How to plant and care for Walnut (Broadview)

Juglans regia

🌳 Tree 🔁 Perennial

A self-fertile walnut that starts cropping young (3–4 years) and grows smaller than most. A grand, long-lived tree for a bigger garden.

At a glance: harvest in October.

When to plant and care for it

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Harvest

Prune

Timed for a typical UK garden (last frost mid-April). The app uses your own town's frost dates.

On planting day
Plant the Tree
Plant at the same depth it grew in its pot, in a hole twice as wide as the root ball, 10 m from other trees. Firm and water well.
0–1 days after “Plant the Tree”
Stake and Tie
Drive a short stake in on the windward side and fix it with a soft tree tie. Loosen the tie each spring so it never cuts into the bark.
0–2 days after “Stake and Tie”
Water In Deeply
Soak the root area with a full can, then keep the soil moist (not wet) for the first few weeks.
7–21 days after “Water In Deeply”
Mulch the Base
Spread 5–8 cm of compost or bark mulch in a 1 m circle, keeping it clear of the trunk.

April
Watch for Late Frost
Young walnut shoots are frost-tender; on a small tree, cover with fleece on frosty nights.
August
Prune in Late Summer
Walnuts bleed sap if cut in winter or spring. Only remove dead or crossing branches, in late summer.
October
Gather Walnuts
Collect nuts as they drop; remove the green husks (wear gloves — they stain), wash and dry the nuts.
Starts from year 4.