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[Gene GeRue <genegerue AT ruralize.com>]

On May 28, 2008, at 8:58 AM, Roy Morgan wrote:

> On May 27, 2008, at 8:25 PM, Gene GeRue wrote:
>
> > Unable to determine pH or potential toxicity or other negativity of
> > walnut catkins in garden beds or in compost. Anyone know?
>
> Unable to pull from memory any meaning for the work "catkin".  Have
> half a bucket of black walnuts here from the lawn, intending to plant
> them at the new house in about a month or so.
>
> Any advice on growing black walnut trees from the nuts welcome.

As some up in that neck of the woods might say, "Ayep."

Plant black walnuts well back from future gardens--the juglone in  
their root system is toxic to a long list of plants. I would also  
avoid planting them near a house, as they tend to be messy and inhibit  
various types of grass growth. The root system extends far beyond  
their drip lines, so be generous with your distance from house or  
gardens. Also, you don't want the roots near septic systems or  
graywater systems where the drain pipe is not glued.

Once they start growing prune them to a central leader. You want them  
straight and tall, for your grandchildren to make beautiful furniture  
from.

Catkins are walnut sex pendants, the long, droopy, fuzzy things that  
hang down and then fall to the ground, part of the messiness of  
walnuts. Like the leaves and husks, catkins stain.