Growing almonds from nuts

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Fincaman
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Growing almonds from nuts

Postby Fincaman » Sat May 06, 2017 1:27 pm

Hi everyone,
Having recently buried a large area of dead prickly pears - 9 hours work by the local digger - I now have to decide what to do with 250m2 of bare hillside.
I would like to extend my almonds but don't want to fork out for so many trees. And I'm quite patient, so I am thinking of growing from seed (almonds). Germination is no problem (50% in two weeks) but how to protect them from goats???
Perhaps start with a well-fenced nursery area? Or are treeguards used, or even available, in Spain?
Alec
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Flexo
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Re: Growing almonds from nuts

Postby Flexo » Sat May 06, 2017 3:20 pm

Of course you can use tree guards but they will be very rugged and expensive if they are to protect from goats. Easier to fence off the goats (I think a cheap electric fence is the cheapest option here). The goats will eat close to everything you plant.

Gasman
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Re: Growing almonds from nuts

Postby Gasman » Sat May 06, 2017 3:51 pm

Can anyone confirm that if you grow almonds from seed they go back to being bitter-almonds? Not sure if this is an old-wives tale??
Even so they would give a splendid show of flowers over your hillside Fincaman ... but may not produce edible nuts for you?

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Re: Growing almonds from nuts

Postby wollie » Sat May 06, 2017 8:09 pm

My crazy friend says "stick a feather in the ground and it will grow a hen"

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Fincaman
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Re: Growing almonds from nuts

Postby Fincaman » Sat May 06, 2017 10:19 pm

I have picked many almonds from self-seeded almond trees and they were certainly nit bitter. Surely the bitter almond is a different variety? Or can it result from normal almond seeding?
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Fincaman
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Re: Growing almonds from nuts

Postby Fincaman » Sun May 07, 2017 12:03 pm

I have looked this up and there are indeed two distinct varieties. Prunus amygdalus dulcis is the sweet almond, whereas prunus amygdalus amara contains prussic acid. In some countries the latter is banned, which would hardly be possible if it could occur at random from seedlings.
Anyway, back to the original question - any suggestions for protecting them, other than fencing the plot? I think I will try a brightly painted stake in each location, and have a word with both of the local goat farmers.
Can I suggest that others may like to try growing your own, maybe to fill in the odd gap. A week in the fridge is said to help germination, but I just used nuts which had been lying around over winter. It really is easy, though I think autumn sowing may be preferable, to take advantage of winter rain while they are becoming established. Crack the shells with care, of course.
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Gasman
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Re: Growing almonds from nuts

Postby Gasman » Mon May 08, 2017 8:05 pm

Sounds worthwhile to have a go - might try a few this back-end then.
Cheers

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chrissiehope
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Re: Growing almonds from nuts

Postby chrissiehope » Mon May 08, 2017 10:10 pm

"back-end" = "autumn", yes ?
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Re: Growing almonds from nuts

Postby Gasman » Fri May 12, 2017 9:22 am

Sorry - yes, back-end of the year ... autumn. Legacies from growing up Up-North ...


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