Caring for My Almond Trees
There's always so much to do around my 153-acre farm to keep it in good working order.
Over the last few weeks, my gardeners and outdoor grounds crew have been very busy with fall chores - storing outdoor furniture and tropical plants, replacing summer screens with storm windows and doors, planting spring-blooming bulbs, and so much more. Our list of tasks also included pruning my two large almond trees located on one side of the greenhouse. Almond trees, Prunus dulcis, produce drupes. These drupes grow from fertilized flowers and mature in autumn. In previous years, we've harvested hundreds and hundreds of almonds. This season, the trees needed a good trimming to keep them healthy and maintain their appealing shape.
Enjoy these photos.
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- Here are my two almond trees. They thrive in mild, wet winters, and hot, dry summers. I am very fortunate these trees are doing so well in this area. Recently, I asked the crew to prune them. This includes removing any broken, dead or diseased limbs as well as those that are disruptive – branches that crisscross and impede air or light circulation.
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- Chhiring uses this telescoping pole pruner from STIHL. It has a quiet, zero-exhaust emission, and is very lightweight. Plus, with an adjustable shaft, the telescoping pole pruner can cut branches up to 16 feet above the ground. The goal when pruning almond trees is to create an open, upward shape.
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- He also uses a telescoping pole pruner. This tool is great for trimming branches that are at least an inch thick. As I always say – the right tool for the right job! There are two basic types of pruning cuts – thinning cuts and heading cuts. Thinning cuts reduce the number of branches to allow more air and sunlight through the specimen. Heading cuts remove just a portion of an existing branch encouraging new side growth.
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- During the pruning process, Chhiring stops periodically to assess the shape of the tree and to see where he needs to prune next.
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- After awhile, one can see how much was taken off the tops of the trees. They are looking so much better already. The best time to prune is when the trees are dormant.
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- Almond trees have brown or gray bark. The branch of this tree also has lichens growing. Lichens are often found on tree trunks, branches and twigs as the bark provides a stable place to grow and get needed sunlight, rainwater and air.
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- Here are the almond trees in summer when full of leaves. Almond trees are compact and range from 15 to 30-feet tall. They are deciduous and grow white to pale pink flowers in early spring.
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- By early fall, the almonds develop inside small fruits, like the pits of peaches.
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- The almond fruit measures about two inches long, and is called a drupe. The outer covering, or exocarp, is a thick, grayish green coat, with a downy feel to it. This fruit is not edible.
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- The hairy, green fruits are also oblong in shape. And the leaves of the almond tree are long – about three to five inches.
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- Almonds are harvested in early autumn. Many fall from the trees on their own.
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- In earlier years these trees did not produce as many fruits, but now they produce lots and lots of almonds.
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- Some of the drupes will open on their own, exposing the shells, but most will have to be opened manually.
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- At maturity, the flesh of the fruit becomes leathery and splits to reveal the hull, which can measure up to two-and-a-half-inches long.
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- The fruits are pretty soft, so removing it is not difficult to do. Here is an opened drupe showing the outer hull, and the hard shell containing the almond seed.
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- Shelling almonds refers to removing the hull to reveal the seed, which is what is eaten.
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- Once all the almonds are removed from the fruits, they’re spread out and left to dry. These must be dried to reduce the moisture in the kernels. If they aren’t dried properly, they will likely produce mold, taste rancid and not store well. The almond is a very nutritiously dense food. It’s a rich source of vitamins B and E, and is high in calcium, iron, and riboflavin. They are also a rich source of oil. It is high in monounsaturated fats, which is known to lower the risk of heart disease, and lower cholesterol.
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- After drying, almonds should rattle when shaken. The almonds should also be crisp and brittle. Any rubbery kernels need to be dried some more. Before storing almonds, they can be placed in the freezer for a couple of days to to kill any possible storage pests.
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- Here are the trees now. After a good pruning, these trees look so much better – round and full in shape. Almond trees do best in full sun – when they can have at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. More sun will result in even more fruit.
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- Almond trees can live for at least 40 to 50 years. And careful, regular pruning will encourage good shape and ensure a long productive life. How are your fall chores going? Share your comments with me below.
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