Growing Manchurian Walnut

Many gardeners in the northern regions dream of growing walnuts. But, even if it is possible to grow a tree to a more or less adult state, it is almost impossible to get ripe fruits from it. A good alternative to it is the Manchurian walnut, which feels good in the north of the middle lane, right up to the Arkhangelsk region, and in the Urals, and in Siberia. The following are a variety of photos and descriptions of the Manchurian walnut, along with detailed information about the culture requirements and how to care for it.

Description of the Manchurian walnut

This tree has several more names – dumbey nut, Ussuri hazel. For the inhabitants of the Primorsky Territory, this giant is not at all a curiosity. Since its homeland is the Far East, China and the Korean Peninsula. In the wild, it grows in river valleys, on humus-rich, breathable soils, in broad-leaved forests and in mountainous regions up to a height of 500-600 m.

Hence its basic requirements for growth conditions. Trees demonstrate high demands on soil fertility. On too heavy, clay and cold soils, it develops slowly, dry tops appear prematurely, the tree may even die. It can tolerate a temporary lack of moisture, because it has a deep root system. And flooding takes out only in a short-term mode.

Of all the walnut trees known in nature, this variety is the most frost-resistant. It can endure winter frosts down to -46 °C, and according to some reports even down to -52 °C.

True, trees of this species suffer more not so much from winter frosts as from late spring frosts. Its youngest shoots and leaves cannot stand even a short-term drop in temperature to -3-4 ° C, they can turn black and crumble. Together with them, flowers also suffer, as a result of which fruiting in the current season may be either too weak, or it may not be expected at all. Of course, the growth of new young shoots resumes from spare buds, but the overall development of the tree is delayed, and the shoots may not have time to mature until the next winter.

This nut is light-loving, but can tolerate partial shade. And in the first few years of life, it even needs some shading. But if you give him a lot of light, this will lead to the expansion of his crown, the acceleration of the onset of fruiting, and an increase in productivity.

Trees are relatively smoke and gas resistant. Therefore, they are perfect for landscaping large cities. But even in the country, if you give him enough free space, the Manchurian walnut will feel great, creating shade and comfort and protecting it from blood-sucking insects.

Under natural conditions, trees can reach 28-29 m in height. The width of the trunk is on average 60-70 cm, but sometimes reaches 100 cm in diameter.

The trunk is usually straight and even, covered with dark gray bark with deep grooves. Young shoots are yellowish-brown, pubescent. The wood has a very beautiful, hard texture. It can be used to make furniture and a variety of art products.

Crown of Manchurian walnut

Walnut trees are distinguished by a decorative crown, which can be sprawling or wide-round, openwork or rather dense. This is one of the most picturesque trees in the Far Eastern taiga, resembling even some varieties of palm trees with its external appearance. Under natural conditions, it often forms several trunks. In culture, it can be made a single-stemmed plant. The crown diameter can reach 10 m.

However, in the northern regions, it grows even in the form of a shrub, which does not at all prevent harvesting nuts from it.

Manchurian walnut leaves

Of course, such a decorative appearance of the crown is determined, first of all, by the shape and size of the leaves. They are larger than walnut leaves. They can reach 100-125 cm in length, and up to 40 cm in width. The leaves are pinnate. Each leaf consists of 15-19 leaflets.

The leaves of the Manchurian walnut have a rich set of essential oils, phytoncides, alkaloids and other useful substances. Therefore, when they are rubbed, a strong characteristic smell appears. Phytoncides that secrete leaves drive away mosquitoes and other insects, so pests practically do not disturb the plant. And it itself serves as a reliable protector from blood-sucking insects when decorating a recreation area on a personal plot.

In addition, the leaves change their color during the growing season, which makes the trees even more attractive. In spring, the leaves are grayish-green, due to pubescence, in summer they become bright green, and in autumn they acquire a yellow-golden hue.

Manchurian walnut roots

The root system of such huge trees as the Manchurian walnut is very powerful and deep. Due to this, the trees are resistant to strong hurricane winds and can even survive a short-term drought. They form a deep taproot, and shallow lateral roots can also be helped to form. To do this, after the first year of life, the root is cut at a depth of approximately 40 cm.

How the Manchurian walnut blooms

Being a monoecious plant, the Manchurian walnut forms separate male and female flowers. Male flowers look very picturesque, hanging in the form of long catkins, which are formed at the same time as the buds open. Female flowers are presented in the form of small few-flowered brushes that form at the very tips of the shoots.

Pollination occurs mainly due to the wind. Flowering time is around April-May. The timing of the blooming of male and female flowers does not always coincide on the same tree, which can complicate self-pollination. Therefore, in order to guarantee yields, it is recommended to plant several trees of this variety.

Manchurian walnut fruit

The fruits of the Manchurian walnut are slightly reminiscent of walnuts, but differ in size, shape and, most importantly, in their internal content, which can be clearly seen in the photo of the tree:

On the branches they are fixed in the form of clusters of 3-8 pieces. Their ripening falls on the period of yellowing of the foliage, which, depending on the weather conditions of the region, can happen at the end of August, and throughout September.

The fruits are oval and even slightly oblong in shape. They are covered with a pericarp, which at first is a thick green peel. As the nuts ripen, the pericarp begins to turn brown, and then become covered with dark spots. This means that the fruits inside are ripe. The maturation process is usually uneven and can last for a month. Ripe nuts fall down from the tree and the pericarp fully opens.

The fruits themselves have a very strong and strong shell, compared to walnuts. Fruit sizes are about 3 cm wide and up to 6 cm long.

Nut kernels inside are not only edible, but also have a delicious taste. They contain about 55% valuable edible oil. True, the mass of nucleoli in relation to the mass of the whole fruit is only about 20%. In addition, they are quite difficult to extract from nuts.

But the good quality of the fruit reaches 98%. This means that the percentage of quality (unspoiled) kernels in the nuts is very high.

Nut shells are a valuable material for making decorative ornaments, caskets and other items of folk art. It is also used as a dye to create various dark color shades.

How fast does the Manchurian walnut grow?

This nut is able to develop and grow very quickly. Annual seedlings have a height of about 25-30 cm. Already in the second year, depending on the growth conditions, they can reach a height of 50-80 cm. At three years, the height of some seedlings can exceed 100 cm. And at 5 years, reach 2 m. In the period from 5 to 20 years, the growth rate may be the greatest. So, the annual growth during this period can be from 50 cm to 1 m.

Under natural conditions, 10-year-old trees can reach a height of 4-5 m, and their trunk diameter is 5-6 cm. The growth of the tree continues most intensively until 80-90 years, and then slows down significantly. At the same time, trees easily live up to 200, and sometimes up to 300 years. But after they turn 100 years old, the main growth stops, and new shoots grow only to replace the damaged ones.

What year does the Manchurian walnut bear fruit?

The timing of entry into fruiting depends on the growing conditions and on the care carried out for the tree. Under good conditions, the first fruits may appear at 5-7 years of age. But decent yields from a tree can be expected only for 12-14 years of life.

How to sprout a Manchurian nut at home

The seed method of reproduction is the main one in this nut. Since the cuttings root very poorly and require the use of stimulants and a special professional approach. Some valuable varieties can be propagated by grafting to keep the variety pure. Indeed, with seed propagation, it is not always possible to guarantee the complete preservation of the qualities of the mother plant.

Seed germination in soil sowing is about 70%. And if you germinate nuts at home, then their germination can be increased to 85-90%. But for this it is necessary to carry out preliminary stratification, and the planting of the Manchurian walnut will be carried out in the spring. For successful germination, it is best to take one- or two-year-old fruits. Starting from the age of three, the germination of nuts begins to decline rapidly.

The following are step-by-step steps for sprouting nuts at home.

1. Immediately after collection, the nuts are stored in a cellar or in another cool place until stratification begins.
2. Stratification can last from 2 to 6 months. Therefore, already in November or December, the fruits are removed from the storage place and placed in a container filled with wet river sand.
3. Nuts must be completely covered with sand.
4. The container is placed in a plastic bag with several holes and placed for two months in a place with a temperature of about + 3-5 ° C.
   Important! Once a week, the fruit container should be checked for moisture and mold.
5. After a few months, some nuts may begin to sprout on their own.

   

6. In any case, about a month before the intended landing in the ground, the fruits are removed from the sand and washed in warm water.
7. Then the nuts are placed in a deep container filled with warm water for about 10 days. The water in the tank must be changed every day.
8. At the last stage, the fruits are placed in a box with sterile light soil at a depth of about 7-8 cm.
9. The box is left at room temperature.
10. Within a month, the nuts should germinate to some extent. For some, the shell may simply disperse, while for others, the root and seedling may even form.

Now the fruits are ready for planting in the ground. If it is still cold outside, then they can be temporarily planted one at a time in large pots. But it should be borne in mind that the development of seedlings can occur too quickly, and the root can be easily damaged during transplantation.

There is another way of the so-called accelerated stratification of nuts. To do this, in March, the fruits are poured with hot water (with a temperature of about + 50-70 ° C) for a day. Then the fruits are buried in wet sand and left in normal room conditions. A month later, the nuts begin to sprout and they can be transplanted into open ground, best of all in a permanent place.

How to plant a Manchurian walnut

A planting site for good growth and development of trees should be chosen taking into account the following factors:

1. At the landing site itself and nearby, within a radius of 10 m, there should be no permanent buildings and tall trees in order to avoid problems with the root system in the future.
2. It is known that the secretions of the leaves of the Manchurian walnut have a depressing effect on the growth and development of some plants, in particular, grapes and shadberry. Therefore, walnut plantings should not be placed near these plants.
3. The place should not be flooded in the spring, and the groundwater level should not be too high.
4. The reaction of the soil for planting seeds can be anything from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline. It is only desirable to provide good drainage and a certain supply of nutrients. Usually, for these purposes, the addition of wood ash is used.
5. To ensure good drainage, the bottom of the planting hole is laid with a mixture of stones or broken bricks and sand to about 1/3 of the depth of the dug hole.

If there are any ambiguities in the description of the planting of the Manchurian walnut, then the photo or attached video will help illustrate the intricacies of the process.

The depth of planting seeds is 8-10 cm. Usually 2-3 nuts are placed in one hole, and then only the strongest sprout is left. In this case, the distance between the holes is left about 10-12 m.

You can do it differently. Sow the seeds in the so-called shkolka, from where they will be transplanted in the fall to a permanent place of growth. In a school on one square. m can accommodate no more than 10 fruits.

You should know that Manchurian walnut seedlings in the first year of life, first of all, grow a taproot, the length of which can reach 50-70 cm by autumn. And the aerial part develops at a much slower pace. For this reason, transplantation is desirable to carry out as soon as possible. Already in the second year of life, there is a chance of causing significant damage to the root system when transplanting a seedling to a permanent place.

If you treat the fruits before planting with kerosene or other means of protection that are unattractive to mice, then the best option would be to plant them in the ground in the fall, almost immediately after harvest. In this case, there is no need for stratification, since it takes place naturally. Nuts germinate much faster than during spring planting, seedlings are more powerful and viable, and by autumn the wood on the shoots has time to ripen well and thereby prepare for harsh winter conditions.

The fruits are usually planted shortly before the establishment of a permanent snow cover. And they make sure that in winter the landing site is constantly covered with a large layer of snow.

How to grow a Manchurian walnut

Growing this variety of walnut is not as difficult as it might seem, especially if you follow all its basic care requirements.

How to water and feed

Manchurian walnut is quite picky about the amount of moisture present in the roots. It does not tolerate long-term stagnation of moisture (more than 5-7 days), and its lack. Young seedlings are especially sensitive to a lack of moisture, in which the root system is not yet sufficiently developed. In the first two years of life, young plants require regular watering, at least once a week, especially if the weather is dry. From the third year of life, it is enough to water the trees once a month. In severe drought, young seedlings can be additionally watered with a hose or sprayer to keep the leaves and young shoots fresh.

Top dressing is necessary for young trees, starting from the second year of life. It is best to apply it in May-June, during the period of the most intensive growth and formation of trees. Potassium-phosphorus fertilizers are used as top dressing. Most often it is wood ash with superphosphate. If necessary, top dressing can be repeated at the end of July, beginning of August, but not later, so as not to cause excessive growth processes during this period.

A useful procedure for growing all types of nuts is the annual digging of trees in a strip that runs approximately along the circumference of the crown. This is usually done in the spring after the ground has completely thawed. This procedure contributes to the saturation of the upper layers of the earth with oxygen. You can lightly cover the dug trench with humus, which will serve as additional feeding for the tree.

How to prune a Manchurian walnut

If the Manchurian walnut has enough free space for normal growth, then it practically does not need pruning and crown formation. He naturally forms an attractive wide crown without any special tricks. Therefore, pruning must be carried out exclusively for sanitary purposes, while removing dried or broken branches.

Moreover, this procedure is carried out mainly in late spring, so that at the time of the greatest sap flow, the trees do not cause too much trouble.

How to form a Manchurian nut

The formation of a tree, as mentioned above, is not required if the plant is provided with optimal conditions for growth and development. If, for some reason, the gardener wants to form a bush from a tree or reduce the overall height of the plant, then it is necessary to cut the central trunk in half in the second year. In this case, the tree will grow in the form of a multi-stemmed composition.

How to Prepare a Manchurian Walnut for Winter

Young seedlings should preferably be additionally insulated before winter. To do this, the trunk and the main skeletal branches are wrapped with non-woven insulating material or simply burlap. To protect the Manchurian walnut tree from damage by rodents, it is additionally wrapped with a net, which is also dug into the ground around. After heavy snowfalls, the snow surface around tree trunks is additionally trampled down to prevent rodents from breaking through passages in the root zone of trees.

This variety of nuts is particularly resistant to sunburn, which is especially dangerous in the spring. Therefore, both in autumn and spring, the trunk and the main skeletal branches must be coated with a mixture of lime and clay mortars with the addition of an adhesive.

Features of cultivation in different regions

Due to its special frost resistance and relative unpretentiousness, the Manchurian walnut can be grown in various regions of Our Country, where it may well replace the more heat-loving and unstable varieties of nuts.

Growing Manchurian walnut in Siberia

Oddly enough, the harsh Siberian conditions are quite suitable for the successful cultivation of this variety of walnut. After all, trees endure especially low winter temperatures relatively easily. Both spring and summer in Siberia come later than in the middle zone. But on the other hand, the trees also wake up later and do not have time to fall under spring frosts, which can greatly delay the development of nuts in the middle lane.

Of course, the sowing of seeds in Siberian conditions shifts to May and approximately coincides with the period when potatoes are usually planted. Yes, and in the fall, it is advisable to wrap young seedlings harder, especially in the first years of life. Otherwise, planting and caring for the Manchurian walnut in Siberia is fundamentally no different from other regions.

Growing Manchurian walnut in the Urals

When growing Manchurian walnut in the Urals, all standard requirements for caring for this crop should be observed.

Of the features, one can only notice that it is desirable to plant and transplant seedlings in the spring, so that the trees have more opportunities to take root in a new place and grow stronger.

The second feature of care concerns the trimming procedure. In the conditions of the Urals, both early (in April, May and even in the first half of June) and late (July-August) pruning can cause damage to trunks and branches, which will be more susceptible to freezing in these places in winter. Therefore, tree pruning can be carried out in the Urals only in the second half of June or early July.

Growing Manchurian walnut in the Moscow region

In the Moscow region, special attention should be paid to the nutrition and health of the tree, since its vitality and ability to overcome adverse weather conditions (late spring frosts) most of all depend on this. Both planting and caring for the Manchurian walnut in the Moscow region should be carried out very carefully, in compliance with all agricultural practices (watering, fertilizing, mulching, digging, loosening).

For top dressing, you can use complex fertilizers in early summer and phosphorus-potassium fertilizers in the second half of summer.

Warming young seedlings for the winter and protecting them from solar spring burns is also more than relevant.

When to Harvest Manchurian Walnut

Depending on the climatic conditions of the region and the characteristics of this particular nut variety, its fruits ripen from late August to late September. Usually, ripe fruits fall from the tree themselves, so collecting them is not particularly difficult. The fruiting period can be extended by 3-5 weeks. If there is a desire to make jam from green fruits (similar to what is made from walnuts), then they are harvested green directly from the tree at the end of June or in July.

Why the Manchurian walnut does not bear fruit

The most common reason for the lack of fruiting in the Manchurian walnut is the freezing of female and male flowers during late spring frosts. After all, a one-time decrease in temperature to -1-2 ° C is enough for them, so that in the current season the ovaries could no longer form. And if such a situation is repeated annually, which in recent years can be a very common occurrence, then fruits may not form for several years in a row.

Planting seedlings in conditions of significant shading can also cause a significant delay in the onset of fruiting.

Sometimes the exactingness of nuts to soil fertility can affect. Although sometimes they can “get fat” in too comfortable conditions, and in this case, you can also not wait for the fruits.

And the simplest reason for the lack of fruits is the cultivation of a single tree, in which female and male flowers bloom at different times. To prevent this from happening, it is necessary to take care in advance that the trees do not grow in splendid isolation, but have several brothers growing nearby.

How to propagate the Manchurian walnut

The Manchurian walnut gives active shoots from a felled stump and is able to maintain this ability until old age. Therefore, at any time the tree can be rejuvenated.

But the most common method of propagation of this nut is seed, which is described in detail above.

Specialists also practice a method of propagating especially valuable varieties by grafting.

Manchurian walnut grafting

The main problem with this method of reproduction is that an adult tree is not suitable as a rootstock. It is necessary to grow a stock from seeds so that its trunk is approximately equal in diameter to the branch that is going to be grafted.

Especially popular is the grafting on the Manchurian walnut. This makes it possible to grow a walnut tree more resistant to low winter temperatures.

Pests and diseases of the Manchurian walnut

With proper care, this type of nuts is practically not affected by pests and diseases. Basically, thanks to the actively released phytoncides of the leaves, which repel parasites.

Among the potential pests, only the gall washer and the gall mite can be noted, which are fought with the help of special insecticides. And of the diseases, only black spot is found, which is easy to get rid of with the help of copper-containing preparations.

Conclusion

The photo and description of the Manchurian walnut, which can be found in the article, will help, even in difficult climatic conditions, to grow trees that produce fruits that are not inferior to southern walnuts in taste and nutritional value.