In the southern regions of our country , walnut cultivation is quite common . It also occurs in the middle lane. The most valuable are frost-resistant varieties that give a high yield and have better fruits. Breeding this crop is very profitable, because one walnut tree can provide the necessary number of fruits for a whole year.
Appearance
The walnut is a tall tree with a spreading crown, the branches are located almost at right angles. A mighty straight trunk, covered with light gray bark, can reach 2 meters in diameter. The tree of the walnut family has a fairly developed root system, which extends around 20 m. In adulthood, when the plant is 80 years old, the roots reach a depth of 12 m.
Leaves of complex shape consist of five, or even nine elongated leaves and have a peculiar smell. During flowering, which usually occurs at the beginning of May, the walnut tree looks very impressive. Male flowers of a greenish tint are collected in thick earrings, and female flowers are placed on the tops of branches of 2-3 pieces.
The walnut begins to bear fruit in the 12th year of life. The biggest crop gives a tree at the age of 50 years - up to 250 kg of nuts. The fruits of a round shape ripen in August and have a mass of 8 to 12 grams, depending on the variety and place of growth.
How to grow a tree from a nut
This is the most common way to grow a walnut tree. The fruits are selected for this strong, with a thin shell and a tasty kernel. Nuts intended for spring planting must be properly dried. To do this, first they are laid out in the sun, and then dried in a shaded place. It is not recommended to dry fruits near radiators.
Planting is carried out immediately to a permanent place, because the root of the tree quickly reaches a certain depth and its injury during transplantation can lead to the death of the plant. For landing, a rather deep hole is dug - 1 m in depth and the same in diameter. It is filled with a soil mixture with rotted humus, thus creating a supply of nutrients for the future tree. Seeds are placed in the groove upwards with a seam to a depth of 15-20 cm, 3-4 pieces in one hole.
Planting seedlings
Walnut seedlings take root best if planted in spring. This must be done very carefully so as not to damage the lateral roots. The root root must be cut to a depth of 40 cm using a secateurs, covering the place of cut with clay. Landing pit should be at least 60 cm deep. A layer of fertilizer consisting of 150 g of superphosphate, 10 kg of humus and 50 g of potassium chloride is poured at its bottom . A peg 1.5 m high must be installed in the pit to tie the plants in the first months after planting. Walnut seedlings are set so that the root neck slightly rises above the ground. Then the side roots are thoroughly straightened and covered with earth mixed with 1 kg of lime. After planting a seedling, the soil near it must be abundantly watered and mulched. When planting several plants, the distance between them is 8-10 m.
Tree care
The young tree requires special attention in the first year of life. Regular watering, weeding and loosening are the main work to care for it. Starting from the second year, they begin to form a crown, this process ends at the time of fruiting. Pruning should be done very carefully, be sure to treat the wounds with garden var. It is also necessary to periodically monitor the state of plant health: timely remove diseased or broken branches, burn fallen leaves in autumn. In the spring, shortly before buds open, a tree can be sprayed with Bordeaux liquid to protect against diseases.
A walnut tree is considered a water-loving plant, however, excessive waterlogging of the soil does not tolerate well. Therefore, when watering, you should take into account both soil features and the amount of rainfall.
Disease protection
The main disease to which the walnut tree is susceptible is the fungal disease Marsoniosis, or brown spotting. Plants are especially susceptible to it in the rainy season. A good remedy for combating this disease is spraying with fungicides, but it is very difficult to do this regularly with fairly large tree sizes. For the treatment of young trees, they use Bordeaux liquid or modern preparations sold in specialized stores. Spraying is carried out in two stages: before the budding of the buds and during the growing season. When signs of brown spotting appear, the procedure is repeated after 25 days.
The benefits of walnuts
Nuts are considered an extremely valuable product, which contains a lot of nutrients. Their main field of application is confectionery, food industry. It is very useful to eat nuts in the winter season, when a large amount of energy is consumed. People after serious illnesses, as well as children who are stunted, are recommended nuts in combination with honey as a restorative diet.
It has long been famous for walnut and its medicinal properties. A mixture of crushed fruits with figs was used in antiquity as an antidote. Walnut oil is an excellent tool for healing wounds and chronic ulcers, it is also used to treat conjunctivitis, inflammation of the middle ear. The ability of nuts to improve digestion makes them a true dietary product.
Leaves with insecticidal properties secrete substances that can not tolerate mosquitoes, midges, flies and other insects. Therefore, a walnut tree can often be found not only in personal plots, but also in urban gardens, squares, near houses.