Pistachios Chapter 22
Pistachios – Pistacia vera They belong to the cashew family Originated in Iran Climate needed is a cool, moist winters and hot dry summers. The US is the second largest producer in the world with 31% of the market. (Iran has 48%) 22-30% of the US pistachio crop is exported to Europe.
98% of the US crop is grown in California. 2% of the US crop is grown in Southern Arizona. About 88,000 acres produce 250 million pounds of in-shell nuts per year. They are alternate bearing trees. Heavy years avg. 300 million lbs. Light years avg. 180 million pounds Planting is on the rise.
Tree Growth and limiting factors 25 to 30 feet tall. Bear fruit 7 years after planting. Can remain productive for up to 50 years. Dioecious trees, thus must plant male and female trees. Chilling hours = 850 to Bloom starts in early summer
Climate needed is a cool, moist winters and hot dry summers. Pistachios are cold hardy to about 6 0 F. 40” to 44” of water is needed per year. Production is alternate bearing. Production = 1700 to 3000 lbs in shell/acre A fully mature tree can produce as much as 50 pounds of dry, hulled nuts.
Site Selection
Selecting Rootstocks
Choosing Cultivars
Orchard Layout Pg 442
Orchard Floor management, Irrigation & Fertilizers
Insects Navel Orangeworm
Soft scales Black scaleFrosted scale
Pistachio seed chalcid
Green stink bug
Leaffooted bug
False chinch bug
Diseases – Powdery mildew
Verticillium Wilt
Botrytis shoot blight
Shoot blight
Oak root fungus
Diseases – Crown rot
Weeds