If 60-80% were viable, plant 3 seeds per hole. Also get rid of any nuts that float, as these are useless. Choose the planting site carefully This can be accomplished by planting nuts outside in the fall or by stratifying them indoors over winter. In a favorable site, they often reach 80 to 100 feet in height and their crowns may spread an equal distance. Cover the black walnut seeds with about 2 inches of loose soil. By Mark Mikolas Can You Plant a Pine Cone and Grow a Tree? Peel the husk away with your hands and discard. We are glad you have chosen to leave a comment. © 2020 Farm and Dairy is proudly produced in Salem, Ohio, Thanksgiving cost is down 4%, farm bureau survey says, Farmers earn 11.9 cents out of each Thanksgiving food dollar, Pa. gives $7.6 million to dairy farmers hit hard by COVID, Foraging for black walnuts: How to find and gather black walnuts, How to make wood stain from black walnut hulls, How to harvest, process and store black walnuts, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Groundwater groups urge EPA to fund better stormwater systems, Ethanol industry still recovering from COVID hit, Futures markets strong on COVID news, exports. Removing the husk increases the germination rate of walnut and butternut seeds but can become a big job if you have a large volume. Featuring Specialty Antique Auctions, Stores and Shows, Hundreds of Classifieds, Autos & Real Estate Listings. If less than 40% were viable, plant 5+ seeds per hole. Black walnut trees do best growing in deep, fertile, moist yet well-drained soil with texture ranging from sandy loam, loam, and silt loam to silty clay loam. Extended storage can drop the germination percentage if not done correctly so try to plant the seeds this fall (preferably the day after hulling). SEED PROPAGATION Black walnut trees are easily grown from properly stratified nuts. Planting Black Walnut Trees In the long run, if you hold on to your land, planting a grove of black walnut trees can give you and your family shade, nut crops, and valuable timber. Poke several holes in the plastic with a safety pin to provide circulation. Not all the walnut seeds you’ve collected will be viable to grow a tree. Viable nuts have white, solid meats; non-viable seeds have beige, shriveled kernels that are watery or give off a foul odor. Plant in the spring in a sunny location, putting two nuts in each hole. Walnuts generally have a germination rate of around 50 percent. $3.99 shipping. Some say that the natural temperature cycle through the winter gives the seed the cold it needs but others recommend refrigeration for 3 months and planting in the spring (stratification). This mimics the winter season when the seeds need dormancy. If 80-100% were viable, plant 2 seeds per hole. $4.99 $ 4. Still, you would be better served if you prepare the seed and husk or completely remove the hull. Stratify walnut seeds by placing them in a moist mixture of sand and peat moss and then storing them in a cool location. That is what nature does and seems to work okay. If you’re planting more than one seed per hole, space them out so that unwanted seedlings will be easier to remove later. Steve Nix is a natural resources consultant and a former forest resources analyst for the state of Alabama. You’ll have to find a location with ideal growing conditions where your walnut tree will not negatively impact neighboring plants. He is a member of the Society of American Foresters. Chicken wire over the planted seeds will deter digging rodents. Mulching will help as you do not want the seed to freeze. So planting a grove intended for lumber would be an investment for retirement or future generations. Learn how to pick an ideal planting site, choose viable seeds and ensure seed germination to successfully grow a walnut tree from seed. The process is simple but does require patience and preparation. How to Plant a Black Walnut Tree. Hull and wash the nuts as soon as you collect them. Please keep in mind that comments are moderated according to our comment policy. It’s actually a stronger wood than white oak. Plant the nuts in an open area at a depth of one to two times their thickness. Farm and Agriculture News, Local Market Prices and Crop Reports, Columns and Commentary. Soak the nuts in a container of room temperature water for about 15 minutes to soften the husk. After they’ve been stratified, they can be removed from the refrigerator and planted in the spring. Walnut trees planted today wouldn’t become mature enough to timber for 40-60 years. Cover the black walnut seeds with about 2 inches of loose soil. Plant in the spring in a sunny location, putting two nuts in each hole. You can pour boiling water over the husks and let them soak overnight. Black walnut seeds should be planted about 2 inches deep in moist soil in the fall. It only takes 10-13 years for walnuts grown from seed to bear fruit. of precipitation and 140 frost-free days per year. Fortunately, you’ll be able to enjoy shade and foraging opportunities much sooner. Figure out how many seeds to plant per hole. Black walnut trees are highly sought after. Black walnut trees are easy to start from seed. Up-to-date agriculture news in your inbox! During the washing process, discard all nuts that float to the top (these floaters are poorly filled and won't germinate well). Hundreds of Auction Advertisements for Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. If you plan to strip spray with herbicides in the future, and plant nuts within a seed spot in a single file parallel to the rows. Raised in Portage County, Ohio, she earned a magazine journalism degree from Kent State University. Additionally, they prefer soil with a pH of 6.0 to 6.5. Black walnut wood is desirable because of its deep color, its dimensional stability and resistance to splitting and the fact that it seldom decays in the center. The percentage of viable seeds in your sample will help you determine how many seeds you need to plant per hole to ensure success. She enjoys spending time with her daughter, traveling, writing, reading and outdoor recreation. The stratification process takes 90 to 120 days.