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The birthplace of the walnut is Central Asia. On the territory of Our Country, the tree appeared thanks to Greek traders, hence the corresponding name – walnut. Walnut grows almost all over the world. It is successfully cultivated in Belarus, Moldova, Our Country, Ukraine and the Caucasus. Hazel gained popularity due to the beneficial properties of fruits, green mass and bark.
Where does the walnut grow?
Walnut grows almost everywhere: some varieties are perfectly adapted for planting in the northern regions. Some species can tolerate long frosts, are practically immune to pests. The preferred place of growth is in well-lit, spacious, not wetlands. Hazel grows rapidly on hills, in loamy soils.
Where does the walnut grow in the world
The tree grows in places with a temperate climate, however, it prefers the southern regions. Wild landings can be seen on the territory of Transcaucasia and in the Talysh mountains. Often, wild hazel grows in the humid gorges of the Himalayas. Nuts are specially grown in China, India, Austria, Greece. They practice planting in the gardens of Germany and Italy.
Walnut forest plantations can be seen in the Tien Shan mountains, on the territory of Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. These forests are considered the largest in the world.
Where does a walnut grow in Our Country
Trees are common in the middle lane, they are also regularly planted in the southern regions of Our Country. They practice landing in the Moscow and Leningrad regions. In the northern regions, cultivation is worse. The tree does not tolerate prolonged low temperatures, the maximum limit is 30 degrees below zero.
Breeders are engaged in breeding varieties that can grow for a long time at very low temperatures. But in most cases, such seedlings practically do not bear fruit.
Does a walnut grow in the Moscow region
Walnuts are successfully grown in the Moscow region. The tree grows in gardens and park areas. In the state register of selection achievements there are more than 25 varieties that take root well in this area. Trees tolerate frost well, and in summer they are able to withstand a long absence of watering.
It should be remembered that the planting of each seedling has its own agricultural technology and features. Proper care will help grow a strong tree with high yields.
In the Moscow region, it is recommended to plant seedlings away from drafts. In the first years of life, the main trunk is fragile, so it can break off in strong winds. The best option for landing would be a well-lit area near buildings and buildings. When planting in a summer cottage, attention should be paid to the fact that in the process of growth the tree obscures a large area, so vegetables must be planted away from the nut.
How a walnut grows and ripens
Walnut grows for a very long time, belongs to centenarians. Therefore, at the age of 25–45 years, the seedling is considered young and is in the juvenile period. A feature of the walnut is that the quantity and quality of the crop increases with age.
Walnut grows well and develops under optimal climatic conditions. Tolerates dry weather and mild frosts. However, returning frosts are dangerous for the seedling. Spring sharp change in temperature is detrimental to vegetation. The main shoots and leaves are damaged, which later affects the yield. Over time, new branches are formed, but this takes a lot of time.
The period of fruit ripening on a tree is August – September, rarely – October. The exact harvesting period depends on the region of growth and the variety planted.
There are several types:
- early
- average
- later.
Each species has differences in the period of flowering and final fruiting. For each region, the appropriate variety should be selected.
What does a walnut tree look like?
During the period of active development and growth, the walnut tree forms a wide trunk, reaching 30 m in height, 2 m in diameter. The color of the bark is grayish-white, the crown is dense and wide with a large number of branches. The root is powerful, it goes deeper into the ground by more than 7 m. The lateral root system is quite long – more than 10 m.
The alternate leaves are compound, pinnate. The length of the plate is 5–7 cm. The green mass with a peculiar aroma looks very attractive during flowering. The flowers are small, green, collected in neat earrings. Flowering period: end of April – beginning of May, duration – 2 weeks. In late-ripening varieties, buds may re-bloom – in the middle of summer. Pollination occurs with the help of wind or pollen from nearby plants.
Walnuts grow on spreading trees with a crown diameter of about 20 m. The fruits are hard, brown in color, have a four-lobed seed, covered with a thin film. The peel is green, dense in structure, slightly wrinkled and bumpy.
How many years does a walnut grow
Walnut grows long enough – a long-lived tree. When planted in optimal climatic conditions, it can grow and bear fruit well up to 600 years. Wild trees in forest areas can live for more than 1200 years.
How long does a walnut grow before fruiting
The period of full growth and development of the plant depends on the variety. On early ripening species, the first fruits appear 3–6 years after planting. Mid-season and late-ripening before the first fruiting grow and develop for at least 10 years. From 10–12 years old, a tree can produce from 1 to 5 kg of crop per season. Mature trees that have reached the age of 50-60 bear fruit abundantly.
How fast does a walnut grow?
Mid-season and late varieties grow long enough, often they can survive more than one owner. Early maturing trees grow much faster, but these species require some care.
How many nuts does a walnut give
For a season from one walnut tree you can get from 15 to 350 kg of a quality crop. This indicator may vary depending on the age of the tree, the region of growth and the quality of care. A seedling that is about 10 years old bears little fruit – a maximum of 5 kg of fruit per year.
When to Harvest Walnuts
The ripening period of an ordinary walnut falls on the beginning of autumn. A more accurate harvest time depends on the region in which it is grown. During the ripening of the crop, the foliage on the branches acquires a dull color, and the fruits fall to the ground on their own.
It is recommended that you familiarize yourself with some signs by which you can determine the exact timing of harvesting:
- cracking of the green pericarp;
- staining of most leaves in yellow;
- Harvest dates can be determined by knowing the varietal characteristics of the plant.
When walnuts are harvested in the middle lane
Growing a plant in the middle lane is a laborious process. In this region, hazel trees bear fruit irregularly. When creating favorable conditions for growth, you can harvest a good harvest. The fruits begin to fall from the tree by August, but most of them do not separate the pericarp well. The harvested crop is first placed in a dark, cool place, after full ripening, it is well dried in the sun.
When walnuts ripen in the Krasnodar Territory
In the Krasnodar Territory, the harvest is carried out a little later. Full ripening of walnuts in this region occurs in mid-September. The trees growing in Krasnodar are significantly different from those grown in other regions: their fruiting is plentiful, the main part of the harvest is impressive in size.
When the walnut ripens in the Crimea
Crimea belongs to the region where walnuts are actively grown. Due to favorable climatic conditions, the tree grows throughout the Crimea. Fruit picking is carried out closer to August. However, in order to avoid spoilage by rodents and other pests, some gardeners prefer to harvest much earlier. Unripe fruits with a green pericarp are knocked down with a stick and left to dry under the sun. After a couple of days, the peel is easily separated, then drying is performed.
How to understand that a walnut is ripe
When the harvest time comes, the fruits begin to fall from the tree. It should be remembered that the tree matures and grows unevenly, so harvesting is not carried out in 1-2 days, sometimes this process drags on for weeks. After the ripened fruits have fallen to the ground, it is recommended to collect within a day, otherwise there is a high probability of damage by rodents and insects.
Another indicator of ripening is the cracking of the pericarp. This process can occur right on the tree. Therefore, the harvesting procedure can be carried out earlier, I used a roll to churn fruits.
How are walnuts harvested?
Timely harvesting of ripe crops is a very important task. Having correctly determined the exact timing of ripening, you can begin to harvest the fruits.
Due to the fact that the tree is tall, manual harvesting is a rather laborious process. Often, ripe walnuts are knocked down with a stick or removed with a special roll for collection. The collected fruits are shaken well, cleaned of green peel. If the pericarp does not separate well, the crop is dried in the sun.
Rules for harvesting walnuts:
- Fruits that have fallen to the ground should be harvested within a day, otherwise there is a high risk of mold damage to the crop. Earth moisture destroys the amniotic membrane, spoilage of the product begins.
- If the harvest is done with a stick, ripe nuts and unripe nuts in the pericarp may fall to the ground. Such a crop should be harvested in separate containers. Fruits with pericarp should be kept for several days in the basement or cellar.
- If you harvest unripe fruits, you should place the crop in a dark, cool place, wait for full ripening. This procedure must be performed with nuts that do not separate the pericarp. When the shell begins to move away well from the shell, the crop is fully ripe.
- You can harvest walnuts when the protective peel of the fruit begins to crack. To do this, shake the branches of the tree. However, as practice shows, it is quite difficult to knock down most of the nuts with this method, so gardeners resort to using long objects.
- Well-ripened fruits can be damaged if they fall on hard ground. In this case, it is recommended to use special harvesting tools.
Conclusion
Walnut grows in almost every region. By creating optimal conditions for growing a tree, you can get a plentiful and high-quality harvest. It should be noted that at least 10 years pass from the moment of planting to the first fruiting. In the process of active growth, the tree needs some care. To obtain an early harvest, it is recommended to choose early-ripening varieties adapted to the climatic conditions of the region.
