Homestead mailing list

[Clansgian AT wmconnect.com]

> Dumb question #1  What is the difference, planting wise and taste wise, 
> of the seed husk being green vs. black?

The walnut husks almost never turn black on the tree.  They fall off green 
and then turn black.  The walnut must cure and dry out some before it can be 
easily ('easily' being  a relative term here) shelled.  One way is to put on 
old 
boots and stomp the walnuts to loosen them from the husks.  Exposed to air 
they will turn black in a few hours.  Put them somewhere they can dry for 
several 
days to several weeks before trying to shell them.  Until they are fairly 
dry, you cannot allow them to freeze.

Any green from the husks you get on your clothes, shoes, or skin will turn 
black and is just like permanent ink.




>> Dumb question #2  What kind of germination should I expect if I just put 
> some green seeds in a hole 2 inches deep?  

Ignore whether they are green or black, it's meaningless.  Some blackones are 
immature and will not germinate, most green ones will be quite mature and 
germinate eaily.  A better guide is if the nut feels dense and heavy.

2" is fine, deeper is fine, shallower is fine.  Germination of top notch 
viable nuts will be high, but the percent of really good nuts from any tree 
will 
be low.  In the wild windfall nuts rarely germinate.  Squirrels bury caches 
of 
them in the ground and one or two of those will germinate.

> 
> >Dumb questin #3  I know to wear gloves and old clothes..can I use the 
> discarded husks around the foundation of the house without the juglone 
> adversely affecting my foundation plantings? 

The husks are good source of dye.  But otherwise I'd put them in compost I 
planned on using 20 years from now.

> 
> >Dumb question #4  How long will it take for a seedling to become a 10' 
> >tree?
> 

Three years or less.  Young walnut trees grow very fast.  



Examine the cured walut carefully.  Note the seam betweent he two halves and 
that one end of the nut is pointy.   Hold the nut point down and lighly tap 
the blunt end just hard enough to hear the nut crack a bit.  You don't want 
to 
break it, just loosen the seam.  Then turn the walnut on it's side 90 degrees 
from the seam, that is, the seam is going to be horizontal.  Hit the nut hard 
enough to break the shell, but not shatter the nut.  Turn the nut 180 degrees 
and do the same with the other side.  If you are skillful at this, the very 
hard shell comes off in four pieces and the nut meat is nearly intact.


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