You probably should graft these trees as they don't come true from seed.

They're just an experiment, don't know whether any kind of almonds will succeed here. It's funny, when the nectarine-like fruit appeared, I accused the wife of not really planting almond seeds- but she swore they were almonds in the shell from the store.

I don't know much about varieties- there is one called Hall's Hardy. I suspect that the California ones really are tender, and that eastern varieties are what I'd be looking for.

Which kinds of almonds are grown where you live (STX)? How are "improved" almonds better than seedlings? Bigger nuts, more productive? I remember Stark selling a peach with an edible seed- anyone tried that?

Almonds bloom too early for much of the US. In CA they bloom in late Febr to early March and ripen August to October. I had a Hall's Hardy in Amarillo but the bloom got froze out most years.

The CA types would be best suited to Del Rio or the Uvalde area. East Texas is too humid for best results.

I know several commercial almond and walnut growers. From discussions with them, it sounds like almonds have most of the disease and late frost problems that all stone fruits have-which is a lot. That's why they're mostly grown only in ideal locations even within the San Joaquin Valley. Seems like you can buy good almonds a lot easier than growing them, unlike most fruit.

I have Halls Hardy purcased it a few weeks ago from jonhsons nursery in ellijay picked it up myself was told it is self fertile probably be a few years before it grows any almonds

Just from a genetics point-of-view, it seems like almonds could be bred with peaches to get the bloom later and shorten the ripening period. Humidity doesn't hurt peaches (if you spray fungicide), is it something that causes the kernal to sprout?

The stuff I read seemed to assume no commercial almond industry outside of California- now I'm wondering if my seeds came from a grower in South Texas. They do produce citrus down there.

Found the following descriptions at Bay Laurel Nursery in California-

BUTTE ALMOND
Price: $ 23.95
The most productive almond variety; originated from a cross of Texas Mission and Nonpareil. Well-sealed, semi-hard shell, slightly smaller than Mission. Blooms and ripens just before Mission, ripens late Sept. to early Oct. Medium-sized, vigorous, spreading tree similar to Neplus. 500 hrs. Pollenizer required; interfruitful with Mission, All-In-One, Nonpareil. Available on: Lov

MISSION ALMOND
Price: $ 23.95
Late blooming almond. Hard-shell nut with short plump kernel. Ripens late Sept./early Oct.; productive. 500 hrs. Pollenizer required; interfruitful with All-In-One, Nonpareil, Price, Carmel. Available on: Nema

Also, more reading revealed that almonds take 180-240 days to mature the kernals on the trees. That's why they don't do as well in N California, or even on the coast.

Here is a link that might be useful: Bay Laurel Nursery

Other funny facts I found- all California almonds are supposed to be pasteurized by law. So I guess those almonds the wife planted didn't come from CA. May explain why people have problems sprouting them.

And one of the worst pests of almonds in California is something that attacks navel oranges.

I would beg to differ with a few points above:
1. A lot of the almond crop is grown in Northern California, and in fact Glenn, Colusa and Butte Counties (which are more than 100 miles north of San Francisco) are major almond producers. Blue Diamond almonds have their headquarters in Sacramento.
2. While you can buy good almonds at a store, you can't buy GREAT almonds, because almonds are at their best when raw and fresh off the tree. The only place you can get these are Farmer's Markets near the almond groves, or growing your own, because by law those sold commercially have to be pastuerized (although they are still labelled "raw", which is deceptive IMO.) Truly raw almonds are sweet and full of flavor!

Here is a PDF from the CA Almond Board, which has some really cool pics of the nuts comparing all the major almond varieties.

Carla in Sac

(No, I do not work for them :)

Here is a link that might be useful: Almond facts

I was wrong about Stark Brothers having a peach with an almond in the pit. This is what they were selling-

"Stark® Sweetheart Apricot

Nuts and fruit from one tree?! You get big, delectable apricots, then a SECOND treat of delicious almond-like kernels inside the freestone pits! Fruit flesh is firm yet juicy and the "nuts" can be eaten as snacks or used as substitutes in any recipe calling for almonds."

Anyone here ever grow that?

Thanks for the link and comments, sautesmom. The part of CA north of Tehama Co is where they don't grow them, according to that Almond Board map. Bay Laurel says All-in-one may not ripen in Northern parts of CA, but Stark Bros says it grows zones 5-9 (they don't ship to CA) and doesn't mention ripening.

I see from Rand-McNally that N. California starts at San Francisco (350 miles from Oregon), though it's hard for me to think of Sacramento with its citrus and avacados as "northern." Amazing conditions you have there for growing everything!

I'd really appreciate hearing from anyone east of the Rockies with almond tree experiences. thanks.

We had a Hall's Hardy almond for 4 years. It grew well and had one flower once. This year it had a lot of dieback, so we cut it down. It weathered several winters of -20 though.

Sorry that's all I got
Jake

When I looked into it the season length needed looked like none of the almonds would work for me (besides Halls which doesn't sound worthwhile). If there was an early-ripening variety it could in theory work for me but the earliest I know of are mid-Sept in CA which will be into November for me I expect and too late.

Scott

hi. i live in tehama county, california the olive capitol of usa....and just about 2 hours north of sacramento and i have almonds growing here and in our entire county.. they do very well... almond is one of the most hardy trees we have... very hardy even against terrible wind and abuse and no water. they look like peach at first but its apparent when they split that they are the good ole non pariel easy shell to break kind of almond.....

When I was little I remember my parents buying a special type of apricots that were slightly larger than usual, and had edible sweet pits. I suspect that Stark� Sweetheart Apricot is something similar. I know for sure that apricots with edible pits exist.