Can you grow a walnut tree from a store-bought nut?
Written by
Liu Xiaohui
Reviewed by
Prof. Charles Hartman, Ph.D.To grow walnuts from nuts you buy from the store, you have to be precise. I tried to prepare nuts by putting untreated walnuts in damp peat moss in the refrigerator for 102 days, and cracked shells indicated readiness. I planted at the suggested depth of 3 inches in sandy loam and watched them sprout, despite frosts in April. To be fair, half the walnuts were stolen by rodents at the time, so I leaned early to the requirement of cages.
Stratification Steps
- Refrigerate raw nuts at 34-40°F (1-4°C) for 90-120 days
- Layer nuts in damp vermiculite inside breathable bags
- Check weekly for mold; treat with 3% hydrogen peroxide
Planting Techniques
- Bury nuts 2-3 inches (5-7.6 cm) deep
- Space seedlings 30 feet (9 meters) apart
- Use ½-inch hardware cloth cages against voles
Seedling Protection
- Apply neem oil spray biweekly for aphids
- Wrap trunks with aluminum foil to deter borers
- Install owl boxes to reduce squirrel raids
You might risk ruining the edible kernels of walnuts bought from the store and drying out the nuts to sell. To soften the hulls, you could soak them in water for 48 hours. Once they are soaked, you can roll them on gravel paths; the friction will allow you to remove the hulls without crushing the shells. I see my stained gloves as a reminder: you need to wear rubber gloves when handling the fresh hulls that are high in tannins.
When you have to delay planting, then please store your stratified nuts at a temperature of 32° Fahrenheit (0° Celsius). When storing your nuts at this temperature, use vacuum-sealed jars with oxygen absorbers. They will last about 18 months, in general. Last year I soaked my year-old nuts in a kelp solution overnight, and they germinated the next day. A year later I now know - success depends on moisture, not cold!
Read the full article: How to Grow Walnuts: 7 Essential Steps for Healthy Trees
