How to Grow and Care for Pistachio Tree
Pistachios are delicious tree nuts recognized for their beneficial nutritional properties. They are a rich source of energy with 100 g of kernels that carry 557 calories. They include proper quantities of monounsaturated fatty acids like oleic acid and antioxidants that help lowering total as well as bad LDL-cholesterol. It also aids in increasing good HDL-cholesterol levels in the blood. Pista kernels are rich sources of many antioxidant phytochemical substances such as carotenes, vitamin-E, and polyphenolic antioxidant compounds that assist in removing toxic free-radicals from the human body, and protect it from diseases, cancers, and infections.
These are excellent sources of vitamin-E are especially rich in γ-tocopherol that includes about 23g per 100g for preserving the mucosa and skin layers. The nuts are packed with vital B-complex accumulations of vitamins such as riboflavin, niacin, thiamin, pantothenic acid, vitamin B-6, and folates. Pistachio oil obtained from kernels is regarded as one of the healthiest cooking oils. It has a delightful eccentric odor and maintains excellent properties that help skin well preserved from dryness. It is also employed as carrier or base oil in conventional medications such as massage therapy, aromatherapy, and some cosmetic industries too.
Soil Requirements
Pistachios grow best in deep, sandy loam soils but also perform well in desert soils. The trees are planted closer together when the soil is poorer. Pistachios are one of those plants that need deep soil.
Sunlight Needed
The excellent planting site for a pistachio tree takes full sunlight in a well-draining soil condition. The plants generally prefer sandy loam with a pH between 7.1 and 7.8, and deeper soil works better.
Watering
Pistachio trees do not need watering daily or even weekly. When watering is done water, the soil should be moist four feet deep.
Fertilizer Required
The best time to fertilize them is in the springtime after the frost season disperses. It is advisable to fertilize the plant twice a year during the growing season.
Varieties of Pistachio
The few varieties of Pistachios are mentioned below:
- Platinum -A vigorous grower that is produced after verticillium wilt nearly dried out commercial pistachio crops.
- Pioneer Gold -One of the most extensively grown varieties in the U.S.
- Kerman -A new type introduced to the U.S. that produces large, bright green fruits and nutritious bears.
- Joley- A good choice for home gardening and bears smaller fruits.
Pistachios are the storehouse of copper, manganese, potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, and selenium. It is estimated that 100 g nuts can provide 144% of daily levels of copper. Copper is a vital mineral needed in neurotransmission, metabolism, as well as Red Blood Cell generation.
Pistachio trees are generally considered as long-living plants with a large taproot that reaches a height of 20-30 feet during the mature growth. Seedlings can be grown in containers too for the first three to five years and then transposed into the garden for the broader view.
Pistachio trees prefer well-drained soil but will also thrive well in poor soils. The tree produces more fruits when watered regularly during the growing season.
