These nuts can be squeezed - Aug 12, 2009
When I was a kid we used to go to Junee at Easter time to visit my Nanna. She lived in an old house that was so dark inside, even during the day it terrified me.
My brothers and I would borrow push bikes from my cousins and ride out of Junee towards Wagga Wagga following the railway line. At least 20 Almond trees grew wild beside the railway tracks over a 5 kilometre stretch.
These trees were never watered, fertilised, pruned or sprayed but they were still covered in delicious tasty nuts. We built a box trailer that could be towed by a bike to bring the nuts back into town.
Those childhood memories have encouraged me to plant an Almond tree in my garden. I chose a grafted variety called " All in one " because it is self pollinating and it only grows about 3 metres high.
In Spring the tree is covered in spectacular white flowers before the lovely lime green leaves appear. In Autumn the nuts begin to ripen. They are protected by a leathery sheath that can be pealed away.
This variety of Almond tree is special because the nuts can easily be opened by just squeezing them in your fingers. The nuts on other varieties have to be cracked with a hammer. The nuts are so sweet and crunchy and they will keep for months. They make great gifts and your children will love eating them too. If they can grow wild in Junee without any care you will have no trouble growing one in your backyard.
Tim Pickles is a CNP horticulturist and director of Tim's Garden Centre 2 Queen St Campbelltown 46267022.