English Walnut
Juglans regia
The classic walnut tree prized for producing large, easy-to-crack nuts with sweet, mild-flavored meats. This majestic shade tree combines beauty with bounty, offering decades of reliable harvests once established. Self-pollinating varieties make it perfect for home orchards where space limits you to a single tree.
Harvest
150-180d
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun
Zones
3–7
USDA hardiness
Height
40-60 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for English Walnut in USDA Zone 7
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English Walnut · Zones 3–7
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
Complete Growing Guide
Soil: Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt). Soil pH: Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist. Height: 40 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 40 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: more than 60 feet. Maintenance: Medium. Propagation: Grafting, Layering, Seed, Stem Cutting. Regions: Mountains, Piedmont.
Harvesting
The fruit is a round nut that is encased in a green, semi-fleshy husk that turns brown. The nut measures up to 2 inches long. It matures in the fall and has a very thin wrinkled shell. The nut is thin, smooth, and has shallow furrows. The meat of the nut is creamy white and sweet.
Color: Green. Type: Nut. Length: 1-3 inches. Width: 1-3 inches.
Garden value: Edible, Showy
Harvest time: Fall
Bloom time: Spring
Edibility: The nuts are edible. They may be eaten fresh, roasted, and salted.
History & Origin
Origin: Europe to Central Asia
Advantages
- +Disease resistance: Drought
- +Attracts: Moths, Small Mammals
- +Wildlife value: Fruit is eaten by small mammals. This plant supports Hickory Horndevil (Citheronia regalis) larvae which have one brood and appear from May to mid-September. Adult Hickory Horndevil moths do not feed. Also a larval host plant to the Luna moth.
- +Edible: The nuts are edible. They may be eaten fresh, roasted, and salted.
Companion Plants
Plant Together
Comfrey
Deep roots bring nutrients to surface, leaves make excellent mulch and fertilizer
Chives
Repels aphids and other pests, improves soil health without competing for deep nutrients
Nasturtiums
Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles, attracts beneficial insects
White Clover
Fixes nitrogen in soil, provides ground cover, and attracts pollinators
Garlic
Natural fungicide properties help prevent root rot and other soil-borne diseases
Marigolds
Repels nematodes and other soil pests, deters aphids and whiteflies
Lavender
Repels moths and other flying insects, attracts beneficial pollinators
Daffodils
Bulbs deter rodents that might damage walnut roots and eat fallen nuts
Keep Apart
Tomatoes
Walnut roots produce juglone which is toxic to tomatoes, causing wilting and death
Black Cherry
Susceptible to walnut's juglone toxin, can suffer stunted growth and eventual death
Apple Trees
Sensitive to juglone compound, can experience reduced vigor and fruit production
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #2346394)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Good resistance to walnut blight in newer varieties
Common Pests
Walnut husk fly, aphids, scale insects, codling moth
Diseases
Walnut blight, crown rot, thousand cankers disease