Wow. Nice start, thanks. I read somewhere that black walnuts are on the
edge of their range in south-central WI, but some were planted locally 50-60
years ago and they are now quite the weed-tree. I believe the originals
here were planted as timber trees, or, not particularly selected. I think
we do occasionally get the frost damage to early growth in late freezes, but
most years the trees produce a nut crop. Mostly keeping the squirrels
healthy. But if I ever have to abandon the apple & pear efforts, black
walnuts & shagbark hickories (which also grow like weeds) will be the next
focus.
----Original Message Follows----
From: Lucky Pittman >
To: North American Fruit Explorers <
Subject: [NAFEX] Black Walnuts
Date: Thu, 03 Aug 2006 12:10:56 -0500
While most 'wild-type' black walnuts produce nuts with thick shells
and kernel percentages in the 12-20% range, there are a number of
really good selections with thin shells, improved cracking
characteristics, and significantly higher kernel percentages -
frequently in the 35-40% range. One 'Pounds #2" tree, in Les
Wilmoth's orchard, produced a crop last year that averaged 55%
kernel/shell ratio.
My friends John & Lisa Brittain (John will be one of the presenters
at the upcoming NAFEX meeting in Lexington) offer a number of
superior BWs from their Nolin River Nut Tree Nursery - http://www.nolinnursery.com/Walnuts.htm
Personally, I've always liked "Emma Kay" and "Daniels", but John &
Les have been really high on "Thomas Myers" for this area; Gerald
Gardner in MO says "Neel #1" is the very best BW he's ever grown -
wishes he'd had it available 15 years ago.
Our friend Gordon Nofs likes "Kwik Krop" - best production and flavor
for him there in Flint, MI.
Clermont has the thinnest shell I've ever seen in a BW nut; Clifford
England suggested to me at one time that he thought Clermont and
Elmer Myers were one and the same - but I've not grown EM to compare the
two.