Pine Nuts Are Found In The Cones From The Tree

Pine Nuts are produced from inside the cones off the tree, and provide a great addition to salads and many Mediterranean dishes. There are approximately 115 to 124 different species in this family. China produces the highest yield, and the Korean variety is the most popular in China. Different varieties are also native to Italy, Pakistan, Portugal, European and Asian countries. The United States leads in importing this type of nut. These nuts provide a good source of protein.

Close Up

This is a close up of a group of processed Pine Nuts. Also called Pinon or Pinus, the trees range in size and can grow in climate zones of one through ten in the United States. These trees adapt to many different soil conditions and a favorable soil is a sandy base. Their size ranges from a large tree reaching fifty to sixty feet tall, to shrubs reaching eight to ten feet high. The Pinon family has lush green leaves, loves full sun, and is an evergreen producing color year around.

The seeds need to germinate in temperatures of about 17 to 19 degrees C or 63 to 66 degrees F. They will germinate well if the temperature is consistent and the soil is a sand base with a small amount of moisture. Over watering can cause the seeds to rot in the ground. Once the seeds have establish their root systems, they can be transplanted. These seeds are planted in standard germination containers and once the nut shell has fallen off, go ahead and plant them in larger containers. When transplanting the small tree, be very careful not to damage the Mother or Tap root. This is true in doing any type of plant transplant from a container to container or from the ground to another area.

The trees can take up to six to seven years to produce cones. If your soil is poor of phosphorous, the tree may take up to ten years eight to ten years to produce cones. The pine nuts are found inside the cones, and are usually harvested in mid summer. The cones are known for their great aroma and used during the Christmas holiday season in wreaths and other decorations. Each cone produces a group of nuts.

Group Of Nuts

The shell makes up for about twenty to twenty five percent of the weight of the cone. This is one reason that may pine nuts are exported without the shell. If the nuts remain in the shell at a cold temperature and in the refrigerator, they will last for months. In warmer climates, the nuts will rot if left in hot temperatures.

You can plant pine trees in any style garden. These trees are great for a back drop and also creates a great natural look. This tree is a soft wood and one of the downfalls is once fully matured, the branches can get bogged down under stressful weather conditions. This tree specimen can topple over when heavy snow or ice builds up on the branches. This is a good tree to plant away from foundations or other outdoor features.

The culinary use of pine nuts have been around for centuries, but today they are used more and more in a variety of dishes. Add the nuts to many different salads. I have broiled or even Sauté them with other fresh herbs and vegetables. The nuts make a wonderful Spanish flavored coffee and very popular in the Southwestern United States. In Italy, the nuts are used in pasta dishes. These nuts also are used in cookies, candies and cakes.

This is another evergreen tree that can provide you with color year around and many varieties produce pine nuts that give culinary dishes a real special flavor. This is a great topic to share with your children or students. In the learning center you can find other topics that may help educate yourself and others on plant specimens, outdoor projects and activities. I hope this article has given you a little information of Pine Nuts and how they are produced and grown.