Growing fruit trees may seem very complicated, but it is not. Yes, it is true that they require more space and water than other plants. But if we have a large enough garden or land, why not try it? In fact, in this article we are going to explain how to plant a walnut, in case you want to try it yourself.
We will not only talk about how to do it step by step, but we will also comment what is the best time to plant a walnut tree and how long do these trees take to grow and bear fruit. If you like walnuts and are thinking of growing them yourself, I recommend that you keep reading.
What is the best time to plant walnut trees?
Before explaining how to plant a walnut tree, we must first know when to carry out this task. Well, the best time for it is the first half of the coldest season of the year, winter. However, if we live in a very humid region, we can also plant this tree in spring.
When carrying out this task, It is very important that the root neck is at ground level and not buried. In the event that we introduce it between five and ten centimeters into the earth, it can take between three and four years to grow. In addition, it is highly recommended to place some protection tubes against rabbits. If possible, they should be between 60 and 80 centimeters long.
It is also highly recommended to use for planting a few copies of two years of age and that have two saps with pealing. This is basically a cut of the roots whose objective is to stimulate and help their development. The stem should be about a foot long.
What do I need to plant a walnut tree?
Like all plants, the walnut tree also needs certain requirements to be met so that it can grow and develop properly, apart from a lot of space and water. Before planting a walnut tree, we must make sure we have the following elements:
- Location: A space large enough and with plenty of sun. For extensive, the recommended framework for growing one of these fruit trees is 12 x 12 meters or 10 x 10 meters. For intensive, the recommended frame is 5 x 5 meters or 4 x 4 meters.
- Ground: It must be deep (minimum three meters), sandy, well drained, rich in organic matter and irrigated. In terms of pH, it can tolerate between five and eight, but ideally it should have a pH of 6,5. In addition, walnut trees are sensitive to high concentrations of chlorine, boron, and sodium.
- Plant: The most common is to use grafted standing plants that are about two years old and whose graft is one year old.
Usually, The best places to plant a walnut tree are usually coastal areas, riverbanks and foothills. On the other hand, places surrounded by hills should be avoided, since cold air masses can accumulate there. We must also avoid land with little drainage, where rainwater can stagnate.
How to plant a walnut tree step by step
In the event that we have adequate land for this tree, it is time to get down to work. Let's see now how to plant a walnut tree Step by Step:
- Examine the terrain: As we have already mentioned before, the walnut tree needs deep soil to be able to develop its roots. So we must first use a special ground penetrating tool to examine the ground and make sure there are no impervious or rock layers at a depth of at least three meters. If it is difficult for the tool to penetrate the soil, the roots of the tree will have the same problem and most likely will not be able to develop properly.
- till the land: Two months in advance, you must begin to break the resistance of the soil. For this we will use a plow or subsoiler. This will facilitate the unfolding of the roots of our walnut tree.
- Pay: At the same time that we till the land, we can enrich the soil by providing, for example, manure.
- Dig: Two months after we started tilling the land, we have to dig a hole, or more if we want to plant more than one walnut tree. This should be big enough and deep enough to fit the plant.
- Plant the walnut: Now we only have to introduce the tree in the hole, cover it with a little soil and water it.
Of course we can also try to germinate a nut, but we must remember that the tree It will take longer to grow and bear fruit. But with a little patience and the necessary care, everything is possible!
Once we have finished the planting task, It is only time to provide the necessary care to our walnut tree so that it grows strong and healthy. After a few years, we will have a large and majestic tree from which we can acquire some delicious nuts. You can discover what the care of the walnut tree is here.
How long does it take for a walnut tree to grow?
Now that we know how to plant a walnut tree, it's time to answer the big question that many people ask themselves: How long does it take to grow? As usual, a walnut tree begins to produce nuts from eight years of age, maybe a little later. However, in some cases they can produce between seven and ten kilos of nuts at five, six and seven years.
The vast majority of orchards that are dedicated to the cultivation of walnut trees at a commercial level, reach their maximum production at the age of at least thirty years. When these trees are mature and healthy, they usually produce between 30 and 160 kilos of nuts. However, this level of production does not occur every year. Walnut trees have a tendency to alternate, that is, one year they produce a lot and the next almost nothing. That is why we will obtain good harvests every two years.
With all this information about how to plant a walnut tree, do you dare to do it? Apart from bearing fruit, these majestic trees provide ample shade that we can take advantage of on hot summer days.