Almond is one of the most liked nuts. Consuming this nut is very beneficial for health as well as skin. However, almonds are quite expensive to buy. So, you can grow an almond plant in our kitchen garden. Many of you may not be aware that most almonds grow from the seed. Seed-grown almonds give fruit after a long time whereas Graft almond plant starts giving fruit in the second year. Where the climate is very hot like the northern states of India, almonds can also be grown very easily.
CLIMATE REQUIREMENTS
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The almond tree requires hot and dry conditions.
SOIL REQUIREMENTS
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Soil should be well-drained, deep, loamy soils.
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Almonds can tolerate other soil types too like poor soils, as long as they are not wet or poorly draining, which they absolutely cannot abide.
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You should avoid Heavy or not well-drained soils.
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the pH of the soil is between 5.5 - 8.5is for its cultivation.
How to grow
Almond plants can be grown in two ways:-
1. Growing almonds from seed.
2. Buy an almond plant from the nursery.
Growing almonds from seed.
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It takes ample time and patience to grow almonds from seeds.
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To grow almond from seed you should have healthy seeds of high quality
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The percentage of germination of the plant from seed in almonds is very less. So would tell you to grow at least 15 to 20 seeds at a time.
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Keep healthy seeds of almond in a tissue paper which should be soaked with water.
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After this keep tissue paper at a place where the temperature of 15 to 20 degrees is maintained continuously.
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It will take at least20 days for the germination process to start.
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After this process starts then carefully separate the almond seeds from tissue paper.
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Then apply the almond sprouted seeds to the cocopeat.
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It will take 40 days to form a small plant.
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Avoid giving excess water to the almonds.
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After three months you can plant these plants in the ground.
Planting almond from the plant.
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In the month of July to September almonds plants are very easily available in any big nursery.
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You can buy this plant from there.
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In this season you can plant these plants in your garden.
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The almond plant gives fruit once a year and the Graft plant gives fruit from the third year of planting in the ground.
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You will see beautiful pink flowers start coming on the almond in the month of January.
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March becomes fruit in April and by July it starts ripening.
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When you see flowers growing on the almond tree do not give water to plant at all.
Fertilizer Requirements
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The normal levels of the most important nutrient are listed below:
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N: 2%
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K: 1.2%
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Ca: 2.2%
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Mg: 0.3%
Young (1-3 years old) almond trees
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Apply 5.3 oz. (150 g) of N per every young tree during the 2nd and 3rd year after their establishment.
Mature almond trees
Farmers use three fertilization scheme:-
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First :Adding 8-12 lbs. (3.6 – 5.4 kg) of N-P-K 12-12-17 + 2MgO per every mature tree.
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Apply two times per year. One during February and then during May-June.
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Second :Adding 8-12 lbs. (3.6 – 5.4 kg) of N-P-K 12-12-17 + 2MgO per every mature tree.
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Apply in the month of February-March and the injection of water-soluble fertilizer N-P-K 15-15-15 through the irrigation system during late spring (April-May).
Third : It involves 3 foliar applications with N-P-K 20-20-20, one at the time when the flower petals fall and the other 2 with 10 days intervals.
