Marcona Almond Variety Fact Sheet
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Fruit flesh color: White and sweet
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Skin color: Light brown to golden (hard shell)
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Size and shape: Medium size (1 to 1.3 g), rounded and slightly domed shape
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Tree size: 3 to 4 meters or 6 to 10 meters in height
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Fruit maturity: August-September (sometimes July for green almonds)
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Fruit Taste: Mild and subtle flavor, slightly sweet, without pronounced bitterness. Tender and buttery texture.
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Earliness of the variety: Early to medium earliness
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Fruiting period August to September
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Disease resistance and storage: Good general disease resistance, susceptible to monilia on flowers. Good general pest resistance. Long shelf life due to its hard shell.
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Variety yield: Very productive (10 to 14 kg of unshelled almonds per adult tree)
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Is this variety self-fertile? Self-sterile, requires a pollinator
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Commercial use: Direct consumption (fresh or grilled), pastries, confectionery (Spanish Turron, pralines, sugared almonds, nougats), food processing (butters, oils, vegetable milks)
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Is this a COV variety? No
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Comments: Highly valued for the exceptional taste of its almonds. Requires warm, well-drained soil.
Quick read / the essentials on Marcona almond tree
The Marcona Almond tree, an emblematic variety of the Mediterranean basin, is prized for the unrivaled quality of its fruits, renowned as "the queen of almonds". Native to Spain, it seduces with its round, tender and sweet almonds, ideal for high-end confectionery and the famous Turron. Amandiverse , your wholesale supplier specializing in Almond tree plants , offers you the purchase of Marcona Almond tree plants rigorously selected to guarantee a superior quality plantation.
Robust and adapted to calcareous and dry soils, the Marcona Almond tree offers early flowering from February-March, followed by a harvest between July and October. Its natural vigor, exceptional longevity and rapid fruiting make it a strategic choice for demanding arborists. With Amandiverse , a wholesale supplier specializing in Almond tree plants , you can be sure of buying Marcona Almond plants with perfect traceability and personalized support.
Agronomically, this cultivar tolerates drought well, while requiring suitable rootstocks such as GF677, Garnem or Rootpac to maximize production potential. The expertise of Amandiverse , a specialist wholesale supplier of almond plants , guides you in purchasing Marcona almond plants that meet the best cultivation requirements in France.
Origin and reputation
The Marcona almond tree is a traditional Spanish variety , native to the regions of Valencia, Alicante and Andalusia . Renowned for the exceptional quality of its fruit, it is commonly called "the queen of almonds" in Spain . It is particularly appreciated in high-end confectionery and pastries, notably for the production of the famous Spanish Turron .
Fruit characteristics
The fruits of the Marcona Almond tree are distinguished by their white, soft and sweet flesh , with a tender and buttery texture, without bitterness. Their taste quality is remarkable , which gives them a high commercial value .
They have a rounded and slightly domed shape , well formed and uniform. The size of the almonds is medium to large , with a weight generally between 1 and 1.3 g . The shell is hard , providing excellent natural protection, while the skin of the fruit is green , becoming light brown to golden when ripe.
The fruits keep very well , sometimes for several months, provided they are stored in a cool, dry place, away from direct light.
Plant characteristics
The Marcona almond tree is a vigorous tree, with an open and very branched shape , which develops a bushy and flared silhouette . At maturity, it can reach 3 to 4 meters in height , or even up to 10 meters depending on the growing conditions.
It does not require staking , even in light soil. Its lifespan is long , ranging from 50 to 80 years , or even beyond 100 years if properly maintained.
This variety is known for its rapid fruiting . Flowering occurs early , from February-March , with pink flowers. Harvesting generally takes place between July and October , depending on climatic conditions and cultivation practices. Fruit maturity is therefore early to medium precocity .
Pollination
The Marcona almond tree is self-sterile and requires the presence of compatible pollinators to ensure good fruiting . Recommended varieties for pollination include Texas , Aï , Ardéchoise and Fournat de Brézenaud . Other varieties such as Guara , Filippo , Béraude and Tournefort are also mentioned as effective pollinators . Research has also shown good results with the hybrids 'Ard x Bart 35' and 'Mar x Aï 119' .
Resistance and adaptation
The Marcona almond tree has good general disease resistance but is susceptible to monilia on flowers . It is also generally resistant to pests , although monitoring is still recommended, especially in cases of water stress .
It displays excellent drought resistance and adapts well to dry, calcareous, and slightly salty soils . On the other hand, it is particularly sensitive to root asphyxiation and does not tolerate heavy, poorly drained soils .
Recommended rootstocks
For optimal cultivation in France, several rootstocks are compatible. GF677 is suitable for calcareous and dry soils . The franc almond tree performs well in dry and calcareous soils . Garnem is distinguished by its resistance to nematodes . Cadaman offers moderate vigor and adapts well to heavy soils . Finally, the PR-R , RP-40 , Mirared , Rootpac-20 and Rootpac-40 rootstocks are suitable for various growing contexts , with dwarfing characteristics depending on needs.
Economic aspects
At full production, a mature tree can produce between 10 and 14 kg of unshelled almonds. Some Marcona hybrids have even achieved yields of 14.2 kg per tree .
Marcona almonds are mainly intended for direct consumption , for baking , confectionery , or even for food processing (pralines, oils, vegetable milks). Their sweet flavor and tender texture make them a product of choice on international markets , highly sought after for high-quality products .
To summarize: Marcona almond tree
Choosing the Marcona Almond tree means choosing a safe bet, recognized for its taste qualities and high commercial yield. Thanks to its sweet and buttery almond, this variety stands out in premium markets, particularly for luxury pastries and confectionery. With Amandiverse , your specialist wholesale supplier of Almond plants , you can buy certified Marcona Almond plants that are perfectly adapted to French conditions.
The hardiness of the Marcona Almond tree in the face of drought and calcareous soils makes it a major asset for modern orchards, provided you choose the right pollinators and rootstocks. Whether you are in the Mediterranean region or on dry and well-drained land, Amandiverse , a specialist wholesale supplier of Almond tree plants , will help you buy Marcona Almond trees and make your tree project a success.
Investing in the Marcona Almond tree with Amandiverse , a specialist wholesale supplier of almond plants , is the guarantee of a successful and profitable plantation. Don't wait any longer to buy top-quality Marcona Almond plants , selected for their vigor, productivity and internationally recognized taste excellence.
