What month do you harvest walnuts?
Harvest walnuts when they fall to the ground. Native nuts come into maturity September through October. Collect nuts as soon as possible to avoid mold. Hulls soften naturally over time, allowing easy access to the nut.
How do you commercially harvest walnuts?
The nuts are removed from the tree using a mechanical shaker, a machine that grasps the trunk and shakes the whole tree. The nuts drop to the ground, are then swept into windrows and picked up with harvest machinery. This operation is completed quickly to reduce the time nuts remain on the ground.
How many years does it take to get a harvest able walnut?
According to timber experts, black walnut trees, when planted to maximize tree growth, can grow as much as 3′ to 4′ per year in good soil, reaching a mature height of over 100′ and 30″ to 40″ in diameter, with 16″ diameter saw logs ready to harvest in 30 years.
How much is an acre of walnuts worth?
Bruce Thompson, author of “Black Walnut for Profit” estimates a mature stand of black walnut trees can bring about $100,000 per acre in timber value alone.
How much do black walnuts sell for?
Fogle said one can expect to earn anywhere between $8 and $10 a pound for black walnut meat at farmers markets. If selling directly to a black walnut buyer, he or she can expect black walnuts to bring $80 per truckload (black walnuts in the shell) or $10 per 100 pounds (black walnuts in the shell).
What is the difference between walnuts and black walnuts?
The main difference between Black Walnuts and English walnuts are the rich, bold, distinctive flavor of the Black Walnut. Black Walnuts are a nutritional nut containing the highest protein content of any tree nut. Black Walnut shells were used to clean the Statue of Liberty.
How many walnuts can one tree produce?
Walnut tree groves typically feature large canopy trees spaced 50 feet apart, which plants about 20 trees per acre. Each tree can produce up to 5,000 walnuts so 100,000 walnuts per acre is not uncommon.
Can you eat nuts right off the tree?
While you can eat the almond straight from the tree, it usually tastes better after drying. The drying process is also important in preventing the almonds from molding when you store them. Once you shake a kernel and the seed inside rattles, crack the kernel open and eat the seed nut.
When do you know it’s time to harvest walnuts?
English walnuts are ready for harvest when the tissue between the kernel and the shell turns brown. You can harvest the nuts in one of two ways: either gather them off the ground where they fell or (if you’re able) shake the tree to dislodge them.
What’s the best way to collect walnuts?
Collect nuts as soon as possible to avoid mold. Hulls soften naturally over time, allowing easy access to the nut. If the hull feels firm and is difficult to remove, set the nut aside for a few days. The best way to de-hull a small amount of walnuts is by hand, with a chisel and hammer to knock the hull away.
Do you wash your hands after harvesting walnuts?
If you are concerned about staining your hands, simply wear rubber gloves to protect against brown stains and skin irritations. After harvesting, it is often suggested to wash the nuts and remove all dirt. Only do this if they are very dirty. Once they are fully dry, you can wipe them with a thick towel and call it a day.
Why are the husks of walnuts so bitter?
Walnut husks are extremely high in tannins, which are bitter in flavor. The longer the hull stays on the walnut, the more bitter the nut inside is likely to be. In the book “The Resilient Gardener”, the author notes how she was able to gather and use nuts in her area that others avoided “because they were too bitter”.