Can't Find The Oak

[MasterMech]

Well, with this hot and wet weather, it looks like we're shaping up to have a bumper crop of walnuts this year! Found at least a dozen preemies on the ground today. Another six weeks, and they'll be raining down like a hail storm on the first windy day.

Had a monster Black Walnut tree in a small paddack behind my house as a kid. A small shed for the sheep was located underneath. Every fall, that tree would open fire on the roof of the shed. Sounded like a shot! Sheep ran out.... after a bit they would return. Sure enough the wind would shake a few more projectiles loose and the sheep would get scared out of the shed again, and again, and again. They got lots of exercise that way.

Hated picking up all those nuts from the 3 trees that were there. That main tree was easily 48"+ DBH.

 

[firefighterjake]

Well, with this hot and wet weather, it looks like we're shaping up to have a bumper crop of walnuts this year! Found at least a dozen preemies on the ground today. Another six weeks, and they'll be raining down like a hail storm on the first windy day.

Keep me in mind . . . I would love to try planting some walnuts around my place . . . and try eating some.

 

[Ashful]

Keep me in mind . . . I would love to try planting some walnuts around my place . . . and try eating some.

Yep... you're why I posted that! I won't bother yet, as what's coming down is not quite ripe or full size, yet. Come September, I'll be ready to send some your way.

 

[firefighterjake]

Yep... you're why I posted that! I won't bother yet, as what's coming down is not quite ripe or full size, yet. Come September, I'll be ready to send some your way.

Thanks.

That reminds me . . . Zap: did any of those acorns ever come up?

 

[thewoodlands]

Thanks.

That reminds me . . . Zap: did any of those acorns ever come up?

Not yet Jake, even the ones I planted in Jiffy Pots never came up.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Not yet Jake, even the ones I planted in Jiffy Pots never came up.

Maybe the moon was not right when you planted?

 

[nrford]

New business idea.

1. Get walnuts
2. Plant 'em
3. ????
4. PROFIT

For your children's children.

 

[firefighterjake]

Not yet Jake, even the ones I planted in Jiffy Pots never came up.

I'm wondering if it may take a year or so for the outer shell to break down.

 

[thewoodlands]

I'm wondering if it may take a year or so for the outer shell to break down.

I have the spots marked so we'll see.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

I'm wondering if it may take a year or so for the outer shell to break down.

I've never found that necessary.

 

[Ashful]

I see walnut trees come up in my yard and gardens every year. Not as prevalent as maples, but similar in that regard. I'm not sure how long it takes, but I always assumed the sprouts I'm seeing this summer were from last fall's nuts.

 

[thewoodlands]

I'm wondering if it may take a year or so for the outer shell to break down.

The acorns I planted in the Jiffy Pots, nothing was coming up so I soaked them in water overnight then planted them in the same pots, we'll see if that works.

I took the soaking in water from this, I also had two that were floaters. It mentions soaking them for a few minutes, I extended that.
http://www.wikihow.com/Grow-an-Oak-Tree-from-an-Acorn

 

[KaptJaq]

My yard is full of red oak. By the end of the summer/early fall the shells on this season's acorns are starting to crack (that is the acorns that the squirrels don't get). They quickly start a root runner into the ground then go dormant for the winter. In the spring there are new oak trees starting everywhere. The roots dig down quickly so I need to pull the ones I don't want (most of them) as soon as I see them.

The acorns seem to sprout best when they are half way in the soil, kept moist, and get some warmth (sun light) each day. The acorns that stay on the surface or float away in the rain are usually rotted inside and never sprout.

KaptJaq

 

[Backwoods Savage]

My yard is full of red oak. By the end of the summer/early fall the shells on this season's acorns are starting to crack (that is the acorns that the squirrels don't get). They quickly start a root runner into the ground then go dormant for the winter. In the spring there are new oak trees starting everywhere. The roots dig down quickly so I need to pull the ones I don't want (most of them) as soon as I see them.

The acorns seem to sprout best when they are half way in the soil, kept moist, and get some warmth (sun light) each day. The acorns that stay on the surface or float away in the rain are usually rotted inside and never sprout.

KaptJaq

Not necessarily Kapt. We have acorns on top of the ground and they will sprout just fine. You certainly are right with the moist and sun warmth.