Almond vs. Apricot Kernel: Differences, Benefits, Effects, and Cultivation Methods Explained in Detail

Almonds in China are mostly grown in Xinjiang, because they need long periods of high temperatures to grow. The differences between almonds and apricot kernels are not well understood by many people. Almonds are the kernel of the almond tree (Prunus dulcis), while apricot kernels are the kernel of the apricot (Prunus armeniaca), and botanically speaking, the almond tree and the apricot are two different plants. The national recommended standard calls them “almond kernels.” Do you know about the benefits and effects of almonds? What are the cultivation models? Let me explain them for you.

I. The differences between almonds and apricot kernels

The almond is also known as the sweet almond, and is commonly called thin-shelled apricot kernel. It is the dried fruit most treasured by the Uyghur people of Xinjiang. According to plant taxonomy, the almond is not an apricot but a plant of the subgenus Amygdalus in the genus Prunus. The fruit is flat and round, and the flesh is dry and juiceless and inedible; mainly the kernel of the almond is eaten. The kernel flavor surpasses that of walnuts and apricot kernels, with a special sweet fragrance.

For pregnant women, almonds can not only nourish the body but also have a brain-boosting effect, and are very beneficial to fetal development.

Apricot kernels are different from almonds. Apricot kernels are also known as apricot pits, and are divided into two types: sweet apricot kernels and bitter apricot kernels. Apricot kernels produced in southern China belong to the sweet apricot kernel type (also called southern apricot kernel); they taste slightly sweet and delicate, and are mostly used for consumption, and can also be added as an ingredient to cakes, cookies and dishes. Apricot kernels produced in the north belong to the bitter apricot kernel type (also called northern apricot kernel); they have a bitter taste and are mostly used medicinally, with the effects of moistening the lungs and relieving asthma.

For pregnant women, apricots and apricot kernels are forbidden, as they have heating properties and miscarriage-inducing characteristics, and are a major taboo for pregnant women.

II. The benefits and effects of almonds

1. Protecting the skin

Scientific research shows that almonds are one of the most vitamin E-rich whole foods, a healthy food rich in vitamin E and flavonoid antioxidants. A handful of almonds (28 grams or 23 kernels) can provide vitamin E equivalent to half of the human body's daily requirement, and vitamin E can effectively fight free radicals, playing a role in moisturizing and protecting the skin and slowing aging.

2. Beneficial to heart health

Almonds contain a very high content of unsaturated fatty acids that help lower “bad” cholesterol levels. Eating almonds can effectively reduce the body's cholesterol and triglyceride levels, reducing the potential threat of heart attacks.

3. Helping intestinal health

Related research results show that almonds have prebiotic properties, and can improve intestinal health and promote bowel movements by increasing beneficial bacteria in the intestines.

4. Controlling body weight

First, eating almonds gives a clear feeling of fullness, thereby helping to control the intake of other high-calorie foods; second, the dietary fiber contained in almonds lowers the fat absorption rate, thereby effectively controlling body weight.

5. Calming the nerves and benefiting the kidneys

Almonds can calm the nerves, open the orifices, boost the brain, improve eyesight and benefit the kidneys, moisten the lungs, lubricate the intestines, produce essence, strengthen the body, and strengthen the stomach. They mainly treat palpitations, asthma and cough, insufficient kidney qi, soreness and weakness of the waist and knees, impotence and frequent urination, and other conditions. Besides the similarities with Han Chinese medicinal use, the Uyghur medicine sweet almond has its own unique effects.

III. Almond cultivation models

Almond cultivation mainly includes orchard-style and intercropping-style. If planted too densely, growth is poor and fruiting is scarce. According to local conditions, methods such as 3×5 (m), 4×4 (m), 4×5 (m) or 4×6 (m) can be chosen, that is, planting 27 to 44 trees per 667 sq m. In arid areas, plant somewhat more densely; in fertile irrigated areas, plant more sparsely. For the intercropping style, the plant spacing is generally 3 to 4 m, and the row spacing varies from 12.5 to 50 m.

1. Pollinator arrangement

Almonds are self-unfruitful, so every 2 to 3 rows of the main cultivar can be interplanted with 1 to 2 rows of pollinator cultivars.

2. Training and pruning

For almonds, the trunk is headed in the year of planting, and training begins after the second year. A delayed-open central leader form or a natural open-center form can be used, with a trunk height of 50 to 70 cm. In the delayed-open central leader form, 5 to 7 main branches are kept, divided into 2 to 3 tiers. In the open-center form, 3 to 4 main branches are kept, alternately arranged on the trunk every 10 to 20 cm or so, with an azimuth angle between main branches of 90 to 120 degrees. Besides the main branches on the trunk, other branches can be pinched and retained as long as they are not too dense, to promote thickening growth of the trunk. The pruning amount for almonds is relatively light, and winter pruning combined with summer pruning is best. The pruning method is similar to that of apricots: young trees are mainly lightly pruned and left to spread, and fruiting branch groups are appropriately shortened and cut back. The extension branches of the skeletal branches at all levels are shortened to the required length, and water sprouts, dead branches, diseased and pest-infested branches and overly dense branches are thinned out. For trees in full fruiting stage, pruning is mainly thinning, with appropriate heading back, taking care to retain more medium and short fruiting branches, and strengthening the cultivation and renewal of fruiting branch groups.

3. Fertilizer and water management

Almonds are a drought-resistant, barren-tolerant tree species with strong adaptability to soil. Almond orchards need one autumn plowing each year. During the growing season, timely intertillage and loosening of the soil should be carried out to keep the soil loose, breathable and weed-free. Generally no irrigation is needed, but timely irrigation should be given during excessive drought. During the rainy season, attention should be paid to drainage to prevent soil waterlogging from causing root rot. Irrigating with anti-freezing water before overwintering has a good effect. Almond trees should be given base fertilizer once each autumn, preferably from fruit harvest to before the soil freezes. Young trees are given 2 to 4 t per 667 sq m of farmyard manure or 40 to 100 kg per 667 sq m of compound fertilizer; for fruiting trees, the autumn base fertilizer should be increased as appropriate. Almond trees should be top-dressed 2 to 4 times during the growing season. Each adult tree needs 1 kg of nitrogen, 0.4 kg of phosphorus and 0.4 kg of potassium per year. In addition, attention should be paid to supplementing compound fertilizers containing elements such as zinc, boron and calcium.

4. Fruit-drop technology

Almonds cultivated in the southern Xinjiang region bloom heavily every year, but set relatively little fruit and have low yields. The reasons are as follows:

1. Cultivation methods are extensive, mostly planted on canal banks and field ridges, resulting in a lack of tree nutrition, which directly affects the process of flower bud differentiation, thus forming a large number of incomplete flowers.

2. Improper selection and arrangement of pollination combinations, and unreasonable field arrangement. Most almond cultivars are self-unfruitful and must be provided with pollinator cultivars, and the combining ability among different cultivars is also inconsistent, making the pollination fruit-set rate vary greatly; improper selection will result in a low fruit-set rate.

3. Neglect of training and pruning, resulting in upright tree form, closed canopy, poor ventilation and light penetration, and a serious imbalance between tree growth and fruiting.

4. Harsh climatic conditions during the flowering period, mainly late spring frosts, strong winds and dusty weather. Almonds bloom relatively early, with the flowering period concentrated from late March to early April, when late frosts, strong winds and dusty weather occur frequently. Low temperatures easily cause freezing damage to flower buds and during the flowering period, and persistent dusty weather greatly reduces the pollen dispersal rate, seriously affecting pollination and fertilization.

5. Yield-increasing measures

1. Change the traditional canal-bank cultivation method, fully promote orchard-style cultivation, and improve the level of management.

2. Scientifically select and arrange pollination combinations. It is best to arrange two groups in one almond orchard, planted alternately and pollinating each other, to improve the pollination fruit-set rate.

3. Strengthen tree management, carry out reasonable training and pruning, pay attention to bending branches to open the crotch angle, open up the canopy, and improve light conditions.

4. Supplementary pollination during the flowering period should preferably be carried out during full bloom. In production, artificial point pollination, shaking pollination, hanging flowering branches, and placing bees in the orchard are commonly used for supplementary pollination, to increase the fruit-set rate.

5. Spraying plant growth regulators: spraying 0.1% boric acid on the leaves during the flowering period, gibberellin at a concentration of 50 mg to 100 mg per kg, gibberellin at a concentration of 50 mg to 100 mg per kg, 2,4-D at a concentration of 50 mg per kg and other plant growth regulators can effectively increase the fruit-set rate.

6. Take measures such as delaying winter irrigation, thorough irrigation in early spring, smoking in the orchard, and whitewashing tree trunks to prevent late frost damage. Spraying urea or amino acids on the tree body before late frost can improve the tree's cold resistance and can also play a certain protective role.