently bent. From the prepared cutting, the flap with the kidney is cut from such a calculation so that it fits into the prepared cut. When trimming the shield you need to capture, in addition to the bark, a little woody fabric. The cutting is inserted into the incision, covered by the bark and fixed with a tight bandage of adhesive tape or tape (the kidney must remain on the surface).

After 2-3 weeks, a control check is carried out: with a successful inoculation, the eye must be green and the petiole disappears. After that the bandage can be loosened. If budding was carried out at the end of the summer, the peephole should not be removed before spring. Eyes that have not taken root need to be re-counted.

In the spring, after the appearance of foliage, the strapping can be removed; a stock with a dried eye can be grafted with the help of a stalk prepared in advance. When the height of the oculant reaches 10 cm, it is necessary to additionally pile it up, the procedure is repeated at least twice, as it grows up. Shoots, which gives the stock, should be removed, as well as side shoots that appear on the oculant.

Almonding

Almonds belong to frost-resistant plants, however if frosts in winter fall below -15 ° С, the tips of young branches and buds of flowers may freeze near the tree. To avoid this, at the end of the summer, it is recommended to pinch the ends of the almond shoots.In this case, the plant suspends growth, its wood, on the contrary, matures better, in connection with which the almond acquires additional resistance to frost.