Walnut interactions

[BayViewPlot]

Have been looking at buying a walnut tree but not sure where to plant.

My lottie is on a slope so worried that if I plant at the top the bits that inhibit other plants (I have read tomatoes and potatoes especially) will cause problems

Any ideas?

lso any ideas how big/fast these guys grow, I have read variable reports of 10 to 40m!

thanks to all!

[Poledragon]

I've got a lovely big walnut tree at the northern side of my garden, halfway up a southfacing slope. It's about 8 metres high (ish) and is a gorgeous tree. Not had many nuts off it though as the squirrels get there first! This year, I have an air rifle...

We've been in the house 4 years and it doesn't seem to have noticeably grown, so I don't think it's a tree that'll take over.

[momol]

Hi,

We got 2 walnut trees at our front and back garden and just chopped down the one at the back garden. Walnut tree can be pretty harmfull for certain type of plant due to it's juglon inhibit oxigen intake. Our grapes ( don't know it's name ) were half killed after 2 years or so, and our veggies ( brassica's family ) don't seems to be good as they are planted close to it not saying tomatoes/ potatoes & so as our black berries. If you wish to plant veggies at the same plot ( brassica family ), better think twice before planting it or at least get the white walnut tree because it said to be less toxic than the black ones.
Trees that seems to be doing ok close to walnut are: hazelnut & cherry .
Cucumber, pumpkin, beans, onions & carrot seems to be ok close/ under the walnut tree. All this are base on our experience with our walnut tree.
Good luck and happy planting !

[Pippin]

As I was going out to pick up some manure this afternoon I thought I would take a photo of a local Walnut tree (Juglans Regia) for you to observe.



As you can see they can grow very tall and wide, to keep them smaller will need some management.

My home is about 200mtrs beyond the tree and we are on the flight path of rookes and crows who love the fruits. In early autumn you can observe them flying from the tree with large walnuts in their beaks heading out over to the fields to break them open - everybody wears a hard hat when in their gardens at this time of year .

Apparently last year was the best year ever for a Walnut harvest and they grow best in Somerset - where I live .

Hope this helps.

Explanation of Latin name: The tree produces chemicals called “juglones” that can stop other plants from growing underneath them. “Regia” means royal.

[muckdiva]

As I was going out to pick up some manure this afternoon I thought I would take a photo of a local Walnut tree (Juglans Regia) for you to observe.



In early autumn you can observe them flying from the tree with large walnuts in their beaks heading out over to the fields to break them open - everybody wears a hard hat when in their gardens at this time of year .

I was constantly finding walnuts in our garden and took a while to cotton on that it was the birds dropping them (duhh). Anyway, a few of these walnuts have taken and produced small trees, one of which I grew on in a pot in the hope of having our very own source of walnuts in the garden (then discovered recently that daughter is allergic to nuts, so maybe not such a good idea).

Last year, when I tried to move the pot, I realised the tap root had gone right through the teracotta pot into the ground and the tree has now made itself permanent! Have spoken to a few people and the general opinion is "they're ****s! to get out"; so may have to risk cutting through the root as it can't stay where it is. I also have one self seeded near my veggie plot which in the light of above comments I fear may have to either come out or be moved if possible. Anyone near me want a young walnut tree? Free to whoever wants to dig it out (but not sure how easy it will be to do this....)

[BayViewPlot]

Thanks for the replies and Pippin - wow, thats a big tree!

Have been doing a bit of research and the juglones are mainly in the root, bud and shell and will harm suceptible plants if the roots come in contact with each other. The chemical is water insoluble so will stay in the immediate area rather than get washed onto other areas.

I am looking at a grafted plant of Broadview (self-fertilising) wallnut. This, I understand, is a more 'compact' tree and with the graft I am assuming the roots will not be wallnut, therefore safe. I am not sure if the graft would affect the height. I am not sure of the specific levels of juglones in broadview but the variety with the greatest is the Black Walnut, with common walnut having relatively low levels

I would have to plant it at the bottom of the slope as I have asparagus growing at the top and it is a susceptible plant (and I also believe currants).

On the whole, despite my concerns over size and juglone worries, I just love fresh wallnuts and am desperate to have a tree. I hope the neighbours don't mind. The council have just approved plans to build houses next to the area where I intend to grow!