• What can be cooked from squid: quick and tasty

    1. Botanical description
    2. Where grows
    3. Varieties
    4. Application
    5. Landing
    6. Reproduction
    7. Pests and diseases

    The well-known almond is not a nut, but a fruit stone of a plant belonging to the genus of plum. It is the closest relative of apricot, peach and other members of the Pink family.

    Botanical description

    Almond is a low, densely branched tree or shrub with a rounded or pyramidal crown... Most species reach a height of 3–6 m. The trunks are thin, no wider than 10–15 cm, covered with dark brown or brown, slightly wrinkled bark. The root system is powerful, penetrates into the ground to a depth of 4–5 m. Young shoots are long, reddish. The skeletal branches are shorter.

    Leaves are simple petiolate, lanceolate, finely toothed, with pointed tops... The length of the plates is 7–10 cm, the upper part is dark green, smooth, with feathery veins, the lower part is slightly lighter.

    The flowers are bisexual, solitary, sessile, 1-3 cm in diameter, white, cream, pink or light red shades, with a pronounced bitter aroma. The cups are goblet, five-petal, with many stamens and one pistil. Ornamental varieties have double buds. Almonds bloom profusely and relatively early: from the beginning of April, when there are no leaves on the branches.

    Fruits are bivalve drupes 2.5–4 cm in size, shaped like peaches... The skin of the pericarp is light green, fleecy, dense. As it matures, it dries up and cracks, the flaps open slightly, releasing an oblong brown bone. Depending on the species, almond shells are hard or soft. The thicker it is, the larger the fruit kernels contained inside. Peeled almonds are covered with a yellowish or brown film, the pulp is light, oily, in cultivated varieties - nutritious, with a delicate taste and aroma.

    Greens, flowers and fruits of almonds contain the potent substance amygdalin, a component of hydrocyanic acid. In wild species, its concentration is higher.

    Despite the plant's resistance to cold temperatures down to –25 ° C, it is thermophilic. Flowers that have managed to open up quickly die in the spring from unexpected frosts, which is why the fruiting of trees in the current and next years is sharply reduced.

    The plant bears fruit from 5-6 years of age. The total life span of an almond tree is 80–100 years.

    Where grows

    Almonds are common in regions with warm subtropical climates. Grows in Western and Central Asia:

    • Uzbekistan,
    • Tajikistan,
    • Afghanistan,
    • Iran,
    • Tunisia,
    • Syria,
    • Pakistan.

    The tree is comfortable in the Caucasus, on the Mediterranean coast:

    • Spain,
    • Italy,
    • Greece,
    • Portugal.

    Favorable climate for almonds in the southern territories of North America: California, Florida, Australia. Very picky about the level of illumination, heat resistant, grows in areas from 800 to 1500 m above sea level... Prefers soils with a high calcium content, loose, with good drainage. Does not tolerate saline, acidic and heavy clay soils.

    Varieties

    Among the fruit and ornamental plant varieties, several are popular.

    Ordinary

    In addition to the wild variety - bitter almonds, there is a cultivated one with sweet fruits suitable for human consumption. Densely branched shrubs or small trees 4–5 m high with dark green glossy lanceolate leaves. White or light pink flowers bloom in April. The fruits are about 3 cm in size and ripen at the end of July. The nuclei are large, elongated, bright brown in color. The yield of sweet almond varieties reaches 10–12 kg per tree. Fruiting for about 25 years... The largest number of fruits is in trees of 12-15 years of age.

    Low (bean)

    Low-growing shrub 1-2 m high with a dense spherical or trapezoidal crown. The leaves are lanceolate, bright green, fleshy. Flowers 1–2 cm in diameter, dark pink or red. Fruiting species, kernels 1–1.5 cm in size, oily, bitter. Bobovnik tolerates prolonged drought well, is thermophilic and is sensitive to lack of sunlight. On the basis of the species, decorative varieties with abundant flowering and large fruits were selected: Pink Flamingo, White Sail, Anyuta, Pink Mist.

    Georgian

    The natural range of the species is Transcaucasia. Georgian almonds resemble legumes, but with less dense shoots. The crowns are pyramidal, openwork. The flowers are light pink, rare, bloom in April. Leaves are wide, with sharp tops, up to 8 cm long. Bears fruit annually... More frost resistant than other species. Unpretentious to the composition of soils, can grow on rocky scarce soils in conditions of prolonged drought.

    Almond Ledebour

    Altai view. A wide, low shrub with abundant flowering. The length of the shoots is 1.5–2 m. The petals are bright pink or creamy, bloom in mid-spring before the foliage appears. Fruits 2.5 cm in size with light green, fleecy skin. The nuclei are bright brown, oblong.

    Three-bladed

    Central Asian thermophilic species. Lush shrub 1.5–3 m high with dense dense crowns. It blooms profusely, the buds are fragrant, light pink or crimson in color, with a diameter of 3–3.5 cm. There are varieties with simple and double petals. The leaves are dark green, lobed, slightly pubescent on the underside, velvety to the touch. Popular hybrid varieties of the species: Chinese woman, Ruslana, Tanyusha, Svetlana, Kievsky.

    Application

    Almond trees are early honey plants: sources of nectar and pollen. Ornamental species with abundant flowering are planted in gardens.

    The fruits of wild almonds are not eaten due to the high content of a poisonous glycoside. They are used as raw materials for producing fatty oils and natural flavors.

    Cultivated almonds are a valuable fruit plant... Its grains contain vegetable protein, fats, almost the entire spectrum of B vitamins, tocopherol, organic acids, calcium, iron, potassium. They are eaten separately, used in cooking, the confectionery industry for the manufacture of nut butters, creams, almond flour, sauces and essences.

    Essential oil is used to flavor food and cosmetic products. Fatty oil is used in pharmaceuticals as a basis for the preparation of ointments and creams.

    Landing

    It is recommended to plant almonds in the spring, in thoroughly warmed up soil. The site should be protected from cold northerly and north-westerly winds, well lit by the sun. Do not place the plant in the shade of buildings, tall trees and fences. If you plan to get fruit, you need to plant several specimens - almonds are cross-pollinated and only by insects, therefore apiaries should be near.

    Optimum soil acidity for almonds: 4.5–7 pH. At a higher level, lime or dolomite flour is desirable.

    The depth of the seedling holes depends on the species. Dwarf varieties need 30 cm pits. Tall ones - about 50 cm. The distance between them should be at least 3 m. A 10-cm layer of drainage from brick chips or small stones is laid out on the bottom. A little nutrient mixture of rotted manure and mineral fertilizer with the obligatory content of phosphorus is poured on top. The seedlings are placed in the holes so that the root collars protrude 1–2 cm above the surface. The roots are carefully covered with soil, compacting them tightly. It is advisable to place support pegs 50–60 cm high next to the plants. The trunks are tied to them with a thin string.

    Immediately after planting, the almonds are watered: 10-15 liters of water per copy. It is recommended to mulch the trunks with a thick layer of peat: about 5–7 cm.

    Care

    Frequency of watering young plants: once a week, 10 liters of water per plant. It is imperative to loosen the soil around the trunks of almonds to a depth of 5–7 cm if mulch is not used. Starting from the age of 3, it is necessary to moisten the bushes less often: only in dry periods, when the soil dries to a depth of 2 cm. It is impossible to swamp the root system.

    In the early days of the growing season, almonds can be fed with nitrogen, during the summer it is useful to water it 1-2 times with a liquid solution of mullein or bird droppings. At the beginning of summer, it is recommended to add 20 g of ammonium nitrate and 10 g of urea under each bush, dissolving them in a bucket of water. In October: 20 g of superphosphate and potassium sulfate.

    Sanitary pruning of the crown is performed in early spring, before the start of active sap flow... Shaping haircut - in the middle of summer, leaving the strongest shoots. It is advisable to outline the contours and length to which the shoots are to be shortened.

    Young trees must be protected from frost by covering the root collar with a thick layer of leaves or peat. The crown needs to be wrapped in lutrasil. Mature plants do not need shelter.

    Reproduction

    Almonds are propagated by seed method only for growing stock - trunks, on which varietal plants will subsequently be grafted. They are sown to a depth of 8-10 cm, the sprouts are watered and fed until they reach a height of 50 cm. Lateral shoots are regularly removed.

    The graft must be developed, have healthy growth buds... It is grafted in the summer, placing it under the bark, in a T-shaped incision in the rootstock, at a height of about 10 cm above the root collar. Fix with a plaster or tape. In the fall, the grafting site is covered with soil.

    Another way of reproduction is by apical cuttings... The material should be semi-lignified, 15–20 cm long. For rooting, it is placed in a mixture of peat and sand for a month and kept at a temperature of + 18–20 ° C.

    Adult overgrown bushes are bred with root suckers or layering. In the first case, the shoots with part of the roots are dug up and planted in a new place at the end of summer. Lateral shoots are removed and rooted. At the junction with the soil, several notches are made on their bark. Layers develop their own roots within a few months.

    Pests and diseases

    Almonds can be infected with fungal infections: molarosis, scab, gray rot, clotterosporia, rust. For treatment, fungicidal preparations are used: Topaz or Fundazol. Before spraying, diseased branches are cut off.

    Almonds are a stone tree that is grown in many countries of the world, including Russia. Almonds contain substances that are beneficial to health and strengthen the body. Unlike many medicines, they combine both taste and benefit.

    Almonds contain substances that are beneficial to health and strengthen the body.

    Almond ripening time

    The time at which almonds begin to ripen depends on the geographic location of the tree.

    Almonds are a thermophilic plant, but cultivars have been obtained that are acclimatized for cultivation in cold areas. In central Russia, it is grown for the sake of decorating the garden. In the Crimea and the Caucasus, good harvests are harvested from ripe almonds.

    The shrub should be planted in the southern, well-lit by the sun, areas. The site chosen for planting must be protected from strong winds that can break branches. Where frosts and hurricanes cannot damage the plant, it grows up to 10 m in height and begins to bear fruit by the age of 7-8.

    Bloom

    In many regions of Spain, flowering begins in January. They even host almond blossom holidays. In Russia, the walnut blooms in spring.

    In Russia, almonds bloom in spring

    Trees are covered with delicate pink and white flowers. Planted together, they pollinate each other and soon begin to form monostable fruits: green, covered with fluff, from which it is easy to separate the tasty kernel. The pits resemble peach in appearance. Depending on the type of tree, the almond fruit can be bitter or sweet.

    According to the period of fruit ripening, all varieties are divided into three groups:

    1. Early flowering. They rarely take root in Russia. Bloom begins in March. During sudden frosts, trees are not even suitable for ornamental cultivation. In the northern latitudes, they prefer to plant late-flowering varieties.
    2. Late blooming. Flowering occurs in late spring, and fruits ripen at the end of August or September. Nikitinsky 62 is one of the most striking examples of late flowering varieties. It is unpretentious and winter-hardy, it is loved by summer residents from the northern regions of Russia. White-pink flowers bloom in April, and large wrinkled fruits are harvested in August. Another example is Primorsky. A productive tree up to 3.5 m high, blooms in April or May, and the fruits are harvested in early autumn, sometimes in October.
    3. In stores, you can also find varieties that bloom after late blooming. The fruits of such almonds are not eaten. The trees are grown exclusively for decorative purposes.

    Harvesting

    Some late-flowering varieties bring the harvest in the second decade of July, but usually it is harvested at the end of August and September. First, green fruits appear on the branches, covered with fluff. Towards the end of summer, the trees are already without leaves: so almonds stop spending nutrients and water, transferring energy to ripening fruits.

    Gradually, the shell of the ripe fruit bursts. Only when it is ripe can it be harvested. Sticks or manually shake the branches so that the fruits fall from them onto the previously laid out flooring. Many fruits nestle firmly on the branches and are difficult to remove. Labor becomes overwhelming if the tree is too tall, so pruning is important.

    Sorting nuts

    Sorting the harvested crop is the most tedious part. Ripe almonds have a light, dense kernel with a dark brown shell. If it is not firm, then the fruits are not yet ripe.

    Sorting process:

    1. Dried almonds that are easily separated from the pericarp are immediately cleaned and set aside.
    2. In many fruits, the pericarp is firmly attached to the shell and cannot be separated by hand. This happens if it rained for several weeks before the harvest: the shell swells, then the sun dries it out. Nuts are put in a separate slide for processing: they are soaked in warm water for several hours or split.
    3. Almonds freed from the shell must be dried so that the taste does not deteriorate. In the household, it is cleaned by hand; on an industrial scale, special machines are used. When using machines, the shell is searched in search of broken drupes. The kernels are then graded for size, integrity and quality.

    Application of almonds

    The fruits of this shrub contain beneficial substances that strengthen the cardiovascular system and improve digestion. People who care about their health add almonds to "vitamin" complexes. It contains protein, which is why vegetarians eat it.

    Almonds contain protein, so they are often consumed by vegetarians

    It is added to cakes, pastries, grinded and mixed with honey, decorated with sweets, salads and added to meat and vegetable dishes, sauces and soups. Traditional almond dishes are marzipan and nougat.

    Bitter almonds are used as a flavoring for dishes, but they are dangerous to eat, especially in large quantities. It is used as a medicine, consuming 1-2 nucleoli per day.

    Almonds are widely used in cosmetology. It is used to make oil to moisturize the skin and protect and nourish it. The oil strengthens nails and restores shine to the hair.

    I have collected this reportage from various posts of the last two years and added new photos.
    I want to show you how almonds are harvested, if done by hand, how they are processed, peeled and split.
    That is, as it has been done since time immemorial on our small island in the middle of the ocean.
    Many other different interesting details. And I will also show you what it is eaten with :)


    Do not be surprised at the quality of some of the photos, they were taken with our small and old camera.

    Let me tell you briefly how almonds grow.
    Almonds are often referred to as nuts, although they are actually a stone fruit.
    In size and shape, almonds are similar to a peach pit. We have about 20 trees on the site.

    1. On our island (La Palma, Canary Islands), almonds begin to bloom at the end of January.
    It looks incredibly beautiful, everything is in white and pink:

    2. On the island, almonds bloom in white, pale pink and bright pink:

    3. The fruit is forming - a dry velvety-pubescent oval monosyatka:

    4. Crops on the island are always plentiful. Especially in the north of the island. The famous almond festival is celebrated here in February.
    An incredibly beautiful sight - a white-pink sea of ​​flowering trees, beautifully decorated carts and people in folk costumes ...

    In early June, the trees already look like this:

    5. Here green fruits are closer:

    6. The tree sheds its foliage in August, the trick of nature is not to waste energy and water on greenery, but only on fruits.
    At the beginning of September, the shell of ripe fruits begins to burst. Against the background of a white cat, it is especially beautiful and clear :)

    7. And after two to three weeks the tree looks like this: the dry pericarp separates from the stone when ripe:

    8. Then the fruits are harvested:

    9. Cleanse:

    10. How they are cleaned, I will tell you clearly a little later.
    Here you can see the almonds themselves.
    There is a very old variety of almonds on La Palma, it can be easily recognized
    - the nut is rough and flatter, and the letter Y forms on it!
    It is clearly visible. See?
    We have two varieties of almonds.
    The second grade is rounder, smoother and smaller.

    11. Here it is even clearer without the skin of a nut:

    12. On the island there are also other varieties, some of which are very large:

    13. Now I will tell you how almonds are harvested.
    Harvesting requires a long stick up to 4 meters long and several large nets.
    The nets are laid around the tree, and the almonds are knocked down with a stick.
    Working with your head up for hours and banging on the branches with a stick is not easy and very tiring.
    Fruits fly far away, you have to collect in a large radius around the tree.
    Sorry, the photos were taken against the light, a little dark:

    14. It is not always easy to knock down the fruits, some "stick" strongly to the branches:

    15. Those branches that have already grown too high must be pruned closer to spring:

    16. Almonds fall on the net:

    17. They are collected all in one big pile and sorted:

    18. The almonds that yield are peeled from the dried shell:

    21. The one whose pericarp cannot be separated by hand is collected separately.
    There are many such almonds if there were rainy days before harvest:
    the casing swells, then dries quickly in the sun and is difficult to clean later.
    You have to soak in water or chop it by hand:

    22. Now you need to work with a stick from the other side:

    23. Here the slope is at 40º, it is very difficult to collect, everything rolls down:

    24. Moving to the next tree. Thomas with a stick again:

    25. When it is very hot, then we move to where there is more shade:

    26. It is not only almonds that fall when harvested:

    27. We have a lot of helpers)) Until they get theirs, they will not leave alone:

    29. Already how many have been collected and cleansed:

    30. Beggars:

    31. Izzy is like a nutcracker with us, very cleverly opens nuts:

    33. Work of one day:

    34. Now you still need to peel the almonds, the pericarp of which is not cleaned by hands.
    We soak for several hours, the pericarp swells and lends itself to manipulation:

    35.

    36.

    37. Now you need to dry the bones well. Dry in the sun:

    38. And then to the end in the dryer:

    39. Earlier, almonds were chopped by hand, women were engaged in this. A very long and low-paying job.
    Until now, contests for the best and most dexterous hazelnut are held at the almond festival.
    Now almost everyone goes with their crops to the village to this infernal machine - here they crack nuts.
    The car is already very old, it often breaks down and is repaired. without it, it’s quite a disaster, the whole village shakes if it breaks down:

    40. Almonds are loaded from above into the machine and in this cylinder the nuts are cracked:

    42. The nut itself falls through the nets, and through different exits - pieces of shell of different sizes:

    43.

    44.

    45. Almonds are slowly gathering in front on the left.
    The roar in the room is terrible, everyone only walks with headphones:

    46. ​​We brought this home, that is. everything that was split and sorted by the machine itself:

    47. But among the shells there are still a lot of "broken" nuts:

    48. Now we still need to manually, handful by handful, sort out EVERYTHING:

    49. There is also a lot of "broken" walnut in the nut itself:

    50. But what a delicious nut!

    51. And many hours later ...

    52. ... from almost 50 kg of harvested almonds, about 15 kg of peeled almonds turned out:

    53. Of these, 3.5 kg of "broken", we eat it ourselves or use it for sweets:

    54. The work is over!

    55. And now I will show you more that you can make anything tasty from almonds.
    The first will, of course, be almond cream, a special delicacy of our village:

    56. How is it done?
    I went to the girl who deals with it and took some photos.
    Here in this oven it is twisted in a cylinder and slightly fried (40º) for about 45 minutes.
    Then the almonds cool down until the next morning:

    57. Then it is loaded into this meat grinder:

    58. And voila! The finished product is already coming out in prepared jars!

    59. He is carefully weighed:

    60. And they roll up:

    61. Sticking labels:

    62. Done!

    63. Now another little recipe from our local cuisine - almond palmer cheese.
    Something very similar to marzipan. For this you need this, and the complete recipe

    Rarely does anyone think about where the product used in food grows. If everything is more or less clear with ordinary vegetables and fruits, then what about exotic cultures?

    This also applies to almonds. Few are interested in where it grows and where the nut comes from, and whether it is possible to grow almonds at home. You will learn about this in the article below. Read the detailed article about.

    Tree or shrub?

    In nature, almonds can grow both as a bush and as a tree. The almond bush is usually dotted with large white-pink flowers and reaches a height of 4 to 6 meters. Trees are more common in the wild and can reach 6-10 meters in height and look very beautiful. Below you can see a photo of a flowering tree and shrub. Read the article about, it tells in detail about all the elements of the nut.

    Is growing

    Where

    Almonds grow mainly in warm regions. The largest plantings are in China, the USA and Tajikistan. For industry, it is grown in Slovakia, the Crimea, the Czech Republic, the Caucasus and Australia.

    In Russia

    In the Russian Federation, almonds are grown not only as an ornamental plant, but also as a fruiting plant. It mainly grows on the Black Sea coast, mainly in the Stavropol and Krasnodar Territories.

    In central Russia, an ornamental subspecies of almonds, the steppe bean, is cultivated. Almonds are unlikely to bear fruit, even despite the warm climate, because in the southern regions of the culture it will be cold. The plus is that although ornamental shrubs love warmth, they still tolerate frost well. Varietal and bitter almonds are more often planted in Crimea.

    Almond harvest in the Krasnodar Territory can only be in the region where there are no sudden changes in temperature. Because of this, the culture may prematurely fall off flowers and ovaries.

    Almonds can be grown in the Moscow region. When planted in open ground - a decorative type, in a closed one - fruiting. Even if you grow a fruiting subspecies on the site, there will still be no nuts on it.

    In nature

    Every year, the demand for almonds is increasing around the world, so its cultivation is a priority in countries with a suitable climate, as it is a rather profitable production.

    In this branch of agriculture, the USA (in particular the state of California) is in the lead. More than 80% of all almonds produced in the world grow in this state. The remaining 20% ​​are in countries:

    • Australia;
    • Argentina;
    • Afghanistan;
    • Greece;
    • Iraq;
    • Iran;
    • Spain;
    • Italy;
    • France;
    • Chile.

    In all these countries, sunny and warm weather prevails for most of the year.

    How

    Climate

    Video

    A video of bees collecting nectar can be seen below:

    Fruit

    If the conditions for growing the plant have been met, then it begins to bear fruit in 3-4 years. And after 6 years, you can already collect a rich harvest. The very peak of fruiting occurs at 20-30 years of age. After 65 years, the tree begins to produce significantly fewer nuts. The benefits of the nut are written in this one.

    After the beginning of full fruiting at 8-9 years (grafted plants) or at 10-12 (seedlings from seeds), the plant gives nuts for 50-65 years, after which the yield gradually fades away.

    Where do they come from

    Ripening process for almond nuts:

    1. In early spring, the plant begins to bloom.
    2. If the buds opened normally and were sufficiently pollinated, then the process of fruit ovary takes place.
    3. After flowering, leaves appear.
    4. Fruits grow within 40-50 days after the ovary.
    5. The basis of the fruit (generative buds) is laid in early July on annual shoots.
    6. While the fruit is pouring, the kidneys slow down development.
    7. The buds develop actively after the nuts are ripe.
    8. By the beginning of October, the generative buds are covered with dense scales.
    9. Almonds are fully ripe by the time the foliage falls off the tree.

    To summarize our description: almonds come in the form of a bush or in the form of a tree. In the southern regions, a fertile species is more often grown, and in the middle lane, an ornamental one, which is a beautifully flowering shrub. The plant is frost-resistant and easy to care for.

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