How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Almond Trees

Prunus dulcis

From candy, to marzipan (my all-time favorite), to the boom in almond “milk” interest, people are absolutely nutty about almonds, and rightly so.

Believe it or not this coveted tree crop has been cultivated from as early as 4,000 BC – and shows no sign of dropping out of fashion any time soon.

In the same family as other firm favorites such as peaches, cherries, plums, and apricots, almonds provide a delicious, nutritious, and extremely versatile addition to any homestead or garden.

Close up of a crop of almonds growing on the branch.

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As the earliest-flowering stone fruit, the almond tree has the added bonus of also being an ornamental flowering tree, growing 10 to 15 feet high, and replete with fragrant pink or white flowers in early spring.

Beautiful as well as delicious – what’s not to like?

As often is the case with beautiful things, these delicious nuts come with a few hang-ups… read on to find out more about what it takes to grow almond trees.

Cultivation and Historical Use

Cultivated as early as 4,000 BC, almonds (Prunus dulcis) are thought to be native to central and southwestern Asia, although their exact ancestry is unknown.

Throughout history, these nuts have had a lot of religious and cultural importance. They even merit a mention in the Bible, when in the Book of Numbers, Aaron’s rod blossomed and bore almonds.

Almond trees in bloom in an orchard in Portugal.

The Romans also held a special place in their hearts for almonds, showering newlyweds with the nuts as a fertility charm, and there are records suggesting that they were a prized ingredient for Egypt’s Pharaohs.

Today, some Americans give out sugared almonds at weddings, as a representation of children, happiness, romance, good health and fortune. In Sweden, they are hidden in cinnamon-flavored rice puddings at Christmas to bring luck in the coming year to whoever finds them.

Explorers are supposed to have eaten them while traveling the Silk Road between Asia and the Mediterranean, where it didn’t take long before they took root and flourished, especially in Spain and Italy.

Today, we often associate the nut with California, although they actually weren’t introduced there until the mid 1700s, when they were brought over from Spain by the Franciscan Padres.

They didn’t immediately take to life in California, however, and it took years of research and crossbreeding to help them adapt to their new, cooler life on the coast.

By the 1870s, they’d cracked the problem (along with many, many nuts in the process) and now they are firmly established in California’s Central Valley.

Growing Conditions

Almonds are sensitive souls, and are fussy about their growing conditions, which unfortunately means they can be about as challenging to grow as they are delicious.

A row of almond nut trees in bloom in Spain.

The trees require hot and dry conditions, thriving in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 7 through 9 as they especially enjoy areas that have long summers with hot, dry, sunny weather, and therefore a long growing season.

That being said, they also have a need for a certain amount of cold – around 200 to 500 “chill hours” per year at temperatures less than 45°F (7°C ) – to successfully break the dormancy of their buds. This is why they’re not well adapted to tropical climates.

They are particularly intolerant of wet soils and frosts, and as such are well suited to places like California and the East Coast. This is a problem for the early flowering almond, which is particularly vulnerable to frosts.

P. dulcis loves the sun. Although they will tolerate partial shade, they won’t flower or fruit nearly as well as they would if planted in in full sunlight.

Although they prefer well-drained, deep, loamy soils, they will tolerate other soil types, including poor soils, as long as they are not wet or poorly draining, which they absolutely cannot abide.

Conversely, and somewhat counter-intuitively, the trees need ample rainfall – around 500 to 600 millimeters or 20 to 25 inches annually – or irrigation to produce good yields and well-filled nuts, although they will survive with less water.

Traditionally, they weren’t irrigated until farmers discovered they responded well to just the right amount of help given at the right time.

Almond trunks and lower branches in an orchard setting with drip irrigation running along the tree line.
Although they flourish in semi-arid climates, P. dulcis likes a bit of extra water applied at the right times. Drip irrigation is the best method.

They especially benefit from extra watering in early spring, during the summer, and sometimes during the first months of autumn, but really need a helping hand at the beginning of the growing season, as starting off the season too dry can result in a significant decrease in production.

However, it is important not to water them around or near harvest time, with commercial growers stopping irrigation around three to four days before harvest.

This means it’s a bit of a guessing game when growing these, and you have to find just the right balance to achieve a good harvest.

Almonds are generally not self-pollinating, so cross-pollination with a second variety is usually required for fruit production.

When choosing your tree, the most important thing to keep in mind is your growing conditions, and which hardiness Zone you’re in.

Another top tip is to make sure you buy a sweet almond if you plan to eat the nuts rather than a bitter almond tree, typically an ornamental which is grown more for aesthetic reasons.

There are quite a few standard varieties, including ‘Carmel,’ which gives an excellent, well protected nut and is also an excellent pollenator, and ‘Mission’ which, despite being a late bloomer, is a very productive tree.

‘All-In-One‘ is often suggested as the best backyard variety, thanks to the fact it only grows to about half the size of a standard tree, making it ideal where space is a bit tight, such as in home orchards.

‘All-In-One‘ is exceptional as one of the few self-pollinating cultivars, so it has no need of a neighbor for a helping hand in making fruit, adding to its value for the small space gardener.

The fruit from this tree ripens in late September or early October, and it is considered a soft-shelled nut.

A close up square image of the pink and white flowers of 'All-In-One' almond tree pictured on a blue sky background.

‘All-In-One’

You can find ‘All-In-One‘ trees available from Nature Hills Nursery and at Fast Growing Trees.

For a slightly hardier variety, ‘Hall’s Hardy‘ is a good bet. This cultivar is just as often planted for its beautiful pink blooms as for its nuts.

Ripening in October, it is a full-size almond tree that does better with a a buddy for cross-pollination, so be sure to plant another variety nearby for a good harvest.

A close up square image of 'Hill's Hardy' almonds growing on the tree pictured on a soft focus background.

‘Hall’s Hardy‘

You can find bare root ‘Hall’s Hardy‘ trees available from Home Depot.

Nature Hills Nursery has live plants in #3 containers.

‘Hall’s Hardy‘ is very cold tolerant – in fact, it even requires a bit more a chill to produce fruit, so this is perfect for slightly more marginal places, recommended for Zones 5 to 9.

‘Nonpareil‘ is one of the most popular commercial cultivars. Most of the nuts you find at the grocery store are ‘Nonpareil.‘

This cultivar is partially self-fertile, but for maximum yields you’ll need to plant a buddy of a different variety.

A close up square image of ripe 'Nonpareil' almonds pictured in bright sunshine on a soft focus background.

‘Nonpareil‘

This full-size almond tree is suitable for cultivation in Zones 6 to 9.

You can find four- to five- and five- to six-feet-tall trees available from Fast Growing Trees.

Another option is ‘Penta,‘ a Spanish cultivar grown commercially in Europe. The monounsaturated fat content of these nuts is higher than that of most other cultivars.

‘Penta‘ is disease-resistant and hardy in Zones 6 to 9. Another partially self-fertile cultivar, harvests will be larger if you plant a different variety nearby.

A close up square image of a single 'Penta' almond ready to harvest pictured on a soft focus background.

‘Penta‘

Fast Growing Trees carries four- to five-foot trees.

Proper Planting Practices

As with all trees, giving them a proper start in life is the key for their future success.

Almonds like a healthy distance from their neighbors, ideally 15 to 20 feet (four to six meters) apart.

Closeup of a young almond tree freshly planted in tilled earth. A drip irrigation hose runs alongside it.

Before planting, the roots should be given a thorough dosing with water, ensuring that they’re thoroughly wet before they are put into the ground to to get them off to a good start in life.

The hole should be dug wide and deep enough for the whole root system, with special attention given to the tap root so that it’s not bent out of shape.

As with many nut trees, almonds are especially sensitive to tampering with their tap root, so they should never be trimmed or forced into a hole that’s not big enough to accommodate it. The rest of the roots should also be sensitively handled, and carefully spread out to prevent matting.

They should be planted to the same depth they were grown at the nursery (you should see the noticeable color difference between the roots and the rest of the plant, which indicates which part should be buried). This is the same for both bare root plants and potted trees.

Soil should be firmly compressed around the roots as you refill the hole. Once the hole has been refilled, you should give your baby tree two buckets of water to settle it in well to its new home.

At this point, you can also give your tree a little boost by adding some fertilizer, though it is best to wait until spring to fertilize if planting in the fall.

Propagation

Like most fruit and nut trees, almonds are normally propagated by budding. This is by far the easiest and most effective way to grow them and ensure that they grow true to their parent plant.

By Root Graft

A hardy root stock (often of peach or the more resilient bitter almond variety) is used to give the tree resistance to soil-borne diseases, and then the fruit-bearing branch is grafted onto the root stock.

Closeup of an almond branch grafted onto peach root stock.

Using grafted almonds makes the trees much more resilient, and they often grow much faster than from seed. This is particularly the case for those that have a peach root stock, which generally tends to be more productive than those grafted with almond root stock.

A further complication with almond trees is that you have to have at least two different, but compatible, varieties so that they can cross pollinate, usually via bees.

From the Nut

It’s perfectly acceptable to try growing your own from seed for a backyard project, as long as you are aware that it will take much longer to bear fruit, and any nuts that are produced may not be of the same quality as that of the parent plants.

Find fresh nuts – not roasted like you find in the supermarkets. Leave them to soak for around 48 hours, and then place them on a wet paper towel in a plastic bag and place them in the refrigerator.

About three to four weeks in the refrigerator should do the trick, and the almonds should start sprouting. At this point, they’re ready to pot in a nice, well-drained soil mix (something like a mix of sand and compost) and placed in direct sunlight, ideally on a windowsill where it’s nice and warm.

The important thing is to keep them moist, but never soggy. After they have reached about six inches in height, they’re ready to be moved up to a bigger pot size.

Pruning

Pruning has different purposes at different stages of the tree’s life.

Pruning young almond trees determines their future shape, and therefore their productivity and the quality of the nuts produced. It’s important to get it right to ensure a good harvest.

An almond orchard with pruned branches and no leaves in the fall.

Almonds are commonly pruned into a “vase” type shape with three to four main branches, which also allows for ease of harvesting. If done correctly, the “vase” shape makes the tree more vigorous, more productive, and guarantees a longer lifespan.

Pruning after maturity, however, is more about maintaining the shape established in the early stages of the tree’s life. Pruning renews the tree and stimulates it to produce more. Around 20 percent of an older tree’s canopy should be pruned back each year.

For more information on proper pruning practices, check out our guide.

Harvesting

Harvesting looks really fun, and that’s because it is!

Safely wrapped up in their shells, all it takes is a hard shake to make the nuts fall to the ground, where they can be gathered.

Top tip: it’s best to shake the trees over a sheet so they can be easily collected afterwards.

Clusters of ripe almond nuts on the limb in the foreground and a man in the diffused background uses a pole to help shake limbs to get the nuts to drop.

You’ll know they’re ripe for a picking (or a shaking) when the hulls start to split open, often from late summer through to October in the US. If you wait until about three-quarters of the nuts have started to split, it’s a safe bet to harvest them.

The nuts must be dried before consumption, which can either be done by leaving them on the ground for a few days after shaking them (if there’s no risk of rain where you are), or storing them safely somewhere cool and dry.

The average healthy and mature almond tree can produce a tree-mendous 50 to 65 pounds (23 to 30 kilograms) of nuts.

Pests and Diseases

Almonds, as I’ve already mentioned, are sensitive souls. They therefore may suffer from a number of afflictions.

They are particularly susceptible to soil-borne diseases, such as the fungal disease Verticillium wilt. This causes all kinds of drama for growers around the world every year, and enormous economic damage for commercial growers.

Verticillium wilt can be avoided by using a grafted specimen with a hardy root stock of peach or bitter almond. It’s also important not to over irrigate, which encourages the kind of conditions that verticillium thrives in. Soaker hoses are your best bet.

Fungal infections can also cause hull rot and there are mitigation techniques for this condition.

Close up of a crop of almonds growing on the branch.

Apart from that, these trees often suffer from the bacterial disease known as crown gall. This usually gets into the tree via cuts, so care should be taken not to damage the tree. If pruning, always cut branches with clean, disinfected equipment.

Almonds may also have issues with mites, such as the brown mite and the red European mite, which stress the tree out and cause damage to its leaves.

If using an IPM program in your garden, these mites are best controlled with an oil spray during the trees’ dormant period, or through introducing natural predators such as the Western predatory mite.

There are also some pesticides which are effective against mites, including some pyrethroids.

Almond Quick Reference Growing Chart

Plant Type:Nut treeTolerance:Mature trees somewhat drought tolerant
Native to:AsiaMaintenance:Low
Hardiness (USDA Zone):5-9 (temperate-subtropical)Soil Type:Loose and sandy to loamy; does not do well in clay
Season:Spring and summerSoil pH:5.5-8.5
Exposure:Full sunSoil Drainage:Well-draining
Time to Maturity:5-12 years, depending on cultivarCompanion Planting:Cover crops like clover to aerate, facilitate water penetration, add nitrogen, and attract pollinators
Spacing:14 feet minimumAttracts:Bees and other pollinators
Planting Depth:Same depth as nursery pot, or set crown of bare root stock just below soil surfaceOrder:Rosales
Height:10-15 feetFamily:Rosaceae
Spread:10-15 feetGenus:Prunus
Water Needs:Low to moderateSubgenus:Amygdalus
Common Pests:Mites, navel orangeworm, peach twig borer, verticillium wilt, crown gallSpecies:dulcis

Highly Rec-almond Giving Almonds a Go

Okay, maybe “rec-almond” was a stretch… but we do highly recommend it!

Overall, despite being a bit finicky, almonds are definitely worth a shot in your garden.

Closeup of mature almond nuts inside of their husks on a tree branch.

With a bit of light, warmth, and TLC, this can be a beautiful and rewarding tree to have in your back garden.

Nuts about nuts? For further reading, check out the following articles:

Photo of author
With a passion for soil health and growing trees, Natasha Foote is a biologist who was hit with a serious case of green fingers, and decided to swap sterile laboratories for getting her hands dirty in the soil. Formerly a farmer and researcher working with the agroforestry project Mazi Farm in Greece, when she wasn't working on the farm, she was busy studying soil biology under the microscope. Now, you can find her in the south of France where, in between enjoying all the fresh peaches, plums, apricots, and cherries that the area has to offer, she's working on various agricultural projects whilst writing about all things green.
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Ash
Ash (@guest_5447)
4 years ago

Rec—almond! That’s hilarious.

Allison Sidhu
Allison Sidhu(@allison-sidhu)
Reply to  Ash
4 years ago

🙂

Dawn
Dawn (@guest_5539)
4 years ago

I really enjoyed this article. I’m from the Central Valley. Thank you.

Shelly
Shelly (@guest_5863)
4 years ago

Thanks for the great information! I am surprised by all the room they need… Is that between other almonds, or any tree? I have a section of the yard I was planning on putting a few semi dwarf apples in along with the self-pollinating almond, but it’s probably 30 ft x 20 ft, somewhat diamond shaped, and I’m not sure there’s 14 ft between where I’d planned to plant them… But of course I’d rather do it right than wrong! Thanks again. 🙂

Allison Sidhu
Allison Sidhu(@allison-sidhu)
Reply to  Shelly
4 years ago

This is the amount of space that they require to spread and grow to their mature size, whether you’re planting near other almonds, other types of trees, your house, etc. However, you may be able to keep a few trees pruned to a more compact size with your available space. Just keep in mind that good airflow is essential, and they will be competing for water, sunlight, and nutrients.

Espaliered apples could also work, if you can install a trellis or are growing along a fence.

Walter
Walter (@guest_5957)
4 years ago

I hope nobody kills their almond tree hoping for more almonds like the couple who killed their goose, which was laying golden eggs for them, for more gold – long-term sustainability and success is the way to go both of which require a positive outlook on life and destroying things is negative therefore only a short-term solution and a gamble. Being creative rather than destructive is the way to go IMO.

Frank
Frank (@guest_9261)
3 years ago

Will almond trees do well in North Florida? We have the dormancy required but we are humid in the summers. If so, which tree types would you recommend?

Laura Melchor
Laura Melchor (@guest_9419)
Reply to  Frank
3 years ago

Hi Frank! According to the University of Florida Extension, almonds aren’t well suited to any part of Florida due to the humid climate. They really need that dry, warm weather in order to thrive. But walnuts, pecans, and macadamia nut trees are all excellent choices for Florida. For pecan trees, ‘Cape Fear,’ ‘Elliot,’ and ‘Moreland’ are ideal cultivars for your area. ‘Sparrow’ and ‘Stambaugh’ are great walnut cultivars, and ‘Beaumont’ is the best macadamia for Florida and the South in general.

Check our guides to growing pecan trees and macadamia trees for help!

Joshua Afuye
Joshua Afuye (@guest_22602)
Reply to  Laura Melchor
1 year ago

Will almond trees do well in Lagos Nigeria, as the suitable weather described is similar to ours? I also wish to know which tree types would you recommend?

Allison Sidhu
Allison Sidhu(@allison-sidhu)
Reply to  Joshua Afuye
1 year ago

I believe the tropical species Terminalia cattapa, also known as Indian or Malabar almond is more common there, and better suited to your climate. Prunus dulcis, or the sweet almond, does not do well in regions with high humidity, and requires a certain number of chill hours each year to produce fruit, typically 200-400 hours at 45°F/7°C. Some cultivars are considered “low chill,” meaning they require less time at this temperature during the dormant season to produce a harvest. But even during the cool season, I don’t believe temperatures this low are common in Lagos.

Vishal
Vishal (@guest_10279)
3 years ago

I have an almond tree planted a year back which I bought from nursery. I planted it 2 ft from the fence and approx 3 mts from my house wall. I think I made a big mistake. Now this yr I am already seeing fruits in it and plan to relocate it. Can you let me know if keel it away for approx 3-5 mts from the wall and 3 ft from fence be a good idea. Am more worried of the roots system causing issue to the foundation of the house and the spread this tree would have. I… Read more »

Laura Ojeda Melchor
Laura Ojeda Melchor(@lauramelchor)
Gardening Writer
Reply to  Vishal
3 years ago

Hi Vishal! It’s probably a good idea to relocate the tree, as the roots could cause issues with the fence or wall, especially as the tree gets older and larger.

Michelle
Michelle (@guest_10662)
3 years ago

What ground cover plant would grow well in an almond orchard? Something that will feed the soil what the almond needs and help with the mite, fungus and other soil issues you mentioned?

Laura Ojeda Melchor
Laura Ojeda Melchor(@lauramelchor)
Gardening Writer
Reply to  Michelle
3 years ago

Hi Michelle! One of the best cover crops for almond orchards is clover. As a legume, it supplies nitrogen to the soil and allows for better water infiltration in the orchard. It also attracts honeybees and other pollinators. Try mixing a few different clover species to keep the ground cover diverse, or consider adding mustard to the mix as it blooms before clover and can supply food for honeybees to strengthen them (and get them used to coming to your orchard) before the almond trees flower. Try a mix of white, red, and crimson clovers to get you started. While… Read more »

Cher Lewis
Cher Lewis (@guest_11730)
2 years ago

So am I correct in assuming that they bloom flowers in the spring and bear fruit in the fall? So they don’t have flowers and ripe nuts at the same time?

Eertje
Eertje (@guest_12048)
Reply to  Cher Lewis
2 years ago

That’s with all fruits as the fruit is the result of a pollinated flower!

Phil
Phil (@guest_12884)
2 years ago

I dig holes in my garden and put organics in them. This year I dug up what I thought was two weeds but they had an almond from which they were growing. One of the two died but the other one is prospering. Will it survive in West Virginia?

Joseph Musomba Mutungi
Joseph Musomba Mutungi (@guest_15673)
2 years ago

Hello, I am interested in doing almond farming. How can i get seeds to plant? I am based in Nairobi, Kenya.

Clare Groom
Clare Groom(@clareg)
Editor
Reply to  Joseph Musomba Mutungi
2 years ago

Hi Joseph, I suggest you speak to Kenya Seed Company and they would be able to advise where you can buy seeds for planting or saplings. Good luck with your venture!