When to Harvest Walnut

Overview

Walnut trees are large deciduous trees that may grow up to 130 feet tall. Because of their large size, they are usually found in parks and state gardens. However, they are easy to care for and produce an abundant crop of nuts, making them attractive to anyone with enough space to handle the trees. Walnut trees produce a nutritious, kernelled nut that makes a tasty addition to breads and cookies.

Step 1

Harvest walnuts in the fall. Most walnuts are ready for harvesting by the end of September.

Step 2

Check the walnuts every week. Nuts will mature over a 4- to 6-week period, and leaving ripe nuts on your tree will invite squirrels to harvest them for you.

Step 3

Wait until the walnut husk changes from solid green to a yellowish green. This indicates ripeness. Juice from the walnut can leave a dark stain on skin or clothing, so be sure to wear gloves when harvesting the nuts.

Step 4

Press on the walnut skin to check for ripeness. Nuts that are ready for harvesting will indent under gentle pressure. You can do this by holding the walnut in the palm of your hand and gently pressing in on the nut with your thumb.

Step 5

Shake your walnut tree vigorously for 15 seconds. Mature nuts will shake loose and fall to the ground. If very few nuts fall, wait at least another week before trying again. Be careful not to damage your tree when shaking it.

Step 6

Store unshelled walnuts in a cool, dry location for up to 3 months. Keep shelled nuts in the refrigerator to prevent rotting.