How to grow Walnuts

Learn everything you need to know about growing Walnuts in your garden, from sun requirements to planting tips to harvesting and more.

Walnut trees require deep, well draining soil, with plenty of well rotted compost mixed in.

Like most nut trees, Walnuts will not tolerate waterlogged soil and will develop root rot as a result. Avoid planting in heavy clay unless the soil has been amended. Heavy soils can be improved by incorporating gypsum and organic matter and mounding the soil before planting to improve drainage. 

Plant Walnut trees in a full sun position. 

 Yes, Walnut trees are frost tolerant but Walnut blossoms can be damaged by spring frosts.

Plant Walnut trees roughly 20m apart. 

Late autumn or early spring is the best time to transplant most dormant plants. Plants, with the exception of bare-root, can be transplanted at anytime between when the ground thaws and when it freezes (so anytime if you are in a frost free climate). However, if transplanting in the heat of summer, you'll need to be diligent in watering and provide extra shade for your plant in the first few weeks after transplanting.

Dig a hole 2-3 times the width of the root ball. The hole should allow the plant to sit at the same level in the soil as it was previously. Fill the hole with soil ensuring that the crown of the plant, where the roots and stem meet, is level with the soil surface.

Plant out in the early morning or evening and/or on an overcast day. Avoid planting at peak sun times or on windy days, this will allow your plants to settle in comfortably and protect them from windburn and sunburn. 

Top-dress the soil around your Walnut tree with well-rotted organic matter in spring, along with a balanced organic fertiliser. Add a 2-3 inch layer of mulch around the tree up to the drip line to retain moisture (be careful not to pile mulch against the tree trunk as this may lead to trunk rot and disease). 

Walnuts can be harvested straight from the tree, you can also shake or knock them down when the husks begin cracking. Gather nuts as they fall to the ground. 

 Pests that can affect Walnut trees include: Black Pecan Aphid, Pecan Nut Casebearer, Pecan Weevil. 

Diseases that can affect Walnut trees include: Anthracnose, Downy Spot, Powdery Mildew, Vein Spot, Zonate Leaf Spot, Bacterial Leaf Scorch, Crown Gall, Scab, Shuck and Kernel Rot. 

Walnut trees will generally produce their first proper crop 5 years after planting.  

While Walnut trees are self fertile, it's best to plant trees from two or more varieties to ensure adequate pollination and to achieve the best possible fruit set.