How to Plant an Almond Tree: When, Where and How Far Apart
When to plant almond trees, preparing the site, planting bare-root and potted trees, spacing for gardens and orchards, growing from seed, and first-year care.
The best time to plant an almond tree is late winter while it is dormant (bare-root) or autumn to spring for container trees. Give it full sun, deep, well-drained soil and room to spread: about 5–6 m (16–20 ft) for a garden tree.
When to Plant
- Bare-root: late winter, before buds break (January–March in the Northern Hemisphere, July–August in the Southern).
- Container: autumn in mild climates, spring where winters are hard.
Planting Step by Step
- Dig a hole twice as wide as the roots and no deeper than the root system.
- Soak bare roots for a few hours; trim damaged roots.
- Set the graft union 5–10 cm (2–4 in) above soil level.
- Backfill with native soil; add compost only to the top layer.
- Water deeply and stake against wind if needed.
- Cut the whip back to about 70–90 cm (28–36 in) to encourage low scaffold branches.
- Paint the trunk with diluted white latex paint to prevent sunburn in hot climates.
Spacing
| Planting | Spacing |
|---|---|
| Garden tree | 5–6 m (16–20 ft) from other trees and buildings |
| Semi-dwarf garden tree | 3–4 m (10–13 ft) |
| Traditional orchard | 7 × 7 m (23 × 23 ft) |
| California-style orchard | about 6.7 × 5.5 m (22 × 18 ft) |
| Hedgerow (super-high-density) | about 4 × 1.4 m on dwarfing rootstock |
Growing Almonds from Seed
Use raw, unpasteurised nuts. Soak them for a day, then cold-stratify in damp sand in the fridge for 6–8 weeks and sow 3–5 cm deep. Seedlings take 4–6 years or more to fruit, may be bitter and differ from the parent, so seedlings are best used as rootstocks.
First-Year Care
- Water deeply once a week in dry weather.
- Keep a 1 m (3 ft) circle around the trunk free of weeds and grass.
- Select three or four well-spaced branches for the open-vase shape.
- Protect the trunk from rabbits and deer.
More Almond Tree Guides
- How to Grow Almond Trees: The Complete Guide
- Almond tree fertilizer
- How to water almond trees
- How to prune almond trees
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the best time to plant an almond tree?
Late winter for bare-root trees; autumn or spring for container-grown trees.
How far apart should almond trees be planted?
About 5–6 m in gardens and 6–7 m in conventional orchards; hedgerows are much closer.
Can I grow an almond tree in a pot?
Yes, a semi-dwarf variety in a large pot (at least 50–60 cm wide) can grow and crop modestly.
TarlaTapan guides focus on practical, field-tested growing advice. Corrections and suggestions are welcome at info@tarlatapan.tr.