by George Collins » Wed Sep 26, 2012 2:47 am
Sorry about that y'all. I meant to respond to this earlier and got sidetracked.
Posting from an iPhone is not as conducive to scrolling back and froth to tease out questions and provide answers so let me just give a run down with as much detail as possible concerning planting black walnuts.
First, the principles behind germination of black walnuts.
To break dormancy, black walnut seed require a period of cold stratification of 3-4 months. Cold stratification requires a temperature in the low 40s to high 30s. After that, they require the same things to germinate as any other seed: warmth and moisture.
Black walnuts, unlike many or most other hardwoods, can survive dessication (drying out).
Now for specifics:
Along about this time of year, we begin gathering seeds from trees that grow locally. Once they are all gathered, we will pot them up in as many layers as possible in large tubs alternated with damp layers of vermiculite, peat moss and compost (Mel's mix). After an unknown amount of time, they will be dug up and if the husk has softened, dehusked. Once the husk has been removed, they are put (usualy) into 3-gallon buckets. The bottom of the bucket is lined with Mel's mix and then a layer of walnuts is added at the maximum density but not exceeding a single layer. Next, we add another layer of Mel's mix and then another layer of seeds. This process is continued until the top of the bucket is reached. After the bucket is full, it is covered with tin foil and placed in the pantry fridge with the date written in sharpie on the outside of the bucket.
Since black walnuts can survive dessication, you can now manipulate the process to force the nuts onto your planting timetable. In this climate, based on the previous year's experience, next year's crop will need to be planted between March 15 and April 15. To accomplish this, I merely back off 4 months from March 1st to arrive at a date when the seeds need to enter stratification, which in this case is November 15th through December 1st.
Once the seeds have spent the appropriate amount of time in the fridge, they will be pulled out and placed into pots of Mel's mix. They will be arranged one layer only per bucket and each seed will be laid on its side and pushed into the soil such that 1/2 of the width of the seed is visible above the soil line.
Once the seeds come out of the fridge, beginning about two weeks later, things will transpire quickly. Because the Mel's mix is so friable, you can check each seed daily or every other day and if, while doing so, you pick up a seed with a long radicle, it is unlikely that it will be grossly damaged.
Once the seeds has germinated, you can plant it out into its permanent position.
"Solve world hunger, tell no one." "The, the, the . . . The Grinch!"
"If you can't beat them, bite them."