Butternut

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

Gray walnut (lat. Juglans cinerea) - a representative of the Walnut genus of the Walnut family. The homeland is considered to be North America. It is one of the most cold-resistant species, but in Russia it grows only in the Moscow region and nearby regions, as well as in the south of the country. In the Urals, trees are often damaged by spring frosts, so their cultivation in this latitude is difficult.

Characteristics of culture

Gray walnut is a deciduous tree up to 30 m high with a wide ovate or spreading sparse crown. The plant is characterized by rapid growth, the annual growth is 50 cm. Externally, the gray walnut is similar to the Manchurian nut, the difference lies in the color of the branches. The bark of the trunk is deeply grooved, has a gray color. Young shoots are pubescent, equipped with glands. Leaves are light green, compound, pinnate, consist of 11-19 leaves, bloom in late May, fall in early October, sometimes earlier.

Female flowers are collected in brushes, male flowers - in earrings. Flowering occurs simultaneously with the blooming of the leaves. The fruit is elongated, ovoid, covered with a gray, densely tomentose, sticky shell. The nut shell is thick, black-brown, has wavy projections located between the longitudinal ribs. The kernel of the nut is medium-sized, oily, sweet, the average weight is 2, 5 g. Gray walnut fructifies annually, starting from 6-10 years of age. The average age is 180 years.

Growing conditions

Gray walnut is photophilous, although it tolerates light shading. In a dense shade, plants practically do not bloom and do not bear fruit, they are often affected by pests and diseases. The culture is demanding to soil conditions, prefers fresh, fertile and moist soils. Does not accept saline, heavy clay, strongly acidic and waterlogged soils.

Subtleties of reproduction

Gray walnut is propagated by seeds and coppice layers. Sowing is carried out in the fall (after harvest). For this, the fruits are peeled and planted in the ground. When sowing in spring, the seeds are preliminarily stratified within 6-7 months. Crops do not need shelter, but protection from rodents is mandatory. The nut is placed in the hole with its top up, this position will increase the germination rate and will positively affect the health of future seedlings. For other walnut seeds, such an arrangement of seeds is undesirable; they are placed in the hole sideways.

Gray walnut is sown immediately to a permanent place, since young plants have a negative attitude towards transplantation. The fact is that most walnut trees have a deeply penetrating root system, the taproot even at the first stage of growth reaches a length of 65-70 cm. root.

Application

Gray walnut has a beautiful openwork crown and large feathery foliage, which is why the plant is often used for landscaping alleys and parks. They look good in single, solitary and loose groups. Kernels are used in the confectionery industry.