Go Nuts with Almonds!

Grow Almonds in Your Garden

There’s nothing more satisfying than enjoying food grown in your own backyard. Almonds are no exception. While nut trees may take extra effort at harvest, the reward of homemade almond butter, milk, or flour makes it all worthwhile!

The Harvest

Almonds on the tree look quite different from what you see in the store. A relative of the peach, the almond fruit has a fuzzy green husk that protects a hard shell containing the seed—or "nut." You’ll know it’s time to harvest when at least 75% of the fruits have split open to reveal the nut inside. Start by shaking the branches to release the nuts, but be sure to wear protective gear to avoid injury from falling almonds.

Once collected, remove the husks from the nuts. You can do this manually or use a mechanical de-husker for larger harvests. After husking, dry the almonds in a warm, sunny spot for several days, ensuring they’re protected from rain and pests. Cover them with bird netting to keep critters away. Properly dried almonds will rattle in their shells and snap cleanly when broken.

Store almonds in a cool, dry place, either shelled or unshelled. Properly dried almonds can last up to 8 months at room temperature or over a year in the fridge or freezer.

Go Nuts in the Kitchen

A mature almond tree can yield up to 50 pounds of nuts per year—plenty for experimenting with homemade almond-based recipes. Here are some simple and delicious ways to use your harvest:

Blanched Almonds

Many recipes call for blanched almonds. To blanch almonds, boil them for a few seconds and then remove the skins, which will peel off easily.

Almond Flour

Almond flour is a fantastic gluten-free alternative for baking. Roast or blanch almonds before grinding them in a food processor until they resemble coarse flour. Be careful not to over-grind, or you’ll end up with almond butter.

Almond Butter

For creamy almond butter, grind roasted or raw almonds in a food processor until smooth. Add a pinch of salt or a drizzle of honey for extra flavor.

Almond Milk

Soak 1 cup of almonds in water for 12–24 hours, then blend with 2–4 cups of water until creamy. Strain through cheesecloth and enjoy. The leftover pulp can be dried and turned into almond flour.

Almond Cheese

For a dairy-free cheese alternative, soak 2 cups of blanched almonds overnight. Blend with 1 cup of water until smooth, then drain in cheesecloth for 8 hours. Use this almond "ricotta" in recipes or as a spread, flavored with herbs.

Resources

For more tips on growing and harvesting almonds, check out our Growing Guide. Explore our bird netting options to protect your harvest, and don’t forget to stock up on almond trees for planting!

Growing almonds can be a fun and rewarding experience. With a little effort, you’ll enjoy delicious, homemade treats from your backyard harvest!