Tree Description
Almond tree usually grows 3-5 meters tall
Flowers are pink and beautiful
Flowers bloom early in spring
Bloom before leaves appear
Each flower becomes a fruit after pollination
Fruit grows inside a soft thin shell
When the inner fruit matures the shell becomes dry and woody
The inner seed is the almond seed
Sometimes the fruit contains two seeds
Leaves are long and pointed
Some trees produce sweet almonds
Some produce bitter almonds
Oil is extracted from both types
Sweet almonds are eaten after removing the hard shell
Also eaten fresh in spring with green husk
Bitter almonds are used only for oil
Almond oil contains hydrocyanic acid
After removal it is used to flavor extracts
Nutritional Value
Almond is rich in fats especially monounsaturated
Contains soluble fiber
Contains vitamin E
Contains vitamin B2 and B3
Recommended as a daily snack
Contains phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, calcium, iron, zinc
Recommended daily intake 4-5 almonds
Provides high energy
Cultivation Methods and Conditions
Suitable Climate
Almond tree grows in warmth and tolerates cold
Most areas of Jordan are suitable
Tolerates low and high temperatures
Subtropical tree
Tolerates drought
Can be grown in dry rainfed areas
Soil Requirements
Grows in all soil types from sandy to sandy clay
Prefers light, fertile, deep, dry soil
Can survive many years in dry soil
pH between 5.5 and 8.5
Water Requirements
Irrigation is important to maintain moisture
Avoid over-irrigation to prevent root rot
Needs water in early spring, summer, sometimes autumn
Low moisture early reduces yield
Irrigation before harvest causes problems
Most farmers stop irrigation 3-4 days before harvest
Some lightly irrigate after harvest for next year’s flowering
Propagation
Propagated by seed for grafting rootstocks
Seeds planted November to January
Rows 40-50 cm apart
Seeds 15-20 cm apart
Cold stratification improves germination
Soak seeds 4 days if hard
Plowing
In rainfed orchards plow 2-3 times per year
Use disc or toothed plow
Shallow plowing in spring after fruit set
Second plowing in autumn after first rain
Fruit Pruning
Done on mature trees
Remove dry, tangled, crowded branches
Renewal pruning every 4-5 years
Varieties
Three groups
Group 1: Hard kernel (sweet and bitter)
Group 2: Medium hardness (sweet)
Group 3: Soft kernel (sweet and bitter)
Main Varieties in Jordan
Awja
Halwani Libbyan
Halwani
Um Omar
Khachabi
And others
