Walnut Tree (English) 20L

Walnut trees are large deciduous trees that grow well and quickly. They have male and female flowers on one tree. The male flowers’ pollen settles onto the females to pollinate them and produce nuts. Only one tree is required.

Walnuts can be eaten as extremely nutritious snacks, sprinkled over salads, included in smoothies, or used in baking delicious tarts and cakes. They are particularly high in fat and also have good amounts of carbohydrates, vitamin E, copper, folic acid, protein, and omega-3 and -6 fatty acids. They are good for brain and heart health and help prevent cancer.

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Position

Plant your walnut tree in full sun or a spot with at least 6 to 8 hours of sunlight daily. Make sure it has plenty of space as it will grow into a huge tree and will be difficult to transplant, even 1 or 2 years later.

Size

These trees grow to a height of between 30 and 40 metres tall with a canopy spread of 18 metres.

Soil

Walnut trees require well-drained, fertile soil like sandy loam. Clay is not advisable. They require slightly acidic soil, so they benefit from a bag of our blueberry mix or half a bag of acid compost. Dig a large hole by breaking up the soil and adding plenty of well-rotted organic matter. A wide hole is better than a very deep one.

Nut trees require fertile soil for good growth. So, before you plant it, add some nutrients to your soil, like volcanic rock dust and good quality organic compost. Water the soil thoroughly before planting, and be careful not to bend the roots.

Fertiliser

Apply 1 teaspoon of our slow-release nitrogen-rich berry fertiliser every 4-5 months.

Mulch

Add a thick layer of pine bark mulch, keeping it about 20 to 30 centimetres away from the tree trunk (any closer may cause excess moisture and damage the trunk). This will retain the moisture in the soil and will prevent weeds from taking over.

Pests and Diseases

Aphids, citrus psylla, red scale, citrus greening. Spraying regularly with Agricultural Neem Oil or Effective Microorganisms (EM Control ) will assist in either prevention or after the fact. If you already have aphids or mites, wash the tree with a harsh hosing, and when dry, spray with Neem oil or EM Control.

Practice good garden hygiene (remove fallen fruit and leaves).

Watch for root rot (if overwatered) and fungal infections during wet periods.

Watering

Never use a sprinkler and avoid splashing water onto the leaves as this will promote the development of walnut blight. Water the tree well every second week once established, as they become stressed if over-watered.

Pruning

While the tree is dormant, cut off the dry and dead branches. If any branches are crossing, then remove one. You can also remove new shoots in the middle of the tree to ensure maximum light and air penetration.

Frost

Your walnut tree is frost-tolerant, but flowers could get damaged with a late frost.

Harvesting

Walnuts fall from the tree when they are ripe. Be sure to collect them quickly to prevent them from moulding on the ground.