Chumasande MatiwaneWhile many gardeners are growing their fruit and veggies, there are a few who grow their nuts. Adding nut trees to your garden can be a good idea because nuts are highly nutritious. A few nut variation trees are growing well in South African gardens.
Nut trees to start growing
When growing nuts, patience is needed as nut trees will take time to bear fruit. So, to have a crack at your nuts, these trees will happily grow in your average-sized garden.
Almonds
These can be one of the best and most useful nuts for adding texture and taste to your meals. The nuts grow on compact trees about 4 meters tall and wide, making them ideal for average home gardens. Almond nut trees grow best in temperate or warm temperate climates. However, if provided with the right conditions, they can grow in cold areas if protected well enough. Be sure to plant in full sun and moist, well-drained soil. Almond tree nuts are usually ready for harvest after three years.
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Walnuts
If you have enough space in your garden, you might start considering growing walnuts. They can grow up to 20- 25 meters tall, making for a good focal point in your garden. Walnuts grow best in climates with long, hot, dry summers and cool winters. Growing them in the upper north regions of the country will work best. Plant your walnut trees in open sunny areas with deep and well-drained soil enriched with organic matter.
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Pistachios
The hot summers, cold winters and moderate spring temperatures of the South African Karoo are well-suited for the production of pistachios. Due to unique growing requirements, the country has the variety, knowledge and expertise to grow pistachios successfully.
The nuts grow on a small shrubby tree, making it an ideal nut tree for suburban homes with the right weather conditions. If looked after well enough the pistachio trees can produce nuts after four to five years.
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Macadamias
Macadamia trees thrive in tropical and subtropical climates, primarily grown in the coastal provinces of KZN and its surrounding provinces because of the warm tropical weather. With most plants, there are variations which can tolerate cooler climates with light frosts.
Ensure that your soil is moist with well-drained and organic matter before proceeding to plant. Macadamia nuts will mature during late autumn and winter and fall to the ground when ripe.
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Starting nut trees in South Africa is easy due to its unique landscape and climate, which allow for the cultivation of various types of nut trees. When selecting nut trees for your garden, it’s important to understand their specific growing conditions and aim to replicate those conditions as closely as possible.
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