North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Charles Paradise <machelp@attglobal.net>]

Paul,
As a 20-year member of the NNGA, I do remember reading that "the average 
english walnut seedling is a poor producer of pollen".  If your two walnuts 
were grafts, a clear distinction between stock and scion would probably be 
obvious at the base of the trees - i.e. the furrowed bark of black walnut 
would abruptly change to the smooth whitish bark of the english walnut.  It 
makes perfect sense for the nuts to appear in some years and not others.  
Would more pollen make more nuts?  Almost certainly.
Charlie Paradise
massachusetts

Paul Cabe wrote:

> I have two mature English walnuts in the front yard of my home.
> Although the trees are quite old, I've only known them for two seasons.
> These are big trees (40+ feet) with spreading crowns, and they flower
> heavily in the spring.
>
> For the two summers I have watched them, they have set virtually no
> nuts.  I know they do sometimes from the previous owner, and I have
> found old shells while working around the yards.
>
> Why no production?  Do I maybe need a pollenizer?
>
> thanks,
> Paul Cabe
> Zone 6b, in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia
>
> Paul R. Cabe, PhD
> Associate Professor of Biology
> Washington and Lee University
> Lexington, VA 24450
> (540)458-8894
> (540)458-8012 (fax)
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