Cultivation of pistachio

Pistachio is one of the most interesting fruit tree ever cultivated by humans. Pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) is by far the most economically important and a member of the Anacardiaceae or cashew family. Naturally occurring population are found in areas where summers are long, hot and dry and winters are moderately cold.

There are many pistachio cultivars for commercial purpose. A good cultivar should produce high yield, large nuts with high natural splitting and desirable kernel quality.

Pistachio trees are small to medium size, bushy, deciduous tree and can grow to 12 m, but are generally a smaller in the cultivation period. Leaves are compound-pinnate, hairy when young and generally with three and sometimes five leaf lets.

Trees are planted in orchards and take approximately 7-10 years to reach significant production. Production is alternate-bearing or biennial-bearing, meaning that the harvest is heavier in alternate years.

Peak production is reached at approximately 20 years. Trees are usually pruned to a size to make harvesting easier. One male tree produces enough pollen for 8-12 nut-bearing females.

The flowering behavior of pistachio trees depends on their location, which can be steppe-forests, steppe or semi-desert.
Cultivation of pistachio