Pistachio Tree (Pistacia vera)

Pistachio Tree

$309.95

What is Pistachio Tree

Never buy another expensive pistachio again. Pistachios are notoriously expensive in the store and market, and they’re hardly fresh. When you grow your own Pistachio Tree, you’ll get more than your money’s worth with an endless supply of fresh pistachios straight from your garden.

Can you eat Pistachios straight from the tree? Yes! Pistachios consistently rank as a favorite nut. With their distinct, rich flavor and natural sweetness, pistachios are always a beloved snack. They’re easy and fun to eat, and your family will love having access to your Pistachio Tree harvest.

They’re healthy too. Did you know that pistachios are the lowest calorie nut? They’re an ideal snack because they’re full of healthy fats, fiber, vitamins, antioxidants, phytosterols, and carotenoids – all essential components to maintaining health and wellness. We have a tendency to snack on what’s available, so keeping a consistent supply of pistachios around will be not only a delightful treat for you and your family but a healthy choice too.

Where do Pistachio Trees grow? Pistachio Trees grow where hardly anything else will. They’re very particular about the climate they grow in, but luckily, they’re perfect for people who live in the desert where beautiful green shade trees are hard to come by. They’ll do best with direct sunlight and little to no shade, and they prefer dry heat over humidity.

Plant it and then watch it grow. As long as the climate is right and you’ve got a male and a female, your Pistachio trees will produce a huge harvest every other year. And there’s hardly any maintenance and upkeep to these dry-weather loving trees. Most trees produce around 50 lbs. of nuts per year. That’s plenty to share with your friends and family.

Pistachio nuts are easy to harvest. When your pistachios start splitting, just throw down a tarp, shake the branches and watch the delicious pistachios fall to the ground. Just a few days in the sun and you’ll have fresh pistachios ready to eat.

They stay fresh for months. Don’t worry if you can’t eat all your pistachios right from the harvest. They’ll stay fresh for months in a closed jar or sealed bag. And if you need to keep them for even longer, the fridge or freezer will do the trick.

Order 2 trees to make sure you get your harvest. Pistachio Trees don’t self-pollinate, but we make it easy for you. We bundled the Randy and Golden Hills, which pair perfectly together. Just plant them both at the same time, sit back, and let the wind do the rest!

Treat yourself and your family to a fresh, healthy snack. Your family will love sitting under the shade of your Pistachio tree, and they’ll love having access to fresh pistachios whenever they want. Don’t let another season go buy without a pair of Pistachio Trees in your yard. Order your Randy and Golden Hills Pistachio trees today.

Pistachio Tree (Pistacia vera) Pistacia vera

How to Grow and Care for Pistachio Tree

Pistachio Tree (Pistacia vera) Growing Requirements

Hardiness zone 7-10 outdoors
Sun exposure Full Sun

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.

Pistachio Tree (Pistacia vera) Profile

Common name Pistachio Tree
Botanical name Pistacia vera
Plant type Fruit Trees, Bushes
Hardiness zone 7-10 outdoors
Sun exposure Full Sun
Growth rate Medium
Harvest time Late fall
Height 20-30 ft.
Width 20 ft.