Heart-shaped walnut is a unique deciduous tree with a chic spreading crown belonging to the Nut family. In the wild, this plant, which is a native of Japan, is considered endangered, so it is very much appreciated and listed in the Red Book.
External features of a heart-shaped nut
The height of the nut in natural conditions reaches 15 meters, in cultural cultivation - 9-10 meters. The bark is light gray, shoots pubescent, sticky, brownish, with large (about 2 cm) apical buds.
Leaf branches are large, about 1 meter, each consists of 11-15 oblong-oval leaflets, pubescent along the veins from the lower side.
The tree is characterized by an average growth rate. Flowering occurs in May-June (simultaneously with the blooming of leaves); female pistil flowers, collected in brushes of 8-12 pieces, are characterized by pink-red long stigmas, male flowers are long earrings (about 20 cm). The plant is quite winter-hardy and able to grow in harsh frosty climates. The heart-shaped nut is also resistant to diseases and pests.
Fruiting begins 6-8 years after planting. Fruits are collected in clusters of 8-12 pieces, green fronds, heart-shaped, about 5 cm long, about 4 cm wide. The size of nuts, characterized by a heart-shaped and sharp thin "nose" - is small, only 3-4 cm in length and about 3 cm wide with a weight of 5-6 grams.
There are no internal partitions, the outer surface of a thin (about 1.6 mm in thickness) shell is smooth. The fruit easily splits in half and in this form is very similar to a medallion. The kernel is sweet, large in size, it can be easily removed from the shell.
The most delicious among nuts
Heart-shaped nut is considered the most delicious among other species, characterized by high fat content (much higher than that of walnuts) and a low content of tannins, which does not cause sore throat. A tree at the age of 20 can produce about 110 kg of high-quality crop, which makes this crop promising for industrial production; according to rough estimates, from 1 hectare you can get from 2.5 to 7.5 tons of fruits. Ripening occurs in September; ripe nuts are cleaned of the pericarp (outer layer) and stored in a dry, cool place.
Heart-shaped nut: planting and care
The tree is thermophilic, it feels best from the east or west side, in the southern part it is necessary to shade in the summer.
Propagated by both seedlings and seeds sown before winter or spring, after they undergo stratification (in mid-January). To do this, plant seeds must be placed in a bag of sand and left in the refrigerator until spring. They should be sown to a depth of 5-6 cm. It is better to immediately to a constant place of growth, since seedlings of a heart-shaped nut do not tolerate a transplant.
Young shoots appear in the middle of summer (June-July). First, a long white root is cut from the “nose” of the nut, which begins to actively grow down. Then a green stalk appears with two leaves, while the nuts and cotyledons themselves remain in the soil.
During the period of active growth, a young heart-shaped nut, the cultivation of which is not difficult, requires abundant watering, avoiding overmoistening of the soil. Late fall should prune damaged shoots.
Heart Nut Value
The plant looks very decorative and beautiful in park areas. Tends to form hybrids with other species; Thus, the Lancaster nut is a derivative of gray walnut.
Heart-shaped nut has a valuable ability to purify air from acetylene and gasoline vapors, so it is reasonable to plant such a plant in contaminated areas. In European countries, heart-shaped wood is used in furniture production.
For better pollination and increase yield in one area, it is recommended to plant several trees (at a distance of at least 10 meters). The first 3 years after planting, the young plant needs shelter for the winter; Further, when the tree grows stronger, the need for this procedure disappears.
Heart-shaped nut is rich in the content of useful substances that can have a positive effect on human health. The constant use of its fruits normalizes the work of the cardiovascular system, significantly reduces cholesterol and prevents the occurrence of atherosclerosis. Heart-shaped nut has the ability to cleanse the kidneys, liver and blood vessels, restore the reproductive function of the body and increase vision. Therefore, the regular use of such a valuable fruit will benefit everyone.