1. Pistachios Chapter 22

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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 1000. Bloom starts in early summer

5. 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.

6. Site Selection

7. Selecting Rootstocks

8. Choosing Cultivars

9. Orchard Layout Pg 442

10. Orchard Floor management, Irrigation & Fertilizers

11. Insects Navel Orangeworm

12. Soft scales Black scaleFrosted scale

13. Pistachio seed chalcid

14. Green stink bug

15. Leaffooted bug

16. False chinch bug

17. Diseases – Powdery mildew

18. Verticillium Wilt

19. Botrytis shoot blight

20. Shoot blight

21. Oak root fungus

22. Diseases – Crown rot

23. Weeds