Effect of planting dates and different growing media on seed germination and growth of pistachio seedlings

Background Sowing time and suitable planting media are considered basic requirements to get the maximum yield and high profit for their direct and significant impact on seedlings quality and productivity of trees later. So this experiment has been carried out in a private nursery at Gharbiya Governorate, Egypt, during the seasons of 2016 and 2017 to study the effect of seven growing media (GM): sandy soil 100%; sandy soil:peat moss:vermiculite (2:1:1) by volume; sandy soil:peat moss:vermiculite (1:2:1); loamy soil:sandy soil:vermiculite (2:1:1); loamy soil:sandy soil:vermiculite (1:2:1); loamy soil:peat moss:vermiculite (2:1:1); and loamy soil:peat moss:vermiculite (1:2:1). Ashoury pistachio seeds were planted on three different dates viz, 1 February, 20 February, and 10 March and their interaction on seed germination and growth of the resulting seedlings.