Walnut harvest-when?

[Headfry]

Sorry nut sure where to post this- please move if needed.

When do I harvest my first ever crop of walnuts?
How do I tell if they are ready - wait until they fall?

Thanks kind grapes!

[Littlemouse]

Not sure how to tell but I do remember you can take a long stick and knock them down (well, that's what I have done in the past to get green walnuts)

[Paulottie]

...Aren't they ready just after squirrels have taken them?....October I think...Not sure either as this is the first year we've achieved a crop on our tree too...I planted it 10 years ago and it was already fairly big then.

[moby-gardener]

...Aren't they ready just after squirrels have taken them?....October I think...Not sure either as this is the first year we've achieved a crop on our tree too...I planted it 10 years ago and it was already fairly big then.

Interested to know if you have had any problems with surrounding plants. We planted our walnut tree last year and after we had done so I read that the roots are toxic and can destroy all neighbouring plants. I haven't seen any problems so far (I don't think I can blame the tree for the blight on my potatoes and tomatoes) but I would like to be forewarned of any trouble.

Mo

[janeyo]

The local tree is ready (ie they all fall off and it's a mad scramble to be first to grab them all) about now. Defo almost finished by the time the kids go back to school.

[Mi Jardín]

My neighbours tree looks no where near ready. They put out buckets at the end of their driveway so people can help themselves, but they just pick them off the ground. I think its around october time.

[geoff]

I've never harvested walnuts, but I hear the best way to do so is to knock them off with a stick, hence the old country saying

A dog, a woman, and a walnut tree
The more you beat them, the better they be

[Paulottie]

Now I was labouring under the impression that thrashing a walnut tree was more a spring rite than a harvesting technique...Couldn't comment on the season for wife beating.

[Paulottie]

Interested to know if you have had any problems with surrounding plants. We planted our walnut tree last year and after we had done so I read that the roots are toxic and can destroy all neighbouring plants. I haven't seen any problems so far (I don't think I can blame the tree for the blight on my potatoes and tomatoes) but I would like to be forewarned of any trouble.

Mo

I had a dream about this last night...strange I have only lawn under mine and that's still healthy. It is far too close to the house and a proposed extension though. My book said 'Not a tree for the smaller garden'..Guess it won't be a problem for another generation or two.

A lot of trees live in symbiosis with a particular bacteria or fungus. This can then sometimes be toxic to other plant species.

[OllieMartin]

Hull Royal Infirmary has a walnut tree in their grounds near their main entrance. Everytime I walk past into town I hop over their fence and pick up any that have fallen off.

Sadly the branches are too high for even me to reach fresh ones, and I'd look even momre of a nutter waving a big stick about. Still, if you're going to get away with looking like a nutter, I suppose outside a hospital is the best place!

[coreopsis]

If the walnuts are harvested too early,the outer skin(green shell) won't come off,it will shrink and shrivel so you'll end up with cutting the skin(which will leave you with nice yellow brown fingers for at least 2 weeks-no amount of washing up will mend it).Better wait until the start to fall off the tree and place them in dry place-the skin will break up itself revealing the nut.
How many times I was told as a child to NOT to bring them home until they're ready

[Headfry]

Thanks for all your help!
History of my little tree..........Brother collected nuts from tree in our old village (Dad used to knock nuts out of said tree, so did we!) Brother grew my little tree and now, miles away in my little (ooopps) garden I will be knocking nuts out of my small tree- the first crop we have had. My tree is about 9 years old now.
The Original tree is still in Mums village and I get to see it when we visit
It is not a monster of a tree- quite refined looking really!
Plants grow ok under my tree and the original tree has grass growing under it- which looks just as good as any grass! I have also read about toxins given of by Walnut trees, but all the trees that I know off seem to have well growing plants under them......hmmmmm????

[womble]

I've never harvested walnuts, but I hear the best way to do so is to knock them off with a stick, hence the old country saying

A dog, a woman, and a walnut tree
The more you beat them, the better they be

Walnut trees were beaten with a chain to make the grain of the wood more interesting when cut down for furniture.

I'm not commenting either on spousal beating.

Walnut leaves are supposed to hinder plant growth as well, wish I had found that out before adding a load to my leaf compost pile

I've just had a little look, apparently beating a walnut tree is good for it and can make it fruit better as well. And it might only be the Black Walnut which has the growth inhibiting bit.

[Headfry]

womble - hi,

How can I tell if its a black walnut or a ...a...a...white walnut????? what are the options on other varieties?

[womble]

I don't know, I was just pretending I knew what I was talking about after reading it somewhere
Different Types of Walnut Trees | eHow.com

Some useful info on inhibiting info
http://www.mombu.com/gardening/garde...t-2979442.html