How to Grow Great Walnuts

If you have the room for them, walnut trees will provide good shade for your yard. Their branches are high, which means they will not interfere with your lawn. East of the Rockies, black walnut will do very well. But, be careful not to plant them close to dogwood trees or tomato plants. They are toxic to each of these. Here are more tips to help you grow great walnut trees in your back yard.

Two varieties that are grown on the west coast of the US are English and Persian walnuts. If you are looking for a more hardy variety, "Crath Carpathian" is hardy from Virginia up into Canada. The nuts this tree will produce have a thin shell and a mild flavor.

Most walnuts are hardy to temperature Zone 3. The hardiest variety of walnut tree is butternut. It is also called white walnut. There is a fungus in some areas that will shorten the butternut's life, so watch for any disease and catch it in the early stages. Butternuts will grow better if the soil is on the alkaline side.

A walnut tree that will grow well in moderate temperatures is heartnut. It is a Japanese variety. This variety is shorter than other walnut trees and will spread more. They usually live about 30 years.

Walnut trees can grow from 30 to 90 feet, depending on conditions and the variety you have chosen. It is much easier to grow a walnut tree from a grafted variety than from a seedling. The trees should be planted 30 to 50 feet apart. The best time to plant walnut trees is in early spring. Be sure to dig a hole deep enough to hold all of the rootball. Once your walnut trees are established, they will need little, if any, trimming.

To keep the grass and weeds from growing up close to the tree and competing for water and nutrients, use mulch around the trunk of the newly planted walnut tree. Be sure to water as the soil dries out. Young walnut trees need to be fed once in the early spring. The husks of the black walnut are poisonous, so be sure to dispose of them and any leaves in the fall months. Do not use them in compost or mulch, for the same reason. You do not need more than one walnut tree. They are self-pollinating and can produce walnuts themselves.

The nuts can be shaken from the tree, if it is still small enough to be shaken. Otherwise, collect them from the ground as they fall. If they are stored in a dry and cool place, walnuts can be stored in their shells for several months. One way to remove the extremely thick and hard shells is to drive over them with your car. The nuts can then be dried in the sun for a few days. The inner shells can be broken with a hammer or by standing on them.. The nut kernels then need to be washed to remove any stains. If you get any stains on your hands, use baking soda to remove them. The nuts then need to be dried.

The dried walnuts can be stored in airtight containers. If they are dried properly, they will keep for several weeks at room temperature. Once stored in a cool dry place, they will keep for several months. If you freeze the walnuts, they will keep for more than a year.

Walnut trees are easy to grow. And, you can save money by growing your own walnuts. Hopefully, these tips will help you grow an abundance of walnuts in your back yard for you and your family to enjoy.

SOURCE

Editors "Better Homes and Gardens" magazine. "New Garden Book". 1990. Better Homes and Gardens Books. Des Moines, Iowa.