almond scionwood (prunus dulcis)

almonds are generally associated with mediterranean climates and california orchards, but a handful of unusual selections make almond growing possible much farther north. our collection focuses on genetics that have demonstrated real promise in cold and cool climates.

reliable — an unusual peach-almond hybrid (prunus dulcis × persica) selected for cold hardiness and dependable cropping in cool climates. ‘reliable’ was notably successful in trials at washington state’s mount vernon research station and is self-fertile, producing showy pink flowers followed by hard-shelled, strongly flavored almonds. the peach ancestry contributes vigor and hardiness while retaining an edible almond kernel.

javid’s iranian — one of the most exciting cold-climate nut selections we’ve encountered. unlike peach-almond hybrids, javid is a true almond brought to north america from the mountains of northern iran. growers have successfully fruited it at multiple zone-5 sites, and trials extend into still colder climates. it is reported to combine self-fertility, relatively late flowering, good disease resistance in humid eastern conditions, and exceptionally flavorful sweet kernels with a pronounced amaretto-like character.

growing almonds in the north

winter survival is only part of the challenge with almonds. because almonds naturally flower very early, spring frost can destroy a crop even when the tree itself is perfectly hardy. site selection matters: good air drainage, full sun, well-drained soil, and locations that do not force excessively early spring growth can improve the odds of regular production.

for northern growers, we consider almonds experimental fruit-and-nut growing in the best sense. some years and sites will be better than others, but these genetics push a traditionally warm-climate crop surprisingly far north.

grafting almond scionwood

our almonds are sold as dormant scionwood for grafting rather than rooted trees. almonds are closely related to peaches, and compatible vigorous peach seedlings make a particularly accessible rootstock for growers who want to produce their own trees.

we are especially interested in this approach: grow hardy peach seedlings locally, graft proven almond genetics onto them, and produce vigorous full-sized trees rather than depending entirely on specialized clonal rootstocks.

scionwood should be kept dormant, cool and moist until grafting. it is propagation material rather than a finished plant, and successful grafting is ultimately the responsibility of the grower.

cold-hardy almonds remain uncommon in northeastern orchards. we’d like to change that.