Walnut tree clean-up

[911 Rod]

Another annoying thing is when my leaf mulcher/bagger picks up a piece of shell and jambs it.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by bmcuscgr94

Yield varies year to year for so many reasons. Ours seems to be less every third or forth year.

Weather has bigger impact. Hot weather impacts quality and yield as does an early freeze. No rain really hurts. We're on district water and it costs a lot to irrate.

Price has dropped over a dollar a pound in the last 10 years. Family does all the work so no labor costs.

Trees getting old and have crown gall which is slowly killing them. We are replacing with Christmas trees.

Interesting info about things that you'd probably never know if you weren't in the biz. Thank you for sharing.

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by 911 Rod

Another annoying thing is when my leaf mulcher/bagger picks up a piece of shell and jambs it.

My trac-vac will pick up the whole nut if a blade of the mower makes contact. It makes a lot of noise going through the fan...but it never has jambed it.

[stevej37]

Here's a pic of the tree that I took today...it's already lost most of it's leafs.

[bmcuscgr94]

Trimming trees can reduce next seasons crop depending upon when Trimming is done and how much of the new buds are on what's cut. Walnut nut trees produce catkins which get pollinated and become the nuts. We have several pollinator trees in orchard for that.

Our place is really small compared to the major groves in Northern California. We produce enough to pay the growing costs, most of the time, and keep us in agricultural preserve. Ag preserve reduces property taxes on the part of the property that's actually farmed. Property has been in wife's family since mid 70's.

Three family households help run everything but we all have full time jobs off property. That's what pays our family bills and my Boxster running.

[stevej37]

^^^ hmm...that makes me wonder. About 100 ft away from this black walnut tree is a smaller english walnut tree in my yard.
Could getting rid of the smaller tree stop the one pictured from growing walnuts?

My neighbor across the road from the tree has several walnut trees also...so it might be a lost cause.