How to Grow Almond (Pollinizer Variety) Padre
Wikimedia Commons
Almond (Pollinizer Variety) Padre
Prunus dulcis 'Padre'
treePadre is a semi-dwarf almond cultivar primarily bred as a pollinizer for other almond varieties, particularly Nonpareil. It produces small to medium-sized nuts and exhibits excellent cross-pollination compatibility with major commercial almond varieties. This variety is known for reliable flowering and good pollen viability.
When should you plant Almond (Pollinizer Variety) Padre in your zone?
Get a personalized planting timeline — when to start seeds, transplant, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Free to start.
Example Almond (Pollinizer Variety) Padre timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
-
Plant Almond (Pollinizer Variety) Padre
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
-
Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
-
Harvest Almond (Pollinizer Variety) Padre
Late summer into fallBefore the first fall frost (≈ Nov 8)
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Almond (Pollinizer Variety) Padre dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 8-10, with best production in zones 8b-9b. Requires hot, dry summers and mild winters with adequate chill hours (300-400 hours below 45°F).
Sign up free to see if Almond (Pollinizer Variety) Padre grows in your zone — and get a personalized planting timeline.
Get my Almond (Pollinizer Variety) Padre timeline →Growth Stages
Establishment (Year 1-2)
2 yearsYoung tree develops root system and framework branches. Limited flowering may occur but should be removed to encourage vegetative growth.
Water regularly, stake for support in windy areas, prune to establish open vase or central leader form, apply zinc fertilizer, protect from frost if needed.
Juvenile to Productive (Year 3-4)
2 yearsTree begins flowering prolifically and sets its first significant crop. Flower buds develop on spurs along branches.
Thin fruit if excessive to prevent branch breakage and encourage larger nut size, continue zinc and boron applications, maintain consistent irrigation, prune to remove crossing branches.
Flowering (Late January-March)
2-4 weeksTree produces abundant white to pale pink flowers in clusters. Padre is primarily a pollinizer variety with high pollen quality. Flowers appear before leaf emergence.
Ensure proper pollinizer availability if Padre is being used for cross-pollination with other varieties, avoid frost damage during bloom, monitor for blossom diseases, provide bee access for pollination.
Fruit Development & Hull Split (April-August)
4-5 monthsDeveloping nuts grow within fuzzy green hulls. In mid-summer, hulls split naturally as nuts mature and dry, revealing the hard shell.
Maintain consistent irrigation but reduce frequency as harvest approaches, monitor for Navel Orange Worm and other pests, thin excessive fruit, apply potassium fertilizer, watch for hull rot in wet conditions.
Harvest & Dormancy (August-September onward)
Ongoing harvest period 2-3 weeks, dormancy 3-4 monthsNuts fully mature and dry, hulls completely split. Tree sheds leaves in fall and enters dormancy.
Harvest when nuts drop naturally or use mechanical shaker, allow nuts to dry thoroughly after harvest, apply dormancy spray if needed, reduce irrigation, prune if necessary in late winter.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
-
Monitor with pheromone traps, remove mummified nuts from tree and ground, apply spinosad or other organophosphate insecticides during vulnerable periods, maintain orchard sanitation.
-
Prune out infested twigs, apply dormant oil spray in winter, use pheromone disruption, maintain tree vigor.
-
Apply dormant oil in winter, monitor crawler stage in spring, use horticultural oils, encourage natural predators.
-
Apply horticultural oils during dormant season, use foliar insecticides in summer, monitor with yellow sticky traps, maintain tree health.
-
Spray with water to dislodge, apply miticides if populations exceed threshold, avoid over-fertilizing with nitrogen, encourage beneficial predatory mites.
Uses
Nut Production & Food
CulinaryPadre almonds are edible and used in snacking, baking, and nut products. While primarily a pollinizer variety with smaller nuts, the kernels are sweet and palatable for culinary uses. [source]
Commercial Almond Oil
CulinaryAlmond kernels are pressed to produce culinary almond oil used in cooking, salad dressings, and gourmet applications. [source]
Pollination Services
AgriculturalPadre's primary role is providing pollen to commercially important almond varieties like Nonpareil, Butte, and Carmel. Its reliable flowering and high pollen viability make it essential in commercial almond orchards. [source]
Wildlife & Pollinator Support
EnvironmentalThe abundant spring blossoms provide early nectar and pollen for honeybees and native pollinators, supporting pollinator populations during a critical period. [source]
Ornamental Value
HouseholdPadre almonds offer attractive spring blooms and pleasant summer foliage, making semi-dwarf varieties suitable for larger residential landscapes in appropriate zones. [source]
Harvest Tips
Harvest in late August to September when hulls naturally split and nuts fall from the tree. Use mechanical tree shakers to harvest efficiently. Allow nuts to dry for 7-14 days in the field (with hulls removed) before storage. Target moisture content is 5-7% for long-term storage. Padre typically yields 2-4 tons per acre at maturity, though exact yields vary by climate and management.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Padre was specifically developed and selected as a pollinizer variety for commercial almond orchards, with its pollen genotype chosen to be compatible with multiple female varieties used for nut production.
- 🌱 Almonds are actually the seeds of a drupe fruit (like peaches), not true nuts. The 'almond' is the kernel inside the hard shell that develops when the hull splits.
- 🌱 California produces about 80% of the world's almonds, and pollinizer varieties like Padre are critical to this production, with honeybees bringing in hives specifically for almond bloom pollination each spring.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
Join 30,000 gardeners planning their gardens with LizPlants.
Get your personalized Almond (Pollinizer Variety) Padre planting timeline
Tell us your zip code and we'll calculate exactly when to start Almond (Pollinizer Variety) Padre seeds, transplant seedlings, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Includes calendar reminders and printable task lists. Free to start.
Get my Almond (Pollinizer Variety) Padre timeline →