It ’s say that you do n’t plant junkie tree for yourself ; you plant them for generations to come . But you may not have to look long to enjoy your crop — some grafted trees start up bearing fruit within one year of planting . Once nut tree are establish , their loosely low criminal maintenance lay down them an attractive accession to any hobby farm .
Success with nuttreesdepends on factor that include topography and climate ; the type , pH and richness of your soil ; the availability of moisture ; and the prevalence of pests and disease in your region — even the whims of local squirrel , chipmunks and jays , who can decimate your orchard but exit your neighbour ’s unswayed .
Before buy and imbed bollock trees , ask yourself these questions :
In addition to answering these interrogative sentence , Sandra Anagnostakis , PhD , a chestnut tree scientist at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station , evoke , “ notice out what kinds of tree will grow in your climate and in your soil . see around to see what rise well in your arena . ”
A local soil - examination research lab can test your stain ’s pH ( yourcounty extension agencymight be capable to , too ) , and employee at nation departments of agriculture and agricultural college might be capable to put up advice and share their enthusiasm for their favorite trees .
Nut - tree breeders shipping across the U.S. , as well as your local greenhouse , should bang what ballock - tree assortment execute well in your region . Nonprofit organizations , such as the Arbor Day Foundation and the Northern Nut Growers Association , provide tidings about the latest cultivar ( plant varieties that have been deliberately selected for specific desirable characteristics ) and info on the good proficiency for planting and successful cultivation .
Preventing Pests in Nut Trees
“ If you ’re only growing 1/2 to 5 acres of trees cheeseparing to a woodlot , squirrels will be your biggest nightmare , ” says Molnar , and other growers agree .
addict kernels go from liquid to jelly to a dough - like stagecoach when they ’re still green — mid - July for walnuts and mid - August for pecans . That ’s when squirrels start cutting them down from the trees .
“ But if you have one or two dogs that run free , ” says Molnar , “ that ’ll do the trick . ” Cats can also help oneself with a squirrel problem .
Playing register birdie suffering calls or predator outcry in your orchard will aid scare off away blue jays , which also love nuts .
Harvesting Nuts
Once ballock trees are established , the self-aggrandizing input of time and exploit is at harvest — assembly , preparing and preserving the nuts . Even if you ’re using a machine to sway the tree , “ prophylactic fingers ” to piece the nut off the terra firma and a mechanized dry cleaner to remove rubble , you ’ll still need to inspect the hulled crank . If you put them in piddle , damaged , diseased or old nuts will commonly blow to the top .
The orchis should be dried in their shells to reduce moisture content to less than 10 percent , which discourages potentially dangerous mold and improves flavour and texture . Lay the nuts in a undivided layer in a nerveless , dry , well - ventilated place or on a screen so air circulate around them , says Reid . It may take a week to three workweek until the substance rattle in their shells , lose their rubberiness and snap when bent on . To speed the process , habituate blower or dryers . Once they ’re dry , store in - shell ball in a nerveless place .
To extract the kernels , commercially usable specialty nut crackers may be deserving the investment for speed and control , but even a coarse judiciary bench vise will snap the hardest shells . Most nuts are very gamey in protein and in spirit - sizable oils — pecans and hazelnut can be almost 75 percentage oil . freeze shelled nuts will stop their crude oil from oxidating , which is what make rancidity . They keep well for years if frozen in airtight glass or hard - plastic container , prevent the nuts from suck off flavors from their surroundings .
chestnut are the exception . The ball are almost entirely carbohydrate , and unlike other nuts , dried chestnuts are “ rock’n’roll - knockout and useless , ” says Anagnostakis . At harvest , Anagnostakis recommend dipping the nuts in hot water to master a weevil that lays its orchis in the junkie as they mature or as the bur open . She says weevil restraint is not difficult : Soak the addict at 122 degree F for 30 minutes , then forthwith chill to 32 to 34 degree F to kill weevil eggs before they hatch . Because of their high wet capacity — about 25 per centum — fresh chestnuts must be kept cold after harvest to prevent mold and , like other fresh produce , should only be sell from a refrigerated face .
Whatever en trees you ’re most partial of , the most authoritative affair is to “ Grow what your demesne is really suit for , and grow what farm well , ” allege Reid .
