Juglans regia
The walnut tree is a sprawling and fast-growing tree that can reach a height of between 25 and 30 meters and live for 200 years. It originally comes from Central Asia, but today it is native to many temperate climates and is valued both as a commercial and ornamental tree. Walnut wood is considered the most sought-after and valuable in the Central European forests.
The walnut tree is a deciduous tree. Its dome-shaped crown provides pleasant shade in summer. The leaves are odd-pinnate and give off a spicy aroma when crushed. The tree prefers sunny locations and nutrient-rich, deep soils that are well-drained. It thrives particularly well in regions with a mild climate and sufficient rainfall.
History
The walnut tree was originally domesticated in mountainous regions of Central Asia and brought to Europe from there. The Romans played a major role in the spread of the walnut in Central Europe, where it is now an integral part of cultural landscapes and gardens. In many cultures, the walnut tree is a symbol of wisdom, wealth and fertility.
Uses
The most well-known part of the walnut tree is the walnut itself, which is surrounded by a hard shell. The kernels are rich in healthy fats, protein, vitamins and minerals. The green fruit shells can also be used, for example to make walnut liqueur. Young walnuts are suitable for use in jams or candied specialties.
Other uses:
Wood: The wood of the walnut tree is highly sought after due to its hardness, coloring and grain and is used in furniture making, for gun stocks and for handicrafts.
Medicinal plant: The leaves of the walnut tree contain tannins and essential oils, which are used in natural medicine to treat skin problems and inflammation.
Shade provider: The tree is ideal for providing shade in gardens and on farms. However, planting other crops under its crown is difficult because its roots secrete substances that inhibit the growth of other plants (allelopathy). This means that it has only limited use in the forest garden. That's why I placed it right at the edge.
Location: warm and sunny
Habitat: mild climate
Range: Central Asia, Europe
Flower: green-yellow
Flowering period: April-May
Harvest: September-October
Size: bis zu 25 Meter hoch
Edible parts: Fruit, pit (nut)
Other uses: Wood, dye
No. of plants at Son Selva: 1
Flowering
The walnut tree is a monoecious plant, which means that it bears both male and female flowers. The male flowers open in April or May. They are arranged in long, hanging, cylindrical catkins. The inconspicuous female flowers stand individually or in clusters at the end of this year's shoots. Pollination is done by the wind.
Harvest
The fruits of the walnut tree ripen in September. The green fruit shell is smooth, fleshy and contains a strong brown-colored juice. When ripe, it bursts open and releases a woody, light brown stone. From a botanical point of view, it is therefore a drupe.
Walnuts can be stored well as long as they are kept dry and dark. After harvesting, they must be dried thoroughly to prevent mold from forming. Nuts stored in shells will last up to a year under optimal conditions, while shelled walnut kernels should be eaten or frozen as soon as possible.
Planting
The walnut tree needs fertile, deep and fresh soil. It can tolerate slightly acidic soil, but prefers loamy, humusy, calcareous soil. That's a good thing, because that's the kind of soil we have here.
The walnut tree is relatively undemanding. In spring, you can add a dose of compost to the tree. In principle, the walnut tree does not need to be pruned.
As already mentioned, underplanting is difficult. There are only a few ground covers that can withstand the growth-inhibiting toxins in the leaves. These include some species of cranesbill.
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