Growing fruit trees may seem very complicated, but it is not. Yes, it is true that they require more space and water than other plants. But if we have a big enough garden or land, why not give it a try? In fact, in this article, we are going to explain to you how to plant a walnut, in case you want to try it yourself.
We will not only talk about how to do it step by step, but we will also comment when is the best time to plant a walnut tree and how long do these trees take to grow and bear fruit. If you love nuts and are considering growing them yourself, I recommend you keep reading.
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When is the best time to plant walnut trees?
Before explaining how to plant a walnut tree, it is first necessary to know when to carry out this task. Well the best time for this is the first half of the coldest season of the year, winter. However, if we live in a very humid region, we can also plant this tree in the spring.
When performing this task, It is very important that the root neck is level with the ground and not buried. In the case where it is introduced between five and ten centimeters in the ground, its growth can take between three and four years. In addition, it is strongly recommended to place protective tubes against rabbits. If possible, they should be between 60 and 80 centimeters long.
It is also highly recommended to use for planting a few specimens of two years of age and which have two saps with desquamation. It is essentially a cutting of the roots whose objective is to stimulate and help their development. The stem should be about a foot long.
What do I need to plant a walnut tree?
Like all plants, the walnut tree also needs certain conditions in order to grow and develop properly, apart from plenty of space and water. Before planting a walnut tree, make sure you have the following items:
- Location: A space large enough and with a lot of sun. For extensive ones, the recommended framework for growing one of these fruit trees is 12 x 12 meters or 10 x 10 meters. For the intensive, the recommended frame is 5 x 5 meters or 4 x 4 meters.
- Usually I: It must be deep (minimum three meters), sandy, well-drained, rich in organic matter and irrigated. In terms of pH, it can tolerate between five and eight, but ideally it should have a pH of 6.5. Additionally, walnut trees are sensitive to high concentrations of chlorine, boron, and sodium.
- Plant: The most common is to use grafted standing plants that are about two years old and the scion is one year old.
Usually, The best places to plant a walnut tree are usually coastal areas, riverbanks and foothills. On the other hand, places surrounded by hills should be avoided, as masses of cold air can accumulate there. You should also avoid poorly drained land, where rainwater can stagnate.
How to plant a walnut tree step by step
In case we have enough land for this tree, it’s time to get to work. Now let’s see how to plant a walnut tree step by step:
- Examine the land: As we have already mentioned before, the walnut tree needs deep soil in order to be able to develop its roots. So first we need to use a special ground penetration tool to examine the ground and make sure that there are no impermeable or rocky layers at a depth of at least three meters. If it is difficult for the tool to penetrate the ground, the roots of the tree will have the same problem and will probably not be able to develop properly.
- to the ground: Two months in advance you need to start breaking the resistance of the ground. For this we will use a plow or a subsoiler. This will facilitate the deployment of the roots of our walnut tree.
- Pay: At the same time as we plow the land, we can enrich the soil by adding, for example, manure.
- To dig: Two months after starting to plow the land, we have to dig a hole, or more if we want to plant more than one walnut tree. It should be tall and deep enough to accommodate the plant.
- Plant the walnut tree: All that remains is to introduce the tree into the hole, cover it with a little soil and water it.
Of course, we can also try to sprout a nut, but we must remember that the tree It will take longer to grow and bear fruit. But with a little patience and the necessary care, anything is possible!
Related article:
How to Sprout a Walnut
Once we have completed the planting task, It is only time to provide the necessary care to our walnut tree so that he becomes strong and healthy. After a few years we will have a large and majestic tree from which we can acquire delicious nuts. You can find out what walnut care is here.
How long does it take for a walnut tree to grow?
Now that we know how to plant a walnut tree, it’s time to answer the big question many people ask: How long does it take to grow? As per usual, a walnut tree begins to produce nuts from the age of eight, maybe a little later. However, in some cases, they can produce between seven and ten kilos of nuts at five, six and seven years old.
The vast majority of orchards dedicated to the cultivation of walnut trees at a commercial level, reach their maximum production at the age of at least thirty years. When these trees are mature and healthy, they typically produce between 30 and 160 pounds of nuts. However, this level of production does not occur every year. Walnut trees tend to alternate, i.e. one year they produce a lot and the other almost nothing. That is why we will get good harvests every two years.
With all this information on how to plant a walnut tree, do you dare? In addition to bearing fruit, these majestic trees provide generous shade that we can enjoy on hot summer days.