Walnuts

[funkypixie]

Hello all - newbie here!

I have just noticed loads of walnut trees growing in our local park - how I have never seen them before is anyone's guess - and I was wondering when would be the right time to harvest them?

If I was a b etting lass I'd go with sometime around the same time as conkers - any advance?

Thanks,

Anna x

[Millymollymandy]

They'll drop from the tree when they are ready. I can't remember exactly when my neighbour gave me a load last year - Oct or Nov time.

[funkypixie]

Lovely - thanks

[hmk]

What do you do with green walnuts?

I've read lots of recipes for pickling etc, but none of them explain exactly what you do. Do you take the green outer off and find the actual nut inside, albeit unripe, or do you use the whole thing?

Sorry if that's a dim question....

TIA

Hazel

[funkypixie]

I haven't worked out what I'm going to do with them yet...

I think a green walnut is just one that hasn't been dried, so I'm thinking that I'll remove the outer husk to expose the shell and leave them in a cool (or warm?), dry room. I think you can use them like bought dry nuts but I'm ready for a fair bit of trial and error.

As far as pickling goes I have absolutely no idea.

Anna x

[Millymollymandy]

I haven't pickled walnuts but I've read enough threads about it on various forums! You pick them around July and they are pickled whole as the nuts and shells inside have not yet gone hard. There must be loads of recipes/info on the internet - one thing that I remember well is that you need to wear gloves when pickling because the green walnuts steeped in brine stain your hands black and you can't get rid of the stain for weeks!

When you want them as the nuts we know that we eat at Xmas, you leave them on the tree. When they are ready the outer green casing will open and the nut (in its shell) will drop out. Leave them in a warm room for a couple of weeks and then enjoy them. They will last in a warm room for months and months - I know, because I have only just cracked open the last of the bucketful that my neighbours gave me last year and they have been in my living room since Oct/Nov time!

This year there are hundreds on my own (young) tree - it only had about 7 nuts last year so it is doing well now!

[Han&Matt]

My parents have a lovely walnut tree in their garden and so I have grown up with them. Some tips:

1st you have competition in the way of squirrels which through extreme cunning seems to collect their harvest a few days before your is planned - watch 'em or you'll lose the lot! Around Sept-Oct depending on climate etc.

Second, just as mmm says they are ready when the green casing splits - you don't have to wait until they fall (prey for beetles, feet and rot).

Third - wear gloves whatever you do!!! Latex ones (unless you have an allergy) are best - don't risk it unless you want very stained hands for weeks - fingernails get especially nasty! (this is when picking as well as pickling)

Take green casing off and store in dry place just as mmm says. They are just the nicest nuts ever - longer you leave them the more they dry out but they're good before they dry out too. I think supermarkets must clean them throughly as they are not as perfectly 'beige' (!) as you get in the shops but much tastier.

Enjoy your free harvest!

[Millymollymandy]

Third - wear gloves whatever you do!!! Latex ones (unless you have an allergy) are best - don't risk it unless you want very stained hands for weeks - fingernails get especially nasty! (this is when picking as well as pickling)

Thanks for that tip! I haven't as yet had the delight of actually harvesting any - so I am really looking forward to doing that this year.

I think having my own walnut tree is about THE most exciting tree I could ever have! (Well OK if I had a mango I'd be pretty excited too, but that ain't gonna happen in Brittany!).

The sad thing is that the previous owners planted three trees close to one another - so the two younger ones will have to go this winter as they are practically touching now and they are still only baby trees. Some people just don't think ahead.