Walnuts

[fruit&vegvirgin]

apart from the old adage, "a dog, a woman, a walnut tree, the more you beat em the better they be" I know zilch about walnut trees.
however, have got 2 - "franquette" variety on the way. all I know so far is that this variety is self-fertile and should fruit within about 5 years.
anyone got any good tips for me?

[nick the grief]

Hide big sticks from your better half, send Dog to RSPCA

[Jaxom]

OK. I'll bite. Why do you beat a Walnut tree?
Jax

[fruit&vegvirgin]

havent got a dog nick, kids pinch all the sticks (anyone else noticed this thing kids have about picking up sticks?)

jax, I'm assuming that you beat it to make the walnuts fall off when ready, but there may be some other bizarre reason that I dont know?!

[ric]

i thought u beat the trunk in spring,supposidly to help the sap flow to make the tree grow better, but it could just be an old wives tale

[nick the grief]

Not sure why you beat them, perhaps there was a relative of Basil Fawlty who was a head gardener and lost it with a none fruiting walnut

I bet there's a website that explains it somewhere !

[andrewo]

I read you hit the bark because it has a dual purpose, sap and to dislodge any walnuts you missed in the harvest and to remove the bugs that will be hiding in them to attack the new crop.

[fruit&vegvirgin]

just off to find a big stick then...

[fruit&vegvirgin]

well, 2 long sticks have arrived, which might conceivably turn into trees!! advice for planting is pretty straightforward, tho I'm a bit worried we might not be sheltered enough for them - they will have to like it, coz I havent anywhere else to put them other than in our field.

[andrewo]

They should be okay, as long as they are well drained.