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The homeland of the walnut is Central Asia. On the territory of Russia, the tree appeared thanks to Greek merchants, hence the corresponding name - walnut. Walnut grows almost all over the world. It is successfully cultivated in Belarus, Moldova, Russia, Ukraine and the Caucasus. Hazel has gained popularity due to the beneficial properties of fruits, green mass and bark.
Where does the walnut grow
The nut grows almost everywhere: some varieties are perfectly adapted for planting in the northern regions. Some species can tolerate long-term frosts and are practically immune to insect pests. The preferred growing place is in well-lit, spacious, not marshy areas. Hazel grows rapidly on elevations, in loamy soils.
Where does walnut grow in the world?
The tree grows in places with a temperate climate, however, prefers the southern regions more. Wild plantings can be seen in the Transcaucasus and in the Talysh Mountains. Wild hazel often grows in the humid gorges of the Himalayas. Nuts are specially grown in China, India, Austria, Greece. They practice planting in the gardens of Germany and Italy.
Walnut plantations can be seen in the Tien Shan mountains, on the territory of Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. These forests are considered the largest in the world.
Where walnuts grow in Russia
Trees are widespread in the middle lane; they are also regularly planted in the southern regions of Russia. They practice landing in the Moscow and Leningrad regions. In the northern regions, cultivation is worse. The tree does not tolerate long-term low temperatures, the maximum limit is 30 degrees below zero.
Breeders are engaged in breeding varieties that can grow for a long time at very low temperatures. But in most cases, such seedlings practically do not bear fruit.
Does walnut grow in the suburbs
Walnuts are successfully grown in the Moscow region. The tree grows in gardens and park areas. In the state register of breeding achievements, there are more than 25 varieties that take root well in this area. Trees tolerate frost well, and in summer they are able to withstand a prolonged lack of watering.
It should be remembered that the planting of each seedling has its own agricultural technique and characteristics. Proper care will help you grow a sturdy tree with high yields.
In the Moscow region, it is recommended to plant seedlings away from drafts. In the first years of life, the main trunk is fragile, so it can break off in strong winds. The best option for disembarkation would be a well-lit area near buildings and buildings. When planting in a summer cottage, you should pay attention to the fact that during the growth process the tree shades a large area, therefore, vegetables must be planted away from the nut.
How walnuts grow and ripen
Walnut grows for a very long time, it belongs to long-livers. Therefore, at the age of 25–45 years, the seedling is considered young and is in the juvenile period. A peculiarity of the nut is that the quantity and quality of the crop increases with age.
Walnut grows and develops well under optimal climatic conditions. Tolerates dry weather and not severe frosts. However, return frosts are dangerous for the seedling. Spring abrupt temperature changes are detrimental to vegetation. The main shoots and leaves are damaged, which later affects the yield. Over time, new branches are formed, but this takes a long time.
The ripening period of fruits on the tree is August - September, rarely October. The exact harvest time depends on the region of growth and the variety planted.
There are several types:
- early;
- medium early;
- late.
Each species differs in flowering and final fruiting. An appropriate variety should be selected for each region.
What does a walnut tree look like?
During the period of active development and growth, the walnut tree forms a wide trunk, reaching 30 m in height, 2 m in diameter. The color of the bark is grayish-white, the crown is thick and wide with many branches. The root is powerful, it goes deeper into the ground by more than 7 m.The lateral root system is quite long - more than 10 m.
The alternate leaves are compound, pinnate. The length of the plate is 5–7 cm. The green mass with a peculiar aroma looks very attractive during flowering. The flowers are small, green in color, gather in neat earrings. Flowering period: late April - early May, duration - 2 weeks. In late-ripening varieties, buds can bloom again - in the middle of summer. Pollination occurs with the help of wind or pollen from nearby plants.
Walnuts grow on spreading trees, the crown diameter of which is about 20 m. The fruits are hard, brown in color, have a four-lobed seed covered with a thin film. The peel is green, dense in structure, slightly wrinkled and bumpy.
How many years does a walnut grow
Walnut grows for a long time - the tree is long-lived. When planted in optimal climatic conditions, it can grow and bear fruit well for up to 600 years. Wild trees in forest areas can live for over 1200 years.
How long does a walnut grow before fruiting
The period of full growth and development of the plant depends on the variety. On early ripening species, the first fruits appear 3–6 years after planting. Mid-ripening and late-ripening until the first fruiting grow and develop for at least 10 years. From 10-12 years of age, the tree can give from 1 to 5 kg of harvest per season. Mature trees that have reached 50-60 years of age bear fruit abundantly.
How fast walnuts grow
Mid-season and late varieties grow long enough, often they can survive more than one owner. Early maturing trees grow much faster, but these species require some care.
How many nuts does a walnut give
During the season, from one walnut tree, you can get from 15 to 350 kg of a high-quality harvest. This indicator may vary depending on the age of the tree, the region of growth and the quality of care. A seedling that bears little fruit for about 10 years - a maximum of 5 kg of fruit per year.
When to harvest walnuts
The ripening period of a common walnut occurs at the beginning of autumn. The more accurate harvest time depends on the region in which it is grown. During the ripening of the crop, the foliage on the branches takes on a dull color, and the fruits independently fall to the ground.
It is recommended that you familiarize yourself with some of the signs by which you can determine the exact timing of the harvest:
- cracking of the green pericarp;
- coloring of most of the leaves yellow;
- the timing of the harvest can be determined by knowing the varietal characteristics of the plant.
When walnuts are harvested in the middle lane
Growing a plant in the middle lane is a laborious process. In this region, hazel trees bear fruit irregularly. By creating favorable conditions for growth, you can collect a good harvest. The fruits begin to fall from the tree by August, but in most of them the pericarp is poorly separated. The harvested crop is first placed in a dark, cool place, after full ripening, dried well in the sun.
When walnuts ripen in the Krasnodar Territory
In the Krasnodar Territory, harvesting is carried out a little later. Walnuts fully ripen in this region in mid-September. Trees growing in Krasnodar differ significantly from those grown in other regions: they bear abundant fruit, the bulk of the harvest is impressive in size.
When walnuts ripen in Crimea
Crimea belongs to the region where walnuts are actively grown. Due to favorable climatic conditions, the tree grows throughout the Crimea. Fruits are harvested closer to August. However, in order to avoid damage by rodents and other pests, some gardeners prefer to harvest much earlier. Unripe fruits with a green pericarp are knocked down with a stick and left to dry in the sun. After a couple of days, the peel is easily separated, then drying is performed.
How to understand that a walnut is ripe
When harvest time comes, the fruits begin to fall from the tree. It should be remembered that the tree ripens and grows unevenly, so the harvest is not carried out in 1-2 days, sometimes this process is delayed for weeks. After the ripe fruits have fallen to the ground, it is recommended to harvest within 24 hours, otherwise there is a high probability of damage by rodents and insects.
Another indicator of ripening is pericarp cracking.This process can occur directly on the tree. Therefore, the harvesting procedure can be carried out earlier, using a roll to churn the fruits.
How walnuts are harvested
Timely harvesting of a ripe crop is a very important task. Having correctly determined the exact timing of ripening, you can start harvesting the fruits.
Due to the fact that the tree is tall, manual harvesting is a rather laborious process. Often, ripe walnuts are knocked down with a stick or removed with a special roll for collection. The collected fruits are shaken well, peeled from the green peel. If the pericarp separates poorly, the crop is dried in the sun.
Harvesting rules for walnuts:
- Fruits that have fallen to the ground should be harvested within 24 hours, otherwise there is a high risk of mold damage to the crop. Moisture from the earth destroys the amniotic membrane, and product deterioration begins.
- If harvesting is done with a stick, ripe nuts and unripe nuts in the pericarp may fall to the ground. Such a crop should be collected in separate containers. Fruits with a pericarp should be kept for several days in a basement or cellar.
- If you harvest unripe fruits, you should place the crop in a dark, cool place, wait until it is fully ripe. This procedure must be performed with nuts in which the pericarp does not separate. When the shell begins to separate well from the shell, the crop is fully ripe.
- You can harvest walnuts when the protective peel of the fruit begins to crack. To do this, shake the branches of the tree.However, as practice shows, it is rather difficult to knock down most of the nuts with this method, so gardeners resort to using long objects.
- Well-ripe fruits can be damaged if dropped on hard ground. In this case, it is recommended to use special harvesting equipment.
Conclusion
Walnuts grow in almost every region. By creating optimal growing conditions for the tree, you can get a bountiful and high-quality harvest. It should be noted that at least 10 years pass from the moment of planting to the first fruiting. In the process of active growth, the tree needs some care. To get an early harvest, it is recommended to choose early ripening varieties adapted to the climatic conditions of the region.
