Black Walnut: Beloved Tree or Messy Nuisance??
It seems strange to me, coming as it does from a self confirmed Black Walnut nut-job, that people ascribe so much negativity and hate to a tree that freely drops thousands of pounds of protein, fat and minerals, you know…..FOOD, essential for life! It is truly a bizarre world when many folks complain about skyrocketing grocery prices, while in the same breath groan about having to rake up the walnuts in the yard to throw in the landfill.
Every year, as sure as the sun will shine, Black Walnut trees dependably produce a crop. Unlike many trees that have boom or bust cycles due to late frosts nipping their flowers, the Walnut flowers late enough to avoid those crop killing frosts. This is a huge deal in the food forest as it means a fairly predictable crop year in, year out. In the worst years, the crop is merely average or somewhat light. I have never seen a year go by without any walnuts around. This is vital not only for our own food source and nursery seed stock, but it keeps the populations of animals that depend on nuts thriving. These nuts have kept generations of people fed through tough times, both from the nuts themselves and also from feeding them to pigs and hunting the abundant squirrels among the trees. How ignorant of us to neglect these wonderful gifts, freely offered by the Black Walnut!
The beauty of this mighty forest sentinel can turn heads. With long fronds of leaves, they lend a tropical feel to the northern landscape. It is a very resilient tree as well. A long taproot anchors it into the earth, where it can withstand drought and dominate a stand of trees for centuries. The shade it casts is quite light and will allow many different plants to grow beneath it’s canopy. We plant Pawpaws, Black Raspberries, Hazelnuts, Persimmons, Sunchokes and many others under mature walnuts and they receive ample sunlight to fuel growth and fruit production. Care must be taken however as not all plants make good bedfellows with Black Walnut. A natural chemical called Juglone is made by the tree which can negatively impact certain plants. Tomatoes, Potatoes, Blueberries, Asparagus and some others will languish and eventually die if they are too near a walnut. Do you due diligence when gardening around mature walnuts.
Planting young walnuts is a very fulfilling act. The trees grow rapidly in the right conditions. They prefer rich soil but can get by in less than ideal soil. They are sun lovers and do not tolerate shade, so avoid planting them in dense forests. I’ve also found that they are easy to establish even with the presence of deer and voles. They don’t seem to be a preferred species for them, especially if other trees like cherry and apple are abundant! In a number of years, it will have grown a sturdy trunk of high quality wood. In fact it is one of the most highly prized woods for wood workers and sawmills. High prices can be obtained from large walnut trees. Many folks even plant legacy orchards to leave behind for their children or grandchildren!
This grand, stately being of the forest has extended it’s arms to us. The gifts it bears are numerous, if we but broaden our perspectives enough to appreciate them for what they are. If all we do is complain about the mess the nuts make, then we will beget messes. If we value it as nourishing food instead, then we beget nourishing food for healthy bodies and minds. Working with these trees lifts the spirit as well, keeping us healthy in all three phases of mind, body and soul.