On the territory of the southern regions of our country, the cultivation of walnuts is quite common. It also occurs in the middle lane. The most valuable are frost-resistant varieties that give a high yield and have better fruits. It is very profitable to breed this crop, because one walnut tree can provide the necessary amount of fruit for the whole year.
Appearance
Walnut is a tall tree with a spreading crown, the branches are almost at right angles. A mighty straight trunk, covered with light gray bark, can reach 2 meters in diameter. A tree of the walnut family has a fairly developed root system that extends around 20 m. At a mature age, when the plant is 80 years old, the roots reach a depth of up to 12 m.
Leaves of complex shape consist of five or even nine elongated leaves and have a peculiar smell. During flowering, which usually occurs at the beginning of May, the walnut tree looks very impressive. Male flowers of a greenish hue are collected in thick earrings, and female flowers are placed on the tops of branches.2-3 pieces.
Walnut begins to bear fruit in the 12th year of life. The largest yield is given by a tree at the age of 50 years - up to 250 kg of nuts. Round-shaped fruits ripen in August and have a weight of 8 to 12 grams, depending on the variety and place of growth.
How to grow a tree from a nut
This is the most common way to grow a walnut tree. The fruits are selected for this strong, with a thin shell and a tasty core. Nuts intended for spring planting must be properly dried. To do this, they are first laid out in the sun, and then dried in a shaded place. It is not recommended to dry fruits near radiators.
Landing is carried out immediately to a permanent place, because the root of the tree quickly reaches a certain depth and its injury during transplantation can lead to the death of the plant. For planting, a rather deep hole is dug - 1 m deep and the same in diameter. It is covered with a soil mixture with rotted humus, thus creating a supply of nutrients for the future tree. Seeds are placed in the groove with a seam up to a depth of 15-20 cm, 3-4 pieces in one hole.
Planting seedlings
Walnut seedlings do best when planted in the spring. This must be done very carefully so as not to damage the lateral roots. The tap root must be cut at a depth of 40 cm with a pruner, covering the cut with clay. The planting hole must be at least 60 cm deep. A layer is poured at the bottom of itfertilizer, consisting of 150 g of superphosphate, 10 kg of humus and 50 g of potassium chloride. A peg 1.5 m high must be installed in the pit for tying the plant in the first months after planting. Walnut seedlings are installed so that the root collar slightly rises above the ground. Then the lateral roots are carefully straightened and covered with earth mixed with 1 kg of lime. After planting the seedling, the soil near it must be plentifully watered and mulched. When planting several plants, the distance between them is 8-10 m.
Tree care
A young tree requires special attention in the first year of life. Regular watering, weeding and loosening are the main works for caring for it. Starting from the second year, they begin to form the crown, this process is completed by the time of fruiting. Pruning should be done very carefully, be sure to treat the wounds with garden pitch. It is also necessary to periodically monitor the he alth of the plant: remove diseased or broken branches in a timely manner, burn fallen leaves in autumn. In the spring, shortly before bud break, you can spray the tree with Bordeaux liquid to protect against diseases.
The walnut tree is considered a moisture-loving plant, however, it does not tolerate excessive waterlogging of the soil. Therefore, when watering, one should take into account both the characteristics of the soil and the amount of precipitation.
Protection against diseases
The main disease that the walnut tree is susceptible to is the fungal disease marsoniosis, or brown spot. Plants are especially susceptible to it during the rainy season. A good way to control this disease is to spray with fungicides, but it is very difficult to do this regularly with a sufficiently large tree size. For the treatment of young trees, Bordeaux liquid or modern preparations sold in specialized stores are used. Spraying is carried out in two stages: before the start of bud break and during the growing season. If signs of brown spot appear, the procedure is repeated after 25 days.
Benefits of walnuts
Nuts are considered an extremely valuable product, which contains many nutrients. Their main area of application is the confectionery industry, the food industry. It is very useful to eat nuts in the winter season, when a large amount of energy is consumed. People after serious illnesses, as well as children who are stunted, are recommended nuts in combination with honey as a restorative diet.
Walnut has long been famous for its medicinal properties. A mixture of crushed fruits with figs was used in the old days as an antidote. Nut oil is an excellent remedy for healing wounds and chronic ulcers, it is also used to treat conjunctivitis, an inflammation of the middle ear. The ability of nuts to improve digestion makes them a real dietary product.
The leaves, which have insecticidal properties, secrete substances that mosquitoes, midges, flies and other insects do not tolerate. Therefore, a walnut tree can often be found not only in personal plots, but also in city gardens, squares, near houses.
