Planting Walnut Trees Tips and Information On Growing Walnuts

Walnuts are best planted in well-drained but moisture-retentive, deep soil in full sun or light shade. They prefer an alkaline soil. Avoid planting in a frost pocket as a late frost will damage any early buds. You will find both bare-rooted and pot grown trees available to buy.

How long does it take a walnut tree to start producing walnuts?

Walnut Yields

Walnuts grown from seed may not provide any nuts until they reach sexual maturity at 10 – 13 years of age. Grafted cultivars generally start to fruit in their 5th year. Most grafted cultivars are 2 yrs old so you can expect to receive the first crops in the 3rd year after planting.

When should walnut trees be planted?

Before the walnuts will germinate, the nuts need to be exposed to cold temperatures and moist conditions. The cold-moist requirement can be met by planting the nuts in the ground in fall. Plant walnuts 1 to 2 inches deep.

Where is the best place to plant a walnut tree?

All species grow best on fertile soils of pH 5.5-7.5, and 90cm or 3 ft deep. Avoid frost pockets in valley bottoms and water-logging prone areas. They will not grow well in compacted soils, or those with a gravel layer or iron pan close to the surface.

How long does a walnut tree take to grow?

For timber is usually grown black walnut, which growers call a “legacy tree”, because it takes about 30 years to reach it's prime harvesting size of about 16 inches or so for a veneer log.

How much does a walnut tree sell for?

Black walnut logs bring premium prices, and have since the 1700s, with single trees bringing up to $20,000. Bruce Thompson, author of “Black Walnut For Profit,” estimates a mature stand of black walnut trees can bring about $100,000 per acre in timber value alone.

What is the best finish for walnut?

Lacquer is the best choice for finishing walnut. It dries fast, you only need two coats to seal and protect, and it's user friendly. You can choose airless or pressurized spray equipment to apply lacquer; it doesn't matter.

Do walnut trees need a lot of water?

These trees tend to need a lot of water during their life cycles. During dry periods, your tree should receive a thorough soaking at least once a week. ... Water your tree at the drip line (the outer perimeter of the tree's branches) where normal rainfall would occur, and keep away from the trunk.

What conditions do walnut trees like?

Cultivation

Walnuts tolerate most soils, but prefer well-drained, fertile, moisture-retentive, alkaline loam (a soil that is not very clayey or sandy)
Avoid frost pockets and exposed sites – strong winds and spring frosts can damage foliage and flowers.

Why does my walnut tree have no nuts?

Like many trees that produce nuts and fruits, walnut trees are prone to a reproductive pattern known as alternate bearing. This is characterized by alternating years of heavy crop yield followed by light or absent nut production.

What can you not plant near a walnut tree?

Avoid planting vegetables that are sensitive to juglone, such as asparagus, cabbage, eggplant, peas, peppers, potatoes, rhubarb and tomatoes.

What is the best fertilizer for walnut trees?

The primary nutrient nut trees require on a regular basis is nitrogen. Fertilizing nut trees properly requires more nitrogen than any other element. You'll also want to add potassium to the soil, as well as phosphorus. Use a fertilizer mix with double the nitrogen, like 20-10-10 for best results.

Can you eat walnuts straight from the tree?

A pitted shell encases a fibrous, leather sheath that splits as the nuts begin to ripen in the fall and indicates that walnut tree harvesting is nigh. Once you are done harvesting the walnuts, you can eat them right away, but keep in mind they won't be quite like those purchased ones at the grocers.

How long does a walnut tree take to bear fruit?

Walnuts will begin to produce fruit after about four years. To obtain a good crop, most varieties will need a pollinator of a different variety as the male and female flowers grow together on a single tree but tend to be in bloom at different times.

What is the easiest nut to grow?

4 Fast-growing Nut Trees

American Hazelnut. Corylus Americana. The American hazelnut (also known as the American filbert) is a native shrub of the eastern United States. ...
Arbor Day Farm Hazelnut. Corylus spp. ...
Carpathian English Walnut. Juglans regia 'Carpathian' ...
Hall's Hardy Almond. Prunus dulcis.

Are walnut trees self pollinating?

Every walnut tree has both male and female flower parts. Pollen is transferred by wind from male to female flower parts. All walnut varieties are self-fertile, meaning that the pollen can travel from the male parts to the female parts of the same tree and under this procedure the tree can produce nuts.

Is my walnut tree worth money?

A black walnut tree in great condition with a large diameter, roughly 20”, is worth between $700 and $800. Through a walnut tree's life, however, it can grow to be well over 30” or even 40” in diameter. The larger the diameter, the more a black walnut tree is worth.

Should I cut down my walnut tree?

Senior Something. If you are wanting to keep the bark intact as much as you can, they say it's best to cut the tree down in the winter when the sap is down. The bark holds on better.

What tree is worth the most money?

A tree's value depends on species, size and quality. The most valuable species are black walnut and white and red oak trees that have grown large enough to yield high quality veneer butt logs.

How do you sand and finish walnuts?

After sanding with very fine sandpaper (320-grit or higher) and blowing or vacuuming the sawdust, raise the grain of the walnut slightly by wiping the surface of the board with a damp cloth. Allow the wood to sit for a few minutes, then lightly sand the surface to knock down the raised grain.

Is there a difference between walnut and black walnut wood?

The short answer is the English walnut is mostly grown for food while the black walnut is grown for wood. ... It is important to understand that English walnuts come from the juglans regia tree while the black walnut is from the juglans nigra tree.

What oil do you use on walnut wood?

Suitable finishing oils for walnut furniture include tung oil and boiled linseed oil. Both harden in the wood and seal the grain from moisture while leaving a muted, attractive sheen. It takes two coats to get the best finish -- apply each with a rag, rubbing with the grain.