Almond Seeds, Dwarf
(Prunus tenella) Deciduous. Zones 2 - 7.
Dwarf Almond is a small flowering shrub that puts on a lavish early Spring show of abundant pink, rosy blooms! It stands out along the sunny edge of a woodland garden or in dappled shade.
It makes a beautiful hedge, windbreak, or spreading ground cover where foraging wildlife and birds love to hide and feast! Especially when planted alongside streams and riverbanks. It is happy in most soils and extremely cold hardy to -25.
The nut of the Dwarf Almond is small and oval with a hard, hairy shell. The seed inside is edible when cooked . Can be bitter but birds and wildlife go crazy for them! Some Prunus species have been used for cancer research and as an astringent for coughs and colds. You can also extract a green dye from the leaves.
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Cold Hardiness: Zones 2 - 7
Size: Small Tree / Shrub
Growth Rate: Medium - Slow
Growth Habit: Upright, suckering.
Nitrogen Fixer: No
Native Plant: No
Sun Requirements: Full Sun. Tolerates some shade but it will affect fruit production.
Soil Preference: Prefers loamy soils. Performs satisfactorily in heavy clay.
Water Requirements: Water regularly until established. Fair drought resistance once established.
Uses: Windbreak, wildlife refuge, and suitable spreading ground cover. Only when cooked. Cooking deactivates high levels of cyanide.
Germination: 60 - 80%
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GROWING INSTRUCTIONS
- Notching seed coat ( aka endocarp ) before soaking will help to increase germination.
- Soak seeds 24 hrs, followed by 60 days warm moist stratification, followed by 120 days cold moist stratification. For more information on stratification, check out our article "How To Start Your Tree Seeds".
-Following after the completed cold strat, sow individual seeds in 3" by 5" deep container. Sow seed 1" deep. Place moistened mulch to cover the soil, 4 inches of mulch is ideal to retain moisture. Lightly tamp. Check moisture level regularly. Brush away mulch on occasion to check progress of germination.
*Indoor special consideration post cold-strat: Expose sowed seeds to diurnally alternate temperatures and light exposure. (Day) 27-30c degrees + 14 hours light. (Night) 18-20c degrees + no light. Repeat until sprouts emerge.
*If you are doing the cold period in your fridge, please check on your seeds. 120 is an estimate & they may sprout as early as 90 days! If the seed sprouts ( aka radicle elongation ) starts when it is too early to sow, the temp should be reduced to near-freezing.
- Plant stratified seeds as early in the spring as possible in pots or a nursery bed using a sand-peat medium mixture. Recommend covering nursery bed with 4 inches of mulch. Heat mats are NOT required & can hinder germination! Secondary dormancy can be involuntarily induced in the stratified seeds if the soil temperature is too high.
- Protect young tree seedlings from slugs, cutworms & rodents. Slugs especially can eat primary leaves as soon as they come up, so be vigilant!
-Dwarf almond seedlings reach suitable planting outside size in 1 to 2 years. Keep seedlings growing in a well-vented greenhouse or cold frame.
*Excited about growing Flowering Trees from seed? Learn more HERE.*
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Available direct from Incredible Seeds, a Canadian Heirloom and Heritage Seed Company, offering only the best natural, non-GMO, open pollinated and untreated seeds, located in Mi'kma'ki / Nova Scotia.
