Almond Tree Guide: How to Plant and Grow an Almond Tree

Almonds are the fruits produced by almond trees (Prunus dulcis). The almond tree is a species of fruit tree native to countries in the Middle East. Almond trees belong to the same genus as peach trees. While they're generally considered nuts, almonds are technically a type of stone fruit called a drupe. Drupes are fruits made up of an outer hull and a hard shell that contains a seed. Other common drupes include peaches, cherries, and olives. Whereas with other drupes you typically discard the seed, almonds are unique in that the seed is the only edible part of the almond fruit.

Culinarily, almonds are incredibly versatile. Aside from being delicious on their own, they are useful for making almond milk, almond butter, or almond flour.

While it is possible to grow an almond tree from seed, your best shot at growing a successful, nut-bearing almond tree is to start with a sapling. Like most nut trees, almond trees are not self-pollinating, and producing a nut-bearing almond tree from seed requires cross-pollination. Unless you've got the square footage to plant two or more trees, it's best to start with a sapling.

Almond trees are native to the Middle East and thrive in Mediterranean climates. Their ideal growing region is an area that gets dry, hot summers with plenty of sunshine. They benefit from a rainy winter season but are extremely sensitive to frost, which explains why California is the leading producer of almonds in the United States. Other popular almond tree locations include Texas, Arizona, and Florida. When deciding whether or not an almond tree will work in your area, check your USDA Plant Hardiness Zone first—almond trees do best in zones 7–9.

Growing an almond tree requires an upfront investment of time and resources.

1. 1. Choose a sunny site. Almond trees need ample room to grow because they can grow up to 30 feet in height. Plant your sapling 15 to 20 feet away from buildings, power lines, and other trees. Almond trees need full sun and well-draining loam soil to thrive.
2. 2. Prep your sapling. Setting up your almond tree for success starts before it's even in the ground. Using a garden hose, spray off the sapling's rootball to make sure it's hydrated and that the roots make good contact with the soil.
3. 3. Dig your hole. Dig a hole deep enough to accommodate your plant's root system. If you've bought a bare-root or container-grown tree, dig your hole deep enough to match the depth at which your tree was planted in the nursery—most likely 18 to 24 inches. To make sure your hole is deep enough, gently place the plant inside and rest the taproot firmly against the bottom. If the base remains above the top of the hole, don't force it deeper. The taproot is sensitive and easily damaged by aggressive handling or trimming.
4. 4. Plant your tree. Place your sapling in the center of the hole and backfill it with well-draining soil. Firmly tamp down the soil to remove any excess air while filling. Immediately water your sapling with at least one gallon of water. Place a layer of mulch around the base of the tree to help retain soil moisture.
5. 5. Prune small twigs. Trim off any small twigs near the base of the tree. Young trees need pruning in order to focus all of their growth on their trunk and branches.
6. 6. Exercise patience. The almond tree's dormant period lasts about 5 years from seedling to fruiting, so don’t be alarmed if nuts don’t appear on your tree for the first few years.

Maintaining the health of your almond tree requires a few simple tips.

1. 1. Water your tree regularly. Almond trees are drought-tolerant and thrive through hot, dry summers, but they do need regular watering. When your trees are young, water them at least once a week, only skipping watering if you get heavy rainfall. Keep the soil thoroughly hydrated but not overly wet—soaking your trees can cause root rot.
2. 2. Fertilize your almond tree in the spring. Wait until spring to start fertilizing your tree. Young trees can benefit from small amounts of nitrogen fertilizer applied regularly throughout the growing season, while mature trees need a lot less fertilizer. Once your tree is established and starts fruiting, give it a one-time treatment of two pounds of urea, and it will be set for life.
3. 3. Keep an eye out for pests. Almond trees are susceptible to a number of pests, the most common being the navel orangeworm. This worm takes up residence in unharvested nuts that remain on the tree during the winter. The best way to keep them at bay is to harvest all the nuts from the tree. Almonds trees are also vulnerable to peach tree borers—grub-like pests that attack the tree itself by burrowing into the base of the trunk. If you notice your tree's growth has slowed or you see bug excrement near the base of the tree, apply Bacillus thuringiensis spray—or Bt spray—to kill them.
4. 4. Protect your tree from diseases. Almond trees tend to contract diseases when their bark is damaged or cut by old, dirty garden equipment. Take extra care not to damage the trees during harvesting, and always use clean tools to prune them.

There are two kinds of almond nuts: bitter and sweet. Bitter almond trees that produce bitter almonds are a good choice if you want your tree to be purely ornamental. If you plan on eating the nuts from your almond tree, be sure to choose a variety of sweet almonds. Cultivars of sweet almond include ‘Caramel,’ ‘Mission,’ ‘Hall's Hardy,’ and ‘All-in-One.’ As the name would lead you to believe, ‘All-in-One’ almond trees are self-pollinating. If you're not sure which kind of almond tree to plant in your garden, ‘All-in-One’ is an excellent choice.

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