How to Plant Almonds

Germinating the Nuts

• 1

  Choose whole, unshelled almonds from a local health food or grocery store.

• 2

  Remove at least three to four seeds from almond shells by cracking the shells with a nut cracker. The almond seeds have a low chance of germinating and growing, making multiple seeds necessary.

• 3

  Soak the seeds in a bowl of water for up to 24 hours, but no less than eight hours. Cover the bowl with plastic cling wrap and allow the seeds to soak.

• 4

  Bury the almond seeds, seam side up in, a pot that contains a mixture of one part vermiculite, one part peat moss and one part soil. This will provide an aerated mixture for the almond seed to thrive. Bury all of the seeds in separate pots to have a better chance of one sprouting.

• 5

  Allow the almond seeds to sprout inside their pots. Provide the almond seeds with full sunlight and keep the soil mixture moist, not completely saturated. Wait until the almond seeds have sprouted and bear at least two to three leaves before transplanting. Not all of the seeds may sprout, so discard any seeds that do not sprout when the successful ones break through the soil and bear leaves.

Planting the Almond Sprout

• 6

  Plant the almond tree in a spot that receives full sun and is composed of earth that is sandy and slightly alkaline. If no such spot exists, remove the soil from an area that receives full sun and replace it with a sandy, slightly alkaline mixture from a local nursery or home improvement store. Plant the seedling in late winter or early spring to ensure that the roots have ample time to grow before energy is needed for budding.

• 7

  Dig a hole in the soil that is slightly larger and deeper than the root system. Check the dirt at the bottom of the hole and if it feels dry, give it a healthy drink of water. Do not plant the tree's root bud any lower than the soil level to prevent potential problems later.

• 8

  Fill in the area around the root ball by replacing the previous removed soil with your hands. Pack the dirt around the root ball to ensure that the soil and the roots are in contact. Use a small shovel to replace the remaining soil.

• 9

  Stake the tree to prevent the fragile sapling from bending or breaking in the wind.

• 10

  Provide the almond seedling with a healthy drink of water. Over the subsequent weeks and months, monitor the soil around the seedling and, when it feels dry, give it enough water to create a 2- to 3-inch layer of moisture in the soil.