English Walnut Project
John Gordon was a long-time member of the NYNGA and the NNGA (Northern Nut Growers Association). He had a small nursery in Amherst, NY and was the author of the book “Nut Growing Ontario Style.” John wrote that “hardy English for New York will evolve if we achieve a project that searches out, propagates and advertises the advantages of the more hardy walnuts. Several of our members have been searching for later leafing English walnuts, which will get by frosts, making trees with lively wood and blight free nuts.” English walnuts (Juglans regia) are also known as Persian walnuts and Carpathian walnuts. They originated in Eurasia. The NYNGA is interested in English walnuts (EW) because they self-husk, eliminating a messy and necessary processing step compared to several of the other nut trees species. EWs produce large nuts with a high percentage of nutmeats that crack out easily, taste good and are very nutritious to eat.
Unfortunately EWs are not as well adapted to our climate as black walnuts (BW) are. EWs flower early and the flowers are frost sensitive, so cropping can be sporadic. They are also susceptible to walnut blight, a bacterial disease, so finding disease resistant trees is important. Our goal is to trial the best known existing cultivars to see how they perform in different micro-climates across NYS. We would also like to locate established, healthy trees throughout the state that may be of unknown parentage to collect scionwood to graft onto suitable rootstocks for further study and sharing. The most important characteristics we are looking for are adaptation to the colder areas of NYS (hardiness zones 4 and 5,) annual production, self-husking even during wet years when walnut blight pressure is higher, and most importantly ease of cracking and excellent taste (mild, nutty, with no bitterness – sweetness would be a plus.)
Do you want to get involved in this project? Here’s how you can help.
HELP US FIND SUPERIOR ENGLISH WALNUT TREES
HELP US FIELD TRIAL POTENIALLY SUPERIOR EW TREES
Walnut crop ready for harvest