Heart-shaped walnut is a unique deciduous tree with a chic spreading crown, belonging to the Walnut family. In the wild, this plant, which is a native of Japan, is considered endangered, therefore it is highly valued and listed in the Red Book.
External features of the heart-shaped nut
The height of the nut in natural conditions reaches 15 meters, in cultural cultivation - 9-10 meters. The bark is light gray, the shoots are pubescent, sticky, brownish, with large (about 2 cm) apical buds.
Leaf branches are large, about 1 meter, each consists of 11-15 oblong-oval leaves, pubescent along the veins on the underside.
The tree is characterized by an average growth rate. Flowering occurs in May-June (simultaneously with the blooming of leaves); female pistillate flowers, collected in a brush of 8-12 pieces, are characterized by pink-red long stigmas, male flowers are long catkins (about 20 cm). The plant is quite winter hardy and able to growin harsh cold climates. The heart-shaped nut is also resistant to diseases and pests.
Fruiting begins 6-8 years after planting. The fruits are collected in bunches of 8-12 pieces, outer carpels are green, heart-shaped, about 5 cm long, about 4 cm wide. about 3 cm wide and weighs 5-6 grams.
There are no internal partitions, the outer surface of the thin (about 1.6 mm thick) shell is smooth. The fruit easily splits in half and in this form is very similar to a medallion. The kernel is sweet, large in size, it can be easily removed from the shell.
The most delicious among nuts
The heart-shaped nut is considered the most delicious among other species, it is characterized by a high fat content (much higher than that of a walnut) and a low content of tannins, which does not cause a sore throat. A tree at the age of 20 is capable of producing about 110 kg of a quality crop, which makes this crop promising for industrial production; according to approximate estimates, from 1 hectare you can get from 2.5 to 7.5 tons of fruits. Ripening occurs in September; ripe nuts are cleaned from the pericarp (outer layer) and stored in a dry, cool place.
Heart-shaped walnut: planting and care
The tree is thermophilic, it feels best on the east or west side, in the southern part shading is necessary in summer.
Propagated by both seedlings and seeds sown before winter or in spring, after they have passed through stratification (in mid-January). To do this, the seeds of the plant must be placed in a bag of sand and left until spring in the refrigerator. They should be sown to a depth of 5-6 cm. Better immediately to a permanent place of growth, as heart-shaped nut seedlings do not tolerate transplantation.
Young shoots appear in the middle of summer (June-July). First, a white long root cuts through the “nose” of the nut, which begins to actively grow down. Then a green stem appears with two leaves, while the nuts and cotyledons themselves remain in the soil.
During the period of active growth, the young heart-shaped nut, the cultivation of which is not difficult, needs to be watered abundantly, preventing waterlogging of the soil. In late autumn, damaged shoots should be pruned.
Value of a heart-shaped nut
The plant is very decorative and looks beautiful in park areas. It tends to form hybrids with other species; so, a derivative of the gray walnut is the Lancaster walnut.
The heart-shaped nut has a valuable ability to purify the air from acetylene and gasoline vapors, so it is reasonable to plant such a plant in polluted areas. In European countries, heart-shaped walnut wood is used in furniture production.
For better cross-pollination and higher yields, it is recommended to plant several trees in one area (at a distance of at least 10 meters). First 3 years after plantinga young plant needs shelter for the winter; further, when the tree gets stronger, there is no need for this procedure.
Heart-shaped nut is rich in nutrients that can have a positive effect on human he alth. The constant use of its fruits normalizes the functioning of the cardiovascular system, significantly reduces cholesterol levels and prevents the occurrence of atherosclerosis. The heart-shaped nut has the ability to cleanse the kidneys, liver and blood vessels, restore the reproductive function of the body and increase vision. Therefore, the regular use of such a valuable fruit will only benefit everyone.
