How to tell if a walnut is ripe: The biggest mistake you'll make is picking it from the tree

Walnut harvest

The harvest of "wlašák" is part of the main autumn harvest from late September to October, when apples, pears, late plums, pumpkins, squash, potatoes, beetroot, root vegetables or late cabbage are also harvested in gardens and orchards. Everything needs to be brought indoors in time, so you may want to speed up the harvest.

However, harvesting walnuts is complicated by the fact that they are the fruits of the king walnut tree, which grows to a fairly high height and boasts a massive, bushy crown. Proper harvesting of walnuts takes a long time, because it is necessary to wait until the fruits are really ripe enough. Unripe walnuts do not yet have properly developed kernels, which is reflected in a bland taste and an increased tendency to mold.

How to recognize a ripe walnut

Walnuts ripen in a hard green shell, called a ruby, so it can be difficult to tell if the nut is ripe inside. The green shell is initially very hard, smooth, and tightly encases the nut inside. But don't worry, the walnuts will let you know when they are ripe.

As they ripen, the hard shells gradually darken, soften, crack, and the nut hidden inside falls out on its own. Its shell is deep brown and ideally has already partially dried on the tree.

Properly ripe nuts are those that fall from the tree on their own and you will find them on the ground under the tree. Sometimes they fall with a cracked shell, exceptionally (for example after a strong wind) they fall with a closed, intact shell. In this case, it is necessary to remove the shell from the fruit as soon as possible. Remember to do this with gloves, as the walnut shell strongly stains the skin on your hands.

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Don't rush the harvest.

Walnuts are not harvested in the same way as apples or pears, by plucking them from the tree. You always have to wait for the nut to fall. This process is sometimes tedious and lengthy, and means checking the area under the trees regularly every day. The fruits do not all ripen at the same time, and the harvest takes several days to several weeks. Unfortunately, it is not a good idea to try to harvest the nuts quickly and all at once.

The first problem may be that the size of the tree makes it difficult to reach the fruit. Some people resort to so-called "shoveling", knocking the nuts off the tree with a long stick. However, this damages the young branches on which the nuts will form next season. Getting a closed shell from a prematurely picked nut requires really unpleasant work and you can ruin your entire harvest by premature mold growth of the unripe kernels.

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How to harvest nuts in rainy weather

The above-described procedure is the most ideal and will guarantee the right taste of the kernels and extend their shelf life. However, this is especially true in favorable weather, that is, on dry and sunny days. The sun and, preferably, a gentle wind will guarantee the correct ripening and drying of the nuts.

But what to do when the weather is not good? Harvesting nuts in rainy weather is a bit of a challenge. Fallen nuts must be collected immediately and not left lying in wet grass or mud, as they will quickly deteriorate. Dirty nuts must be cleaned carefully, you can use a brush to help.

Nuts need to be harvested before the first frost sets in. If rainy weather is approaching, the end of October is approaching, and there is a risk of frost, it is better to carefully shake the nuts off the tree.

made from walnuts, take a look at our photo gallery.