Added: 10/14/2005 |
While growing black walnut you not only obtain wood products and edible nuts, but also provide wildlife with food and protect soil and water resourcesThe plant of Black walnut (Botanic name for it is Juglans nigra) generally grows up to 4 feet in diameter and its age can be up to 200 years, which makes it a long-living plant. Black walnut can sometimes be encountered in natural stands and plantations for the most part in the Center and the East of the United states and Southern part of Canada, whereas in plantations this species can be seen practically anywhere throughout the United States.
In Minnesota black walnut trees grow in almost county, however its plantations oriented at timber production which cross the boundaries of the commercial range are strongly discouraged. In the northern part of the Minnesota commercial range, the black walnut trees are characterized by a slower growing pace, as well as by age indicating rings, which are strikingly close to each other. However, what makes the value of this kind of black walnuts greater and their price higher is their intense color and special figure.
In natural stands black walnuts are generally encountered either as single scattered specimens or in the mixture with other trees, such as basswood, red oak, hickory, elm, ash, etc.
For several well-founded reasons, growing black walnut appears to be a very reasonable, wise and profitable investment, which is sure to pay off in the years to come. Additional proof for this fact is that if the price per board foot is taken into account, walnut is among the most valuable tree species. Among the major conditions necessary for growing black walnut is the level of precipitation over 25 inches and over 140 comparatively warm days.
Absence of frost is also one of the crucial conditions for effective black walnut growing. For satisfactory result it is highly desirable that the soil be rich, fertile, moist, but still well-drained. Sandy or silty loam soils are the first choice, whereas shallow, sandy, dry and rocky soils should be avoided due to the fact that they have a considerable negative effect on the general growing pace and the quality of timber. Only soils safe from flooding and ice damage are appropriate for growing black walnut.
Speaking about the best suitable locations, river terraces, hillside benches, coves facing north or east are the best sites to grow black walnut. On the contrary, south- or west-faced slopes, steep-sloped narrow valleys, bottomland sites as well as the sites with poor airflow, are absolutely inappropriate for growing black walnut. It is necessary to plant black walnut trees in open sunny areas to avoid any shade. When it comes to planting a black walnut tree you have a possibility to choose from two available options - the plant can reproduce from seeds or from stump sprouts.
Many years of experience have pointed out several factors due to which the method of planting seedlings, or nuts as an additional option, appears to be the most preferable. Generally speaking, it takes plantations about 50 years to mature, which is half as much compared to the natural stands. Agroforestry, timber and nut production are major purposes of growing black walnut.
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