Juglans regia

Job's Acorn

Latin name Juglans regia
Alternative name Walnuts
Homeland Asia, America
Family Juglandaceae
Cultivation medium difficulty
Location in the open sun or partial shade
Temperature resistant to both low and high temperatures
Watering necessary for young plants and during periods of drought
Flowering time in spring
Height up to 35 m
Transplanting not performed
Appearance maintenance not required

The Latin name of the genus Juglans comes from a combination of the words "Jovis glans" - "Job's acorn". The most common type is the deciduous walnut tree (Juglans regia). The trunk height is up to 20-35 m, the diameter is up to 2 m, the gray smooth bark in young specimens later becomes rough. Complex, non-pinnate leaves consist of 5-11 oval-elliptical leaflets with a solid edge, dark green on the upper side and lighter on the lower side. If you rub them, they emit a characteristic aroma. The flowers are collected in single-sex inflorescences on one plant. Staminate flowers in long catkins; female collected 2-4 on the tops of shoots. They bloom at the same time as the leaves, in April. Pollination mostly by wind. The fruit, the so-called nut, is a false drupe with a green fleshy outer layer (outer pericarp) and a lignified endocarp (inner pericarp). Inside is the seed, which is the edible part. There are many fruit-bearing varieties. Nuts are very nutritious. The outer shell of the fruit contains many tannins. Black walnut (J. nigra) with an erect trunk and blackish-brown bark, unpaired very long (up to 60 cm) leaves. Fruits have a thicker inner pericarp, the seed is smaller in size, and an unpleasant taste. The roots produce the substance Juglans, which can be toxic to nearby crops. Other species are much less common, such as the ailantholeaf walnut (J. ailantifolia) with very long leaves; the California walnut shrub (J. californica) and ash walnut (J. cinerea) with pubescent leaves and very large fruits.

The Latin name of the genus Juglans comes from a combination of the words "Jovis glans" - "Job's acorn".

The most common type is the deciduous walnut tree (Juglans regia). The trunk height is up to 20-35 m, the diameter is up to 2 m, the gray smooth bark in young specimens later becomes rough. Complex, non-pinnate leaves consist of 5-11 oval-elliptical leaflets with a solid edge, dark green on the upper side and lighter on the lower side. If you rub them, they emit a characteristic aroma. The flowers are collected in single-sex inflorescences on one plant. Staminate flowers in long catkins; female collected 2-4 on the tops of shoots. They bloom at the same time as the leaves, in April. Pollination mostly by wind. The fruit, the so-called nut, is a false drupe with a green fleshy outer layer (outer pericarp) and a lignified endocarp (inner pericarp). Inside is the seed, which is the edible part. There are many fruit-bearing varieties.

Nuts are very nutritious. The outer shell of the fruit contains many tannins.

Black walnut (J. nigra) with an erect trunk and blackish-brown bark, unpaired very long (up to 60 cm) leaves. Fruits have a thicker inner pericarp, the seed is smaller in size, and an unpleasant taste. The roots produce the substance Juglans, which can be toxic to nearby crops.

Other species are much less common, such as the ailantholeaf walnut (J. ailantifolia) with very long leaves; the California walnut shrub (J. californica) and ash walnut (J. cinerea) with pubescent leaves and very large fruits.

Cultivation

Walnuts are grown in the open ground, primarily as a valuable fruit tree, but also as ornamental, medicinal, for making oils, lacquers, etc. and, in addition, as an ornamental crop. Black walnut is mainly used as an ornamental plant. All species are planted in the ground in winter. The most suitable land is fresh, with a deep fertile layer, since the root is tap-shaped (one or several main roots are directed downwards, and thin roots extend from them). It is recommended to avoid alkaline and heavy clay soils. Prune only young plants if they want to give a special shape. Adult plants do not tolerate pruning, so they are limited to removing dry and damaged branches.

Location

Walnuts can be planted both in the open sun and in partial shade.

Temperature

Usually, plants are resistant to fluctuations in air temperature. But late frosts can damage the flowers and prevent fruiting. Walnuts do not tolerate too high temperatures in summer, it is better to grow them in hilly or mountainous areas where the climate is not hot.

Watering

Avoid both excessive drought and stagnation of water in the soil. Water only in case of prolonged drought, first of all young plants after planting them in a permanent place.

Reproduction

Seed propagation is the easiest way. Seeds are sown in the spring in the air, you can immediately go to a permanent, specific place for the nut. Since the plants obtained in this way will bear fruit only after many years, it is preferable to graft (behind the bark or in a cleft) on the rootstock obtained from the seed. With such reproduction, fruit formation will begin in 8-10 years.

Diseases

Especially dangerous is walnut atracnosis caused by Marssonina juglandis, which occurs primarily in hot, rainy years. Blackish-brown spots form on the leaves, small at first, then increasing until the leaves dry out completely. On young branches, growths can form, provoking drying of the tops of shoots and the appearance of brownish spots on the fruits. Remove and destroy fallen leaves and affected twigs. This disease can be prevented by treatment with copper-containing preparations after budding.

Acquisition

Walnuts are easily purchased in nurseries and gardening centers. Buy young specimens with a lump of earth or in containers, because it is difficult to plant large plants in the ground due to overgrown roots.

How to maintain a tree in a beautiful healthy state To grow a healthy tree with beautiful bark, you need to know some tricks used when pruning side branches. At the same time, leave at least 2 cm of the branch from the trunk, and do not cut it completely, otherwise over time a depression will form in the exposed place on the trunk, which will interfere with the uniform growth of the plant and facilitate the penetration of fungi and other pathogenic agents inside. For prevention, it is necessary to treat the cut with preparations containing copper sulfate, which "disinfects" the plant.

How to maintain a tree in a beautiful healthy state

To grow a healthy tree with beautiful bark, you need to know some tricks used when pruning side branches. At the same time, leave at least 2 cm of the branch from the trunk, and do not cut it completely, otherwise over time a depression will form in the exposed place on the trunk, which will interfere with the uniform growth of the plant and facilitate the penetration of fungi and other pathogenic agents inside.

For prevention, it is necessary to treat the cut with preparations containing copper sulfate, which "disinfects" the plant.

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