The nut, loved by many, - the pistachio seed - does not grow in Russia; it is practically impossible to bring out this whimsical and very painful plant even at home. Pistachios on the Russian market are exclusively of Syrian or Iranian origin.
Plant growth
The pistachio tree is a small shrub or tree measuring 4 to 6 meters in size with a curved trunk and gray bark, low crown and leaves up to 20 cm in length. It is on such trees that panicle inflorescences appear, consisting of small red-yellow flowers. After some time, in place of these inflorescences, ligaments of drupes are formed, inside which edible greenish kernels ripen. When the kernels are ripe, the shell cracks and opens, exposing the ripe nut. It is in this form that many are accustomed to seeing the famous pistachios, which are subsequently eaten and used in cooking.
Unopened pistachios should not be eaten because they contain too many essential oils.
Pistachio trees prefer to grow on rocky slopes and cliffs, where the soil is well dried by the wind. Plants usually grow singly, rarely in groups of several trees. The reason for such a specific growth is in the special root system of pistachio trees, which have two tiers in the root system, replacing each other and functioning as if in shifts.
The first tier, located on the upper level, absorbs moisture during winter and spring. The second - deeper - in summer and autumn.
Pistachio roots spread to the sides for 20-25 meters, deep into the soil - up to 12 meters.
Growing area
Most often, pistachio trees grow in subtropical climates. In natural conditions, they can be found on the slopes of the mountains in Central Asia, Iran and Syria. As an agricultural crop, pistachios are actively grown in Turkey, Greece, Spain, some grow trees in their homesteads, but more than 5-10 trunks are usually not bred.
Another feature of the pistachio tree is that, unlike ordinary trees, pistachios do not intertwine the crowns, but the root systems. For this reason, pistachio forests are rare.
Pistachio trees bloom in March-April, and ripe fruits are harvested in September-November. The most optimal conditions for fruit ripening are hot summer temperatures over 30 ° C. Pistachio loves light and warmth, easily tolerates drought and it is in such conditions that it grows well and bears fruit.
However, a pistachio tree can easily withstand temperatures as low as 40 ° C. Trees may well be classified as long-livers - in their natural environment, pistachio can survive for about 200-300 years.
