Seeds of the Najdi Talh tree (Acacia gerrardii)

Common name: Najdi Acacia tree Scientific name: Acacia gerrardii Also called: Pods Description: • The Najdi Acacia tree is considered a symbol of the desert; it withstands the harshest weather conditions, tolerates thirst and drought characteristic of the Arabian Peninsula desert, and can reach a height of up to twenty meters. Uses and benefits: • It produces Gum Arabic, used as medicine for treating physical ailments, and its flowers are used to feed bees to help produce various types of honey. Original habitat: • Its original habitat is the Arabian Peninsula desert. Fruit: • The fruits are characterized by being long, coiled, and branched but grow upward. Its thorns are large, reaching up to 6 cm, and are white in color. Flower: • Its yellow flowers gather inside a spherical cluster with a diameter of 1 cm, while the pods can reach a length of 18 cm. Suitable climatic conditions and soil for cultivation: • It tolerates the harshest climatic conditions, such as hot weather, thirst, and drought, and can withstand frost below 10°C, growing in desert sandy soil. Watering during winter days is every two days, and once during summer, either in the evening or morning, avoiding watering at midday. Method and timing of planting: • We sort and clean the seeds from damaged or rotten ones, then gather the seeds and create a small protected area, adding sand and organic fertilizer to the cultivated soil. The best time for planting seeds is in March and April, as well as October and November, which are the moderate months of the year with suitable weather for most seeds, especially wild seeds. Seeds can also be planted at any time of the year in greenhouses.