How to Grow an Argan Tree
Tip
Soak argan seeds in water for four days before planting. Keep them in dark and change the water every day. Argan trees bear fruit after five years and can survive for 250 years.
Argan tree (Argania spinosa) seeds are the source of argan oil, which is used as a cooking oil and in the cosmetics industry. Argan oil is rich in unsaturated fatty acids and vitamin E. The tree is native to southern Morocco, where it grows in open forests up to an altitude of more than 5,000 feet. Argan trees can be grown from seed and can survive temperatures down to 19 degrees Fahrenheit.
Grow argan from seed planted in 3-inch plastic pots. Plant the seeds 2 inches deep in a damp soil mixture made up of two parts loam, one part peat moss and one part humus. Germination takes up to a month. Transplant the seedlings into 6-inch pots once they have produced a pair of leaves and before their tap root is damaged by the pot. Plant the seedlings in a mixture containing three parts soil to one part peat moss and one part humus.
Plant argan seedlings outdoors in free-draining soil and a sunny location. Take care not to damage their delicate taproot when planting. Avoid very sandy soil soil and waterlogged ground. Argan trees grow in poor soil in their native habitat, according to the University of Arizona's Campus Arboretum website, and are not fussy about soil quality.
Water your argan tree during the summer if its soil is in danger of drying out. Argan trees in nature receive up to 39 inches of rain per year. Argan trees that do not receive enough water will go into dormancy and not produce any fruit. They will tolerate irrigation with brackish water.
