The plant is drought resistant and to some extent also salt-resistant. A seeded plantation of jojoba has genetic heterogeneity, and low average yields. Direct selection based on identifying potentially promising genotypes and their testing after vegetative propagation has enabled improvement of the crop performance. Vegetative propagation enables the establishment of plantations with the desired proportion of male to female plants of preselected superior clones. Rooting occurs within three to five weeks.
Plants are ready for transplantation to the field after three to six months.
In vitro propagation is possible, and rooted plantlets may be produced. Hardening and transfer to the greenhouse is yet not very successful. Preparation of the land includes ploughing to a minimum of 50 cm in both directions. Every 16th row may be seeded with seeds from the particular clones being planted in order to supply males for pollination. Irrigation is applied about three weeks before planting to germinate weeds, which are then treated with contact herbicides.