|
|
|
Walnuts represent one of the most ancient families of plants, dating back to the dinosaurs. Fossilized black walnuts have been found in lignite deposits in Germany. In South America, species of black walnuts have been found that are very similar to its North American cousin. Native American tribes moved the walnut farther north and west. These pockets exist today outside of the “native” range. Today only the English Walnut is cultivated to any extent. To the Romans, this was the“Jovis Glans” or Jupiter’s Acorn. It was widely traded and has found its way in many parts of Europe. Like all good nut collectors, seeds often find their way into the pockets of merchants who eventually planted them in their homeland. In North America, the Menominee tapped butternuts like maple for its syrup. It was considered a standard part of their dietary health. The husks were used to dye deerskin shirts brown. Like hickory nuts, pounding the nuts into a fine powder made a dried milk. The oil was used for the hair.
Today the value of black walnut and butternut wood and the decline of good quality trees have sparked an interest in its timber potential. Many have found themselves planting for a future generation. Not a bad idea. Weird Science: Black walnut shells are finely ground up and used as an abrasive for polishing metal. It has a very high modulus of elasticity.
Cultural Suggestions:
Walnuts prefer a sweeter soil. The addition of lime improves growth on acidic soils and can improve hardiness as well. Walnuts can grow in a variety of soils. Butternuts and heartnuts can grow in almost pure sand and produce long lateral roots. Black walnuts make their greatest growth in moist sandy loam. In the right conditions, walnuts can grow 3- 5 ft in a year. Application of high nitrogen fertilizer in the spring can improve tree health and vigor. We use fish emulsion for this effect. Nut production begins in 6-12 years from seedling. Hazels, chestnuts, plums, persimmons, pawpaw, viburnums, and pears are not affected by the juglone compound found near walnut roots. Black walnut produces the highest juglone concentration where as butternut, English walnut and their hybrids produce the lowest. |
|
|
|
Black Walnut — Juglans nigra
One of the most beneficial and useful plants for human and wildlife plantings but once bitten twice shy when it comes to residential landscapes due to the husks. The highly valued nuts were widely used and distri... |
|
More Details
|
|
|
|
Buartblack Walnut — Juglans x bixbyi x nigra
This was a rare seedling found in a bed of buartnuts that contains both buartnut and black walnut background. The seedlings produce a black walnut like nut with a mild flavor. The flavor is similar to butternut, ... |
|
More Details
|
|
|
|
Buartnut — Juglans x bixbyi
One of the more popular walnut crosses, due to its fast growth rate growing 6 ft. in two years. The nuts are like butternuts, only usually cracking easier at the suture making the nuts come out in halves. Cluster... |
|
More Details
|
|
|
|
Butternut — Juglans cinerea
The “white walnut” is known for its attractive light colored wood and delicious buttery flavored nuts. Even though the nuts yield less than 15% meat, the delicious taste may make you a believer. The Iroquois made... |
|
More Details
|
|
|
|
English Walnut — Juglans regia
English walnut is a widespread nut found from Europe throughout China and India. It originally found its way to the US in the pockets of French missionaries going to California. An industry spawned in Californi... |
|
More Details
|
|
|
|
Heartnut — Juglans sieboldiana cordiformis Ecos
Next to the English walnut, heartnut is the easiest of the walnuts to use for nut production and edibility. The flavor is very mild, similar to cashews. Clusters of nuts are produced in profusion near the ends o... |
|
More Details
|
|
|
|
Hybrid Black Walnut — Juglans x intermedia (nigra x regia) x nigra
Hybrid cross of Sparks 147 and an Iowa English Walnut. Found as a chance seedling in a bed of black walnut seedlings. Leaves can be quite large and exhibit good resistance to anthracnose. Anthracnose tends to d... |
|
More Details
|
|
|
|
Peterson Prolific Black Walnut — Juglans nigra
Every now and then you will find a young black walnut just loaded with nuts. This prolific strain of black walnut is one of the best seedlings we have found that also produces good quality seedling trees showing ... |
|
More Details
|
|
|
|
