Walnut is an excellent source of beauty, health and good mood. It is also called the "Tree of Life", because it contains a significant amount of vitamins (E, A, P, C, B), and trace elements (sodium, calcium, magnesium, potassium, iodine, iron, phosphorus) and biologically active substances.
There are many recipes using walnut, both in folk medicine and in official medicine.
To independently grow such a miracle a tree will need knowledge and a little patience.
Now you will learn how to grow walnut.
How to select the material for planting
The material for planting walnuts can serve as seeds, it is the fruits of the tree themselves, and seedlings can be purchased.
We select walnuts for seeds
Fruits for planting need to select the highest quality. They must be without any damage, even shape and large size. Selected nuts should be stored in a dry and cool place.
3-3.5 months before planting, the nuts should be placed in a container with wet sand and placed in a room where the temperature will be no more than 7 degrees, the basement or the cellar will be an ideal place for this. It is necessary to observe that the sand does not dry out, but is constantly wet.
Another option for planting - seedlings
Choosing walnut seedlings it is necessary to pay attention to the bark of the tree and its roots. If the bark is dry and the roots rot, this is the first sign of illness or the presence of pests. A powerful root system is a sign of a healthy seedling. To be sure that the tree will take root well and will produce a bountiful harvest in the future, it is better to turn to professional breeders for the purchase of seedlings. Specialists will correctly form a clod of soil that will protect the growth and suction zones.
Important is the choice of location
The choice of a place for planting a walnut should be approached very seriously, in principle, as for any other fruit tree.
What features need to be considered
Walnut is a mountain plant. With good sunshine, he grows a beautiful, spreading crown, so the walnut does not like crampedness. If you are going to plant several trees, the distance between them should be made at least five meters. The exception is the sloping section. The slope of the site can be from 3-6 degrees and reach 18-20 degrees, subject to horizontal placement of seedlings.
What soil is suitable
It is not recommended to plant a nut on a swampy, compacted soil, as well as lowland places.
The best option for planting would be wet loams (a soil with a small amount of sand and with sufficient clay content).
We proceed to the preparation of the site
Before planting walnut seedlings in the ground, a number of preparatory work should be carried out to ensure a good harvest in the future. The plot should be cleared, i.e. remove all plants from it, and level it.
Pit and its size
The pit should be dug on the day of planting the seedling, in order to preserve the maximum amount of moisture in it, since water cannot be poured into the pit itself. The pit is dug out in the size 60Х60см.
Do not forget to fertilize
If in the area that is prepared for planting a walnut, the fertile layer was shallow, then the soil should be well fertilized. To do this, mix manure, ashes and superphosphate (2 cups of ash per bucket of manure mixed with superphosphate). A hole is made in the pit itself, approximately to a depth of 80 cm, and ready fertilizer is applied.
Preparation completed, now the main thing: landing
Before planting, the walnut seedlings need to be prepared: if there are damaged roots, they should be carefully cut. During planting, it is necessary to gently straighten the lateral roots in a horizontal position. Powder with earth, start from the bottom roots and smoothly rise upwards. The uppermost roots should not be deep from the ground surface, at a depth of about 6-7cm.
What is the best time to plant
Walnut seedlings can be planted in the autumn at times, not later than a month before the first frost, and in the spring. More favorable time, all the same - spring. Since winter frosts and winds can adversely affect young seedlings.
Optimum depth for a sapling
The depth of the pit for planting walnut seedlings directly depends on the size of its root system. The minimum depth should be 70cm. But, a prerequisite for the favorable growth of the tree, is that the depth of the pit should be at 30-40cm. longer than the root system.
Do not forget to water
After planting a walnut, the ground around the seedling is slightly tamped, and around the pit a small depression is made.
Young trees require abundant watering, under each seedling - 15-20 liters of water.
Walnut Fertilizer
So that the ground around the tree does not dry out or crack, the soil should be mulched. This can be done with sawdust, peat chips or straw with a layer of about 2-3 cm. In order to collect rainwater and improve the nutrition of the roots, it is necessary to build a mound of earth and humus mixture around the seedling at a ratio of 3: 1 50cm from the trunk. Approximately two weeks after planting you need to make abundant watering of the seedling, about 15-20 liters. Further watering should be carried out about once every two months. Trees whose height has reached 4 meters can be watered less intensively.
It may seem like a laborious process for someone to grow walnuts, but believe me when the tree brings the first fruits, you will feel that it was worth it.
