Homeland of walnuts: where they came from, origin, interesting facts

Walnut is a plant widely known throughout the world, surprisingly beneficial for humans. Its wood is a valuable species of wood and is used in the production of furniture and interior decoration items.

But the main thing for which this southern culture is valued is its fruits. The walnut, which is actually considered a drupe and not a nut, has a special recognizable taste of the kernel, has a beneficial effect on human health, and is an excellent substitute for meat, fish and dairy products.

Thanks to this amazing combination of both beneficial and tasteful qualities, nut kernels are widely used in cooking, eaten simply raw, and sometimes included in folk recipes for the treatment of certain diseases.

True, these are not all the secrets associated with this ancient plant. Our article will tell you about all the most interesting and useful things.

Walnut - botanical description

Walnut Walnut
is a shrubby or woody variety of plants reaching up to 25 meters in height. Typically, a tree has a developed and extensive crown and an equally developed root system for active consumption of moisture from the soil. However, in the northern areas of its growth, due to lack of heat, it can stop at a height of 1-2 meters (for example, in the Leningrad region, in Scandinavia).

The trunk is usually covered with hard gray bark. Wood is a valuable type of wood for furniture production and other needs.

The leaves of the walnut are complex and can consist of 3-5 oval leaves fused into a single plate. They bloom simultaneously with flowering. The length usually does not exceed 6-7 cm.

The flowers grow in pendant catkins and are formed on each plant of strictly one sex. Staminate flowers differ from pistillate flowers. Pollination occurs by wind or insects. Flowering time usually occurs in late spring.

The plant produces fruits – drupes. They have a dense green pericarp (dries out and bursts when ripe), inside it there is a strong oval or round stone. The seed is covered with a strong woody shell, which does not open on its own. Inside the seed are edible kernels.

Fruiting in the wild begins no earlier than after 10-12 years. However, the plant itself grows for up to 300-400 years, actively bearing fruit all this time. When caring for a tree, the first harvests can be harvested already 6-7 years from the moment of planting.

How does a walnut grow?

Walnut is a heat-loving plant, but some of its varieties tolerate light and short-term frosts relatively well. Healthy trees that are not weakened by drought cope best with low temperatures. The most sensitive period in the life of this plant is the time when the buds open and flowering begins.

The plant is very sensitive to light. Walnuts bear fruit best in areas where there are a significant number of sunny days a year. A powerful and dense crown requires sufficient space around the tree. Where the nut is planted frequently, it ages prematurely and usually does not bear much fruit. The leaves of trees that are crowded in such plantings are weak and look lifeless.

For proper tree growth, a constant level of groundwater is important. Very dense or heavily waterlogged soils are not suitable for walnuts. In some cases, targeted reclamation measures help to accelerate the growth of trees and the ripening of fruits, during which excess moisture is removed from the root system and at the same time the acidity of the soil is reduced.

The walnut tree consumes the greatest amount of water in spring and summer – from May to August. If rainfall is rare in artificial planting areas, farmers use regular but moderate watering of the plantings. When for some reason it is impossible to water the nut, you have to take measures to preserve the required amount of moisture in the top layer of soil.

Distribution area and homeland of the plant

Young tree
It is believed that the walnut spread throughout the world from the territory of the Middle Eastern countries and the territories of modern Central Asia. But today the plant is found in the wild or as an agricultural crop grown for its fruits in vast areas of the temperate, subtropical and tropical zones.

Most often, trees or shrubs can be found in the north and central parts of China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, all countries of southern and central Europe, the Caucasus and southern regions of Russia, the USA and even a narrow belt covering the southern borders of Canada. Walnut also grows in limited areas in northern Africa, in a number of countries in South America and in Australia. The northernmost recorded growing point is Norway and Sweden.

Some relict plantings are still preserved in areas of Kyrgyzstan that are difficult for humans to reach, as well as in the mountains of Turkmenistan.

Walnuts grow in rich, humus-rich, moist soils. Due to the extremely developed root system, the tree is able to survive long periods of drought, but with the arrival of rains it quickly replenishes its reserves.

Crown formation and pruning

The next important nuance is shaping and trimming. The tree grows quite successfully in Belarus, Ukraine and central Russia, provided that it has enough light. Compared to a wild one, a correctly formed tree, thanks to sufficient sunlight, develops much, simply and many times better, and subsequently bears fruit.

The methods for forming the crown may be different. A separate section on the All Agro website is dedicated to this.

An adult tree must be regularly thinned to an already formed crown, approximately once every 2-3 years, to ensure the most even access of all leaves to sunlight. In mid-latitudes, issues of heat and sun play a significant role , so this particular task should be approached with particular responsibility.

Classification

Today, people know at least 21 varieties of walnuts. Most cultivated trees are classified according to different characteristic qualities. The most famous thing is the quality of the fruit. Highlight:

• Top grade.
• First grade.
• Second grade.

There is a classification according to the size of the kernels:

• Halves.
• Quarters.
• Pieces.
• Debris.

From the point of view of a cultivated plant, there is a division according to:

• Early maturation.
• Medium maturing.
• Late ripening.

In addition, it is customary to divide all varieties according to expected yield. For example, low-yielding varieties bring 25-50 kg. from a bush/tree. The most valuable varieties can produce up to 300 kg per season. fruits, and in rare cases even more.

Fruit

Continuing to consider where the birthplace of walnuts is located, we should talk about the fruits of the tree themselves. They are quite large and drupe-like. They have a fairly thick leathery-fibrous green pericarp, which everyone is accustomed to calling the peel.

Underneath it is a fairly strong bone, spherical or ovoid in shape. There are from two to five partitions inside. When ripe, the peel splits into two parts, releasing the nut. Inside the strong, woody shell is an edible fruit called the kernel.

Nutritional value and composition

Walnut kernels
Surely many people know very well that walnuts (and all nuts in particular) are a high-calorie product. Purified kernels are rich in fat content, and thanks to carbohydrates they perfectly satisfy hunger. For this reason, it is recommended to include nuts in your diet for weight loss, but this should be done in moderation.

The average calorie content is only 100 grams. kernels range from 630 to 670 Kcal. This is roughly comparable to a whole liter of non-skimmed domestic cow's milk!

REFERENCE. One walnut fruit contains approximately 60-80 kcal.

Nutritional value of walnuts per 100 g:

• Fats – 62.8 g. (about 78% of the daily value for humans).
• Proteins – 15.2 g. (19% Daily Value).
• Carbohydrates – 10.1 g. (2-3%).
• Fiber – 6.1 g. (thirty%).
• Water – 3.8 g.
• Ash – 2 gr.

Despite the fact that nuts can rightfully be considered a fatty food (this can be seen from the energy composition), they are extremely beneficial for humans due to the balanced content of micro- and macroelements, as well as groups of essential vitamins.

Walnuts contain:

• phosphorus;
• magnesium;
• sodium;
• calcium;
• potassium;
• sulfur;
• iron;
• zinc;
• fluorine;
• selenium;
• copper;
• cobalt;
• manganese;
• iodine.

Vitamins:

• A;
• B;
• C;
• PP;
• E;

The composition contains essential amino acids: phenylalanine, tryptophan, histicide, leucine, lysine, etc.

However, consume more than 500 grams. cores per day is highly not recommended. The optimal daily intake for a person should be limited to 100-150 grams. – this is approximately 6-8 whole fruits without shell.

Which regions and countries have the best quality nuts?

The quality of walnuts varies greatly depending on the region where they are grown. In general, we can say the following about where the best nuts come from:

• Ukrainian and Moldavian varieties are the easiest for Russian conditions.
• Russian varieties (Caucasian and Black Sea) are tasty, oil-bearing, but purely seasonal.
• Chinese nuts - since China occupies a huge area, the difference in varieties is significant. They are the most commercially available, but the amount of oil and taste remain in question.
• Nuts from the Mediterranean (Greece, Italy, etc.) are very oily, but do not have a strong taste.

Therefore, it cannot be said that the nuts of any country are the best. It all depends on the goal.

Varieties

Walnut, as a cultivated plant, is grown almost all over the world. Naturally, in different places they prefer to use different varieties. Some produce more yield, some have strong immunity, and some are characterized by resistance to frost and early ripening of fruits, which is important in the northern regions.

• Graceful is a mid-season walnut variety, very popular in the southern regions of Russia and Ukraine due to its high-quality harvest, but patient attitude to the vagaries of the weather. The variety easily survives drought, irregular watering, and can also withstand mild frosts. It bears fruit within 5 years after planting and has good immunity. During the season it gives up to 15-20 kg. harvest from the tree.
• Harvest is the most popular variety in the temperate zone of Russia and Belarus due to its resistance to cold, as well as consistently high yields (from 25 kg per tree, depending on the quality of care). It grows up to 6 meters in height, has an abundant, spreading crown. The first harvests begin to be produced within four years after planting. It is believed that the fruitful variety can take root on any soil.

For Russia and Belarus, the most suitable varieties can be identified: Chernovetsky-1, Bukovinsky-1, Aurora, Urozhainy and some others. In the southern regions - Krasnodar Territory, the Caucasus, Crimea and southern Ukraine - classic southern varieties of walnuts are grown. Popular varieties: Zarya Vostoka, Dessertny, Krasnodarets, Pelan, etc.

Varieties

There are several types of walnuts, they differ in terms of ripening, weight and number of fruits, resistance to diseases and pest infestation.

The most famous varieties:

• “Skinossky”: reaches a height of 12 meters, the crown is voluminous and dense, a frost-resistant tree. The weight of mature nuts is 15 grams, with large kernels. Can be eaten in the second half of the first autumn month;
• "Codren": grows in Moldova. The fruits are round in shape, weigh more than 10 grams, with a thin peel;
• "Santa Rosa Soft Shell": its homeland is California. It has a light shell and white kernels;
• “Dessert”: domestic variety. The nuts ripen early, the crop is drought-resistant and loves warmth. The peel is of medium thickness, the fruits are large, spherical in shape;
• "Giant": grows in temperate climates. The fruits are not too large, their weight is about 8 grams, but they are distinguished by their rich yield.

Features of care and agricultural technology

Walnut can be called a rather capricious tree. The thing is that it requires virtually no care only in natural growing conditions - in the south, where it is always warm and humid. In any other area you will have to take care of the nut.

1. Firstly, you need to carefully choose a place on the site: there should be a lot of sun, a minimum of shade and preferably good protection from the wind. It is best to plant the nut as far south as possible, as far as the site allows.
2. Walnut loves high-quality and rich soil composition . It follows that the crop needs to be fed frequently. Use nitrogenous fertilizers every year, and periodically prepare the tree for wintering with potassium and phosphorus mixtures.
3. Also, you should not infringe on the walnut in watering. The plant loves moist soil .
4. For uniform distribution of heat and light, it is necessary to form a crown , annually cutting off the shoots in the upper part.

Considering the fact that walnuts begin to bear fruit late, annual tree care can be called extremely difficult. To some extent, you definitely need to have a fair amount of gardening experience under your belt. This is the only way to independently grow harvests of such healthy and tasty fruits.

Where is the walnut grown and how does it bloom?

This plant is monoecious. This means that both male and female flowers develop on the same tree. All of them are dioecious, small, and green in color. The nut is pollinated by the wind.

Male flowers are represented by numerous stamens. They are collected in a complex inflorescence called catkins. Such structures are clearly visible because they hang from the tree in the form of lashes more than 10 cm long. Catkins are always formed on last year’s branches. Female flowers are characterized by the presence of a double perianth, which is tightly fused to the ovary. They are sessile and develop on annual branches. Walnut blooms in May. And in October you can already harvest its fruits. Some species bloom twice a year: in spring and mid-summer.

Sometimes you can see pollinated insects on a flowering nut. This happens only during the period of ripening of pollen grains, which are nutritious and high in proteins, sugars and fiber.

Diseases and pests

Objectively speaking, walnuts are often sick or affected by various pests. This is especially true for climates where the tree is not very comfortable - for example, in the middle zone, at the northern border of its distribution.

Among the diseases are:

• Bacteriosis is a disease that affects leaves, shoots, buds, flowers, ovaries and, if nothing is done, fruits. The affected areas first become covered with small black spots until they dry completely. The pathogen easily survives the winter in the buds and under the bark of a tree. Bacteriosis can be treated with Bordeaux mixture according to a prescription.

• Fire blight is spread by wind and insects. This disease affects almost all areas of the tree with watery cankers and can lead to the death of the entire walnut. Treatment requires drugs with a high copper content.
• White or brown spot are similar viral diseases that appear as dry spots on all plant tissues. The affected areas dry out and die. A solution of Bordeaux mixture is suitable for treatment.
• Root cancer is, unfortunately, an almost incurable disease. As it progresses, large thickenings form on the roots. The plant stops growing, bearing fruit and soon dies completely. Medications containing copper may help.

Pests that have chosen walnuts:

• The American white moth is an extremely dangerous and common pest of walnuts throughout the world. One or two treatments will practically not help, since the individual produces several offspring per year (each - up to 1500 eggs). The most dangerous pests are caterpillars (the most voracious), although larvae (overwinter in the bark) and adult butterflies (feed on leaves and bark along with caterpillars) also cause damage. In the fight you will have to rely on powerful biological products.

• The king walnut moth is a pest that spoils walnut fruits. Adults feed on green matter. Strong pesticides will help in the fight.
• The gall mite is an insect that starts in high humidity. It is very difficult to remove, as it can hide in tissues and tree bark. Harmful to leaves, fruits, trunk, young shoots.
• Sapwood is a small beetle and its larvae, the damage from which can be seen when it is already too late. The insect practically does not come to the surface, but lives in numerous passages, which it gnaws in the trunk and bark of the walnut.

• Aphids can be said to be a classic pest, which is dangerous due to its huge populations and amazing gluttony.

Most diseases can be cured, or at least part of the plant can be saved. Proven and well-studied remedies also help against pests. However, the basis for hardening and developing strong immunity in a walnut is proper, careful and sensitive care on the part of humans.

Where does the walnut grow?

The nut grows almost everywhere: some varieties are perfectly suited for planting in the northern regions. Some species can tolerate prolonged frosts and are practically immune to insect pests. The preferred growing location is in well-lit, spacious, non-wetland areas. Hazel grows quickly at higher elevations and in loamy soils.

Where do walnuts grow in the world?

The tree grows in places with a temperate climate, however, it prefers the southern regions. Wild plantings can be seen in the Transcaucasus and in the Talysh Mountains. Often wild hazel grows in the moist gorges of the Himalayas. Nuts are specially grown in China, India, Austria, and Greece. Planting is practiced in gardens in Germany and Italy.

Walnut forest plantations can be seen in the Tien Shan mountains, in Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. These forests are considered the largest in the world.

Where do walnuts grow in Russia?

Trees are common in the middle zone; they are also regularly planted in the southern regions of Russia. They practice planting in the Moscow and Leningrad regions. In the northern regions, cultivation is worse. The tree does not tolerate prolonged low temperatures, the maximum limit is 30 degrees below zero.

Important! Long-term frosts are detrimental to walnuts; low temperatures affect the quantity and quality of the harvest.

Breeders are developing varieties that can grow for long periods of time at very low temperatures. But in most cases, such seedlings practically do not bear fruit.

Do walnuts grow in the Moscow region?

Walnuts are successfully grown in the Moscow region. The tree grows in gardens and park areas. The state register of selection achievements contains more than 25 varieties that take root well in this area. The trees tolerate frost well, and in summer they can withstand prolonged absence of watering.

It should be remembered that planting each seedling has its own agricultural technology and characteristics. Proper care will help you grow a strong tree with high productivity.

In the Moscow region, it is recommended to plant seedlings away from drafts. In the first years of life, the main trunk is fragile, so it can break off in strong winds. The best option for landing would be a well-lit area near buildings. When planting in a summer cottage, you should pay attention to the fact that during the growth process the tree shades a large area, so vegetable crops must be planted away from the nut.

Important! During the growth process, walnuts release phytoncides that can harm other vegetation.

When do walnuts ripen?

Like many plants, walnuts also have early-ripening, mid-ripening and late-ripening varieties.

In general, one can imagine the ripening time of nut fruits from mid-August to the very end of November.

Much depends on the climatic conditions and weather in a particular year. However, this plant is heat-loving.

A natural sign of fruit ripening is the cracking of the shell and its falling from the branches.

Ripe nut

Approximate harvest dates by region:

• Central Russia: September – October.
• Ukraine: August – October.
• Caucasus: September – early October.
• Krasnodar region, Crimea: late September – early October.

The fruits in these regions finally ripen approximately 2-3 weeks before harvest.

Breeding rules

These trees reproduce by seeds and vegetatively by cuttings. Walnut is a real long-liver. Some representatives are over 300 years old. Therefore, the nut begins to bear fruit quite late. For trees of seed origin, this period begins only after 10 years of development. The highest yields are observed after another 2-3 decades.

Copper plants bear fruit much faster. Their root system develops within a few months. Therefore, it will be unrealistic to transplant a tree that is five years old. The first harvest can be expected in a couple of years. A valuable property of this plant is the fact that the number of fruits only increases with age.

How to store fruits?

There are several ways to store walnuts.

The first of them is to simply leave the collected fruits in a dry and cool place . It is first necessary to sort the entire harvest and leave only the strongest, undamaged nuts for storage. The temperature is suitable within the range from -10 to +20С, and air humidity should not exceed 72%. No sun rays needed. In this state, nuts can be stored for up to a year.

If walnut fruits are frozen, they can last up to one and a half years.

Finally, the still green fruits are crushed and used to make jam and its subsequent canning. This way you can store the product even for more than one year.

How to plant

For walnuts, it is advisable to select flat or elevated areas of soil with a neutral composition, and not shaded, but sunny places. When planting several specimens at the same time, it is necessary to maintain a distance between them, which should not be less than eight meters. Agronomists recommend planting nuts in the spring, but the planting process is divided into two parts - the autumn and spring stages.

Autumn work

The soil for planting seedlings requires preliminary preparation; it is prepared in the fall. Starts at the end of September:

• you need a hole of equal depth and width, about a meter;
• The top layer of excavated soil is mixed with an equal amount of peat and humus. Then two kilograms of superphosphate and wood ash, eight hundred grams of potassium-based fertilizer, five hundred grams of chalk or dolomite flour are added to the resulting soil mixture;
• The prepared pit is filled with the substance formed as a result of mixing. Then twenty liters of water are poured there and left for the winter. Further work is carried out in the spring.

Spring planting

With the arrival of spring, in April, they begin to plant walnut seedlings. The soil is removed from the hole prepared in September, and a stable, strong support is hammered into the bottom, the height of which should be about three meters. In addition, small stones are poured there, drainage is made from them with a layer thickness of 20 centimeters, and a substrate is sprinkled on top of it. Before placement in the soil, the roots of the crop are treated with a pre-prepared mixture consisting of three parts clay and one part rotted manure and water. The bush is placed so that the upper part of the stem is above the surface of the ground and protrudes about three centimeters. The roots around are sprinkled with earth.

After planting the bushes, they need to be thoroughly watered. Typically, trees are watered at the rate of 25 liters of water per seedling. The moisture is absorbed and the bush is tied to a support. Near the trunk you need to pour a two-centimeter layer of sawdust. After all these manipulations, the walnut will grow.

Beneficial features

It has long been studied that walnuts have a beneficial effect on many body systems. True, we are talking about moderate consumption of the product (up to 100-150 grams per day).

Basically, the positive effect is ensured by the rich mineral and vitamin composition of the nut kernels and the partitions inside the shell (although they taste bitter, they are also eaten).

INTERESTING. Some nationalities call the walnut “the tree of life.”

In general, the influence of walnuts on improving human health is extensive:

• Walnut kernels will be useful for replacing radionuclides in the body - it’s all about the iodine they contain, which is necessary for the thyroid gland.
• A whole group of vitamins (A, B, C, PP, E, K) will be useful for vitamin deficiency.
• Nuts are included in diets to a limited extent - they contain the same amount of protein as meat and more than milk.
• Cobalt and iron salts in the nuclei strengthen the heart muscle and normalize the composition and quality of blood.
• Crushed shells are useful for hypertension, and a decoction of partitions will improve immunity.
• Walnut kernels will help men: with prostatitis, adenoma. In combination with goat's milk they can be used to improve potency.
• For pregnant women, adding walnuts to the menu will increase immunity, satisfy hunger, increase hemoglobin in the blood, and relieve headaches.
• Walnut oil is used in cosmetology to moisturize the skin and improve hair condition.

However, there are body conditions or diseases that can be aggravated by eating walnuts or products containing them.

Benefits and harms

Generally

Walnut is the most valuable plant product. There is simply nothing more beneficial for vegetable proteins and unsaturated fatty acids.

But the nut can be dangerous:

• For allergies.
• For some diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, when rather rough fragments can scratch the mucous membrane.
• For diseases of the liver and pancreas, when you need to limit the amount of oil in the diet.

For men

For men, the nut is useful during heavy physical activity - as well as impotence. It normalizes hormonal levels and blood pressure. Harm is possible due to allergies and some specific diseases. Walnuts do not cause any other specific harm to men.

For women

There is no specific benefit for women from walnuts - but high-quality nutrition that normalizes hormonal levels may be useful during menstruation. But pregnant and lactating women should refrain from consuming this fruit. The active proteins of its composition overcome the barrier and can enter the body of unborn or infants.

For children

Due to its high biological activity, walnuts are allowed as food for children no earlier than 3-4 years of age . If used too early, there is a high risk of allergies. Walnuts are useful for them in the following ways:

• As an excellent source of vegetable protein, vitamins and microelements.
• As a stimulator of memory development.
• Just like a rare delicacy.

Important!

There is a good dosage rule for children: how many unshelled nuts can fit in an open palm is how much they can eat per day. This rule is not scientific, but confirmed in practice.

Contraindications and who should not eat walnuts?

One of the reasons for moderate consumption of walnuts is the strong allergic reaction to this product - mainly to the protein it contains. In the most acute attacks, even suffocation may occur.

Nut kernels also irritate the mucous membrane, so they can aggravate the condition of a person suffering from a stomach ulcer, duodenal ulcer, gastritis or colitis.

Nuts are contraindicated for constipation, as the fats in the composition will only worsen the condition.

Alcohol tinctures, honey tinctures, peel decoction

Walnuts are beneficial already at the stage when their skins have not lost their bright green color. In this state it contains the maximum amount of vitamins.

Alcohol tincture helps with various skin diseases:

• eczema;
• lichens;
• acne;
• warts;
• herpes;

In addition, it can be used as:

• astringent;
• hemostatic;
• anthelmintic;
• expectorant;
• anti-inflammatory;
• antirheumatic;
• antibacterial agent.

Green walnuts should be harvested around mid-summer, before the skin begins to darken. The best time is the end of June and the first ten days of July, although it all depends on the variety and weather conditions.

Ready-made green walnut tincture

Before preparing the tincture, the nuts need to be washed, dried and cut with a knife. After this, they are placed in a three-liter jar, filling it about 1/3 of the way. After which the jar is filled to the top with vodka and the jar is tightly closed with a lid.

Important! Keep the jar not only tightly closed, but also wrapped in a dark cloth, away from light, this will prevent iodine from evaporating and destruction.

You need to infuse the peel for 21 days. Then pour into dark glass bottles, seal them well and store in the dark.

For skin diseases, take three times a day. Dose - one tablespoon, time of administration - 15 minutes before meals. The course is 30 days with a week break. Then repeat everything. At the same time, it is advisable to take a bath from a decoction of dry walnut leaves.

If, due to childhood, pregnancy or other contraindications to drinking alcohol, you cannot drink a drug prepared with alcohol, you can prepare a honey tincture from the peel. To do this, you need to take honey and green nuts in a ratio of 1: 1. Twist the nuts in a meat grinder and mix with honey. Leave for a month in a cool place protected from light. Drink 1 tsp, for children - 1/2 spoon, three times a day before meals.

You can make a decoction from the peel that is excellent at expelling internal parasites.

To do this, you need to chop the green nuts to make 4 tablespoons. Pour the prepared raw material with a glass of boiling water, to which a couple of pinches of salt have been added. After 30 minutes, strain the broth and drink in equal parts throughout the day, before going to bed, take any laxative.

If it is not possible to get green peels, then you can buy walnuts and prepare medicine from the fruits.

How to prepare tincture from walnut kernels

Fresh nut kernels must be included in the diet - this is a valuable food product that contains in 100 g:

• fat 65 g;
• proteins 15 - 20 g;
• carbohydrates 7 g.

Despite the fact that nuts contain a lot of fat, their kernels do not contain an ounce of cholesterol.

In addition, they contain a lot:

micro- and macroelements:

• magnesium
• calcium;
• gland.

vitamins:

• A;
• TO;
• WITH
• E;

Important! You should not buy already peeled kernels, they lose some of their beneficial properties.

Eating walnut kernels in moderation, no more than three or four pieces is recommended in the morning, including for people suffering from high blood pressure. Also having a beneficial effect on the blood vessels of the brain, the nuclei improve blood supply and improve memory.

Nuts are good for restoring strength after physical activity; they are indispensable in sports nutrition. Considering the high calorie content, it is equal to 640 kcal/100 g, nuts are useful for anemia and reduced body weight, however, overweight people are recommended to eat no more than two or three pieces. Perhaps a tincture of nut kernels will help with health problems.

Homemade tincture of walnut kernels

It is easier to prepare such a tincture, since the fruits of the nut can always be found at the market or in a store.

In order to get a useful tincture, you will need to take 30 peeled and crushed kernels. Then you need to take a liter of alcohol and pour in the kernels.

Infuse the fruits for 15 days. Take one liter before meals. hours three times a day. This tool helps:

• for stomach ulcers;
• with duodenal ulcer;
• with erosive gastritis;
• for intestinal polyps;
• diarrhea.

Walnut is a real natural pharmacy . When cleaning the kernels for the previous recipe, do not forget about the benefits of internal partitions. It is the alcohol tincture from the membranes that are located inside the nut that helps with various hormonal disorders, including diabetes and iodine metabolism disorders.

How to prepare a tincture from internal membranes

Diabetes is a serious disease associated with the work of the pancreas to produce insulin. Sometimes it happens that a failure in the production of this hormone leads to serious disorders. If you do not monitor your glucose levels, serious problems in the functioning of the kidneys and heart are possible; vision and blood vessels in the legs suffer from high levels of sugar in the blood.

The composition of many parts of the nut includes the natural substance inulin, the fruits themselves and leaves,

Walnut membrane tincture

and especially the internal membranes contain this substance, which can reduce blood sugar levels and, although this does not lead to complete recovery, it significantly facilitates the course of diabetes and helps to avoid many serious complications.

You can prepare an alcohol tincture from membranes at home. You need to take 50 g of dry membranes and 500 ml of alcohol, 40% strength. Add alcohol to the membranes and leave them for two weeks. Take the product in the amount of one teaspoon, after diluting it in 1/3 glass of water. Drink before meals, three times a day.

If drinking alcohol is contraindicated, then you can peel 40 pieces of nuts and collect all the internal membranes from them. Pour a glass of boiling water over everything and place in a water bath. After one hour, strain the product and bring the volume to one glass. Drink a teaspoon before each meal. In addition, this remedy helps with iodine metabolism disorders. The decoction is also suitable for children.

You can use another recipe for preparing a decoction of membranes. To do this, you need to take one glass of internal membranes and two glasses of boiling water. Keep on low heat covered for 10 minutes. Strain and take 1 tsp before meals.

It should be said that in European countries the benefits of walnuts, leaves, kernels, membranes, peels are officially recognized, in our country it is still recognized that walnuts and tinctures from them are more of a dietary supplement than a medicine, which does not reduce the benefits of taking them.

Industrially produced walnut tincture

In pharmacies and on the Internet you can find and buy industrially produced tincture and extract of the nut.

It is recommended to use it in the following cases:

• anemia;
• mastopathy;
• with radiation sickness;
• thrombophlebitis;
• with leukemia;
• fibroids.

Usually they drink it three times a day, diluting one tablespoon in 100 ml of water. Take before meals.

Like any medicine, industrially produced walnut tincture has a number of contraindications, first of all, individual intolerance and allergy to the components of the tincture, as well as:

• increased production of thyroid hormones;
• the waiting period for the child;
• breastfeeding period.

Important! Before starting treatment with walnut preparations, you need to consult a doctor.

In addition to the tincture, in the pharmacy in the natural products and dietary supplements section you can buy:

• walnut jam, which not only has an excellent taste, but is also a remedy that can be used by both adults and children to strengthen the immune system;
• walnut tincture on purified kerosene - Todikamp, ​​which reduces the risk of developing cancer and is a very powerful remedy against internal parasites and infections;
• dry leaves, a decoction of them helps with rickets, diabetes, worms;
• Walnut ointment is a remedy for the complex treatment of goiter;

Not only tinctures and the above mentioned remedies are prepared from the walnut; oil is also made from the walnut. As a rule, this product is unrefined, cold-pressed, has a pleasant smell and many beneficial properties. It is used not only in cooking and confectionery production, but also in cosmetology.

Separately, it should be said about the ability of walnut oil to cleanse blood vessels and lower the level of “bad” cholesterol. The oil contains a lot of vitamins, especially E and unsaturated fatty acids, so it has a positive effect on hormonal levels and has a rejuvenating effect. Thus, walnut tincture and other preparations are beneficial.

It is important that all the drugs that are produced industrially from walnuts are very inexpensive, as are the nuts themselves, which can be eaten both for pleasure and for preventive purposes.

The walnut is a unique tree; it is not for nothing that it is called a plant - a plant, each part of which, including wood, serves a person.

Use in cooking

Walnuts are used in cooking in the cuisines of different countries. But dishes with it are most widespread among Asian peoples. The fact is that there the trees on which walnuts grow are very common.

The nuts themselves are valued for their range of flavors. Dishes are prepared from unripe nuts, which have a sour taste, or ripened fruits with tart, slightly sweet notes. Even walnut shell partitions are used - they can add a slight bitterness to dishes. The nut oil made from the kernels is also valued, as it has a traditional mild nutty taste and smell.

Green walnut fruits are mainly used to make jam. Their main value is their high content of vitamin C. By the way, as they ripen, the concentration of the vitamin drops significantly.

The kernels are very widely used in the preparation of desserts: cakes, pastries, ice cream, cocktails, sweets. They perfectly complement baked goods. In the East it is widely used for preparing traditional national dishes: churchkhela, Turkish delight, baklava, sherbet, kozinak, halva.

Crumbs from the kernels or bitter shell partitions are used as a topping for meat and fish dishes. But they can be baked together with other ingredients - it all depends on the recipe.

Walnuts are found in some recipes for first courses: soups, okroshkas or porridges.

The kernels themselves or the oil from them in some cuisines is used to prepare dressings: pesto, bazhi, garo, satsivi sauces.

Walnuts are widely used in one of the best cuisines in the world - in France. There, the product is used in recipes for preparing almost any dish, from entrees to desserts. The kernels are even used in some cheese recipes.

THIS IS INTERESTING. It’s hard to imagine, but walnuts are even used to prepare alcoholic (tinctures, ratafia (sweet vodka), liqueur, cognac) and non-alcoholic drinks (jelly, compote).

Interesting Facts

There is an original way of fishing for trout in the mountain rivers of Transcaucasia. A decoction of the leaves of the nut is poured into the river, thereby intoxicating the fish, after which it can be easily caught using a small net or net.

Unripe walnut fruits are used to create vitamin concentrates, and jam is also prepared from them. According to the memoirs of A.F. Sergeev, who was brought up in the family of Joseph Stalin, the leader was very fond of jam made from unripe nut fruits and very often emphasized its usefulness. It would be fair to note that such fruits have a rather pleasant taste and are very highly nutritious, and are also indicated for dietary nutrition.

Currently, to obtain a whole range of vitamins and nutrients, not only the fruits are used, but also their internal partition, pericarp, as well as the leaves of the walnut tree themselves. The leaves contain 4.5 mg of vitamin C per 100 g.

In conclusion, it is worth noting that these amazing fruits are not only tasty, but also very healthy. Their uniqueness also lies in the fact that they can be consumed in almost any form. But the most important thing is that these nuts are very affordable and can be purchased in many stores at not too high a price.

Interesting facts and beliefs

• One may mistakenly believe that walnuts are so named because they spread throughout the world from Greece. But actually it is not. The true distribution area of ​​the tree is Asia. From there they were brought to Greece, and only then the Greeks sold the fruits in the cities of the Slavs. Hence the name “Greek” - that is, “from the Greeks”. In the world and in Russia, the names “Volosh” or “royal” are still common.
• In Central Asia it is still believed that walnuts do not bloom. On the contrary, according to legend, death awaits anyone who sees this tree blooming.
• In Ancient Babylon, one of the cradles of civilization, they believed that eating walnuts could make you wiser (since the kernels resemble the human brain). Therefore, the fruits of this tree were forbidden to be eaten by the lower strata of society.
• Since ancient times, eastern peoples have revered walnut trees. The traditions have been preserved to this day. For example, in the Caucasus you can find hundred-year-old trees. And the oldest walnuts known to man are about 400 years old!
• The walnut tree is characterized by high productivity. It is estimated that on average about 300 kg can be collected during the year in the south. fruits from every tree.
• From a botanical point of view, walnut fruits are drupes.
• It's hard to believe, but only 400 gr. walnuts satisfy the entire daily food requirement of the average person. In this case, we are talking not only about calorie content, but also about the balance of essential minerals, micro- and macroelements.

• However, nutritionists do not recommend consuming more than 100-150 grams per day. walnut. Such solid foods can seriously irritate the mucous membranes of the mouth and throat, and also cause headaches.
• Walnut is one of the most high-calorie foods consumed by humans. Total 100 gr. kernels are comparable to 300 gr. wheat bread, approximately 700 gr. raw potatoes or 1 liter of fresh cow's milk.
• Milky ripe nuts (just beginning to ripen on the tree) can contain up to 100 mg. vitamin C. And this is with a total fetal weight of only 10-15 grams!
• Commercially available open and crushed walnut kernels retain a minimum of their beneficial qualities. It is better to buy whole fruits and open them yourself.
• In order for the eaten walnut to bring maximum benefit, it must be chewed thoroughly. Only in an extremely crushed state are the kernels well absorbed by the body.
• The proteins contained in walnut kernels are comparable to those found in meat or dairy foods. However, thanks to a special substance in the composition - lysine - they are absorbed by the body easier and faster.
• When digesting nuts, the body does not release uric acid, which means no salts are deposited.
• Burnt and crushed walnut shells are a natural component of activated carbon.

General characteristics of the tree

Walnut is a tall and spreading crop, some representatives reach 30 meters. The lower part of the trunk of such trees is thickened, with a diameter of more than 1.5 meters. The bark of the bush is dense, mottled with cracks, and dark gray in color. The main root of the tree extends to a depth of three meters, shoots extend from it, which begin to form when the plant reaches the age of seven years. Thanks to the dense foliage, the crown of the walnut tree looks like a tent.

In mid-spring, somewhere in the last days of April, the tree blooms. Its flower blooms at the same time as its leaves. Walnut inflorescences are staminate and pistillate, adjacent to one bush. The stamens resemble earrings of a light green hue, while the pistillates are fused with the perianths and are located in the upper part of the shoots and in the depressions of the leaves. The procedure is cross-type pollination, because flowering on one plant occurs unevenly.

The fruits become ripe with the arrival of autumn, and in early September they can be gradually collected. The minimum weight of one nut is about six grams, and the maximum weight is 15 grams.

The tree begins to bear fruit only at the age of seven, not earlier. A good harvest of nuts can be harvested from a plant that has reached twenty years old. The nuts continue to ripen during the 200 year life of the bush. Some representatives exceed this period and live up to 500 years.

Walnut does not like cold, frosty regions; it prefers to grow in warmer regions, where the average annual temperature is not less than +10°C. The oldest trees can survive short frosts not exceeding -25°C; the nut will not withstand long frosts.

How to grow a walnut tree from a walnut?

The agricultural technology of how to grow walnuts on your own plot is not complicated, so even a novice gardener can cope with this task. All the nuances come down to simple rules:

1. Selecting the optimal planting location with suitable soil.
2. Selection of healthy seedlings.
3. Correct planting scheme for several plants.
4. Watering and fertilizing, especially young trees.
5. Pest control and prevention of infectious diseases.

Where to plant a walnut tree in the garden?

Experienced gardeners, when recommending how to grow a walnut tree, advise paying special attention to the choice of variety. The plant is a heat-loving crop, so the average annual temperature for many varieties should not be lower than +8℃. There are also winter-hardy varieties, however, at air temperatures below -25℃, many seedlings freeze and do not bear fruit.

Having chosen a seedling, it is important to determine a suitable place for it in the garden. You can be guided by the following criteria:

1. The place should be open, at a distance of at least 10-12 m from buildings and other large plants, because the nut grows of impressive size.
2. The area should be well lit, and slight shading is allowed.
3. It is better to choose loose and fertile soil with neutral acidity.
4. The plot should not be located in a low area, where excess moisture can accumulate, causing infections, or frosty air in winter. It is better to give preference to gentle slopes and plains.

How to plant a walnut tree?

There are two ways to plant walnuts:

1. Seminal. Some gardeners mistakenly believe that the procedure for planting a walnut tree is labor-intensive. However, its nuance is that in the fall after harvesting, you need to select 6-10 ripe large fruits and stratify them in the refrigerator for at least 3 months. to improve germination. Then in the spring, each nut is placed in a small hole up to 12 cm deep and covered with earth. For regions with severe frosty winters, plantings must be covered for the winter.
2. Ready-made trees. Walnut seedlings are sold in many garden centers. Large healthy specimens at the age of 2-3 years take root on the site in most cases. The seedlings are placed at a distance of at least 8 from each other in prepared holes and sprinkled with earth, which is compacted slightly. Watering completes the procedure. In hot climates, the soil can be mulched. Weak seedlings must be tied to a support.

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Walnut

Walnut (Juglans regia)

Walnut in autumn in the garden, France

Silhouette of two walnut trees in winter

Walnut trunk near Reilingen, Germany

Walnut (lat. Juglans regia) is a species of tree of the genus Walnut of the Walnut family (Juglandaceae). Other Russian names for the plant are Voloshsky nut, royal nut, and Greek nut.

Botanical description

Botanical illustration from Köhler's Medizinal-Pflanzen
, 1887

A large tree from 15 to 25 m tall, in denser forests up to 30 m. A thick trunk 1.5–2 m is covered with gray bark, the branches form an extensive crown with a diameter of about 20 m.

The alternate leaves are compound, imparipinnate, consisting of two or five pairs of elongated ovate leaflets; they range from 40 to 70 mm in length and bloom simultaneously with the flowers.

The flowers are dioecious, small, greenish, the plants are monoecious. Staminate flowers consist of a six-lobed perianth and 12–18 stamens, collected in pendulous catkins; pistillate flowers are sessile, located at the top of annual branches, singly or in groups of two or three, have a double perianth fused to the ovary. Walnut is a wind-pollinated plant.

Ripe walnut fruit and seed

Opened walnut with open seed

The fruits are large drupe-shaped nuts - have a thick leathery-fibrous green skin (pericarp) and a strong ovoid or spherical stone with two to five incomplete partitions; When ripeness approaches, the peel of the fruit, when dried, bursts into two parts and separates by itself; the seed does not open by itself. Inside the woody shell is an edible kernel.

It usually blooms in May, at the same time as the leaves bloom. Occasionally re-blooms in June. The fruits ripen in September - October and vary greatly in size, shape, taste, shell hardness, development of partitions, chemical composition and other indicators. The weight of one nut is 5–17 g, the kernel accounts for 40–58%.

Renews itself by seed and vegetative means. In the first year of life, seedlings form a powerful tap root, reaching 1.5 m by the age of five, and 3.5 m by the age of 20. From three to five years, horizontal roots develop, most of them are located at a depth of 20–50 cm. It is perfectly regenerated by stump shoots; shoot plants grow faster than seedlings. Plants of seed origin form single male inflorescences from seven to eight years of age and begin to bear fruit from 10 to 12 years of age. Full fruiting occurs only from 30–40 years. Copper plants form their first fruits in the second year of life, and from 10–12 years they already produce a significant harvest. In favorable conditions, individual trees live up to 300–400 years, retaining the ability to bear fruit.

Chemical composition

The leaves contain quinones (naphthoquinone juglone, α-hydrojuglone, β-hydrojuglone), flavonoids (hyperoside, quercetin 3-arabinoside, kaempferol 3-arabinoside), vitamin B, ascorbic acid (4-5%), tannins (3-4 %), ellagic and halic acids, caffeic acid (0.1%), carotenoids, which contain β-carotene (12 mg per 100 g), violaxanthin, flavoxanthin, cryptoxanthin, essential oil (up to 0.03%).

The green pericarp contains α- and β-hydrojuglones, ascorbic acid (up to 3%), tannins.

Unripe fruits are rich in ascorbic acid (up to 10%). Fruit kernels contain fatty oil (up to 60–76%), protein substances (up to 21%), carbohydrates (up to 7%), provitamin A, vitamins K and P, amino acids (asparagine, cystine, glutamine, serine, histidine, valine, phenylalanine). Fatty oil consists of glycerides of linoleic, oleic, stearic, palmitic and linolenic acids.

Young tree bark

Kidneys

Leaves

Staminate flowers (male)

Pistillate flowers (female)

Unripe fruit

Ripe opened fruit

Distribution and habitat

In the wild state, walnuts grow in Transcaucasia, especially in the western part, as well as in the Talysh Mountains. Walnut grows in northern China, northern India, the Tien Shan, Iran, Asia Minor, the Balkans, Ukraine and Greece. In Western Europe it is considered wild, but is bred even up to latitude 56° N. sh., and according to Schuebeler, in Norway and Sweden even up to 59°. Schübeler considered the northernmost tree to be a tree located in the Norwegian town of Førsund, at 63°35′ N. w. These were all individual specimens that were carefully looked after.

The largest areas of relict walnut forests (over 25 thousand hectares), according to information for 1976, were preserved in southern Kyrgyzstan on the slopes of the Fergana and Chatkal ranges, at an altitude of 1100–2000 m above sea level (on the floodplains of small rivers on the northern slopes - up to 800 m). In the Jalal-Abad region of Kyrgyzstan, relict walnut forests grow (Arstanbap, Kyzyl-Unkur, Kok-Jangak areas).

Islands of relict walnut groves have been preserved in the mountains in the south-west of Turkmenistan (Ayder, Porder, Khozly, Karayalchi gorges).

Grows on deep, humus-rich soils developed on loess, moderately moist, with good aeration. Thanks to a well-developed root system, extending up to 4 m deep and up to 20 m laterally, the walnut uses a huge volume of soil, which allows it to withstand certain dry periods.

It cannot withstand severe frosts and freezes at temperatures of −25…−28 °C. In St. Petersburg, the walnut does not freeze completely, but it also does not rise in the form of a real tree. It is bred in order to obtain ripe fruits, which does not happen every year, even before the latitude of Voronezh; up to 52° N. w. in western Russia, and already from the longitude of Kharkov (Ukraine) the range expands to the south.

Walnuts have long been widely cultivated.

Economic importance and application

Unprocessed nuts (kernels)

The seeds (kernels, “nuts”), which have a wonderful taste and high nutritional value and are eaten in abundance everywhere in their natural form, are used to prepare various dishes, halva, candies, cakes, pastries and other sweets. The walnut is especially popular in the Caucasus, where it has long been considered a sacred tree. In the Caucasus, there are many recipes for consuming walnut fruits.

Walnut oil, which belongs to the group of drying nuts, is eaten, used in the manufacture of varnishes for painting, special ink, soap, etc.

After squeezing the oil, a cake remains, which contains more than 40% protein and about 10% fat; it is a valuable food product and excellent food for domestic animals, especially birds.

The walnut kernel contains (in%): fats 45–77, proteins 8–21; vitamin B1, provitamin A.

The shelf life of nuts is no more than a year, shelled - no more than six months, subject to storage conditions.

The leaves have long been used as a wound healing and vitamin remedy. Decoctions and infusions of leaves and pericarp are used in folk medicine for stomach and gynecological diseases, kidney and bladder diseases, stomatitis and sore throats, and are also drunk as a metabolic improver and a general tonic for vitamin deficiencies, exhaustion, and atherosclerosis. The leaves contain bitter and aromatic substances, the fumes of which cause headaches for some. They are used in Transcaucasia to stupefy fish (trout) in mountain rivers.

In the southern regions, walnut is widely cultivated as an ornamental plant.

Unripe fruits are used to make vitamin concentrates and fortified products (jam). Unripe fruits are highly nutritious, have a pleasant taste and are used for dietary nutrition and the preparation of confectionery products. However, for the production of vitamin preparations, it is more advisable to use not the fruits themselves, which have enormous nutritional value, but the pericarp (after extracting the nuts), as well as leaves, in which the vitamin C content reaches 4500 mg per 100 g.

Powder from the pericarp was considered a hemostatic agent; it was sprinkled on ulcers and wounds. The pericarp was used to make the drug “Yuglon” for the treatment of skin tuberculosis. Nut kernels are recommended for restorative nutrition after illness and to improve digestion. Fresh oil from them promotes the healing of ulcers and skin lesions. It is used to treat conjunctivitis and inflammation of the middle ear, and was previously prescribed as a laxative and anthelmintic.

The peel of the nuts contains a lot of tannins. The pericarp can be used to tan leather. Leaves, bark and pericarp were used to dye fabrics, wool, carpets, and hair.

The main producers of walnuts are China, the USA and Türkiye. Of the republics of the former Soviet Union, a significant amount of the nut is grown in Ukraine and Moldova. At the same time, walnut ranks 4th in the structure of Moldova’s exports, after wine, textiles and wheat.

Varieties

The seed productivity of individual trees in nature varies from 1 to 300 kg. In closed plantations, the yield of nuts from one tree rarely exceeds 40 kg, while individual free-standing trees produced up to 480 kg of nuts. The highest yields were noted at the age of 150–180 years. In natural plantations, only 10–15% of trees bear fruit abundantly; Typically, the nut yield in the forest ranges from 6 to 300 kg/ha (average 120–200).

Of the walnut varieties, the most common in Crimea was angulosa (hard-shelled, or yaglydzhevyus) with medium-sized hard-skinned fruits, which grew better than others in southern Russia. Higher in terms of fruit quality is the thin-skinned tenera variety (netted, or jellied jelly); then came the hag-burun with pointed fruits and maxima (kaba-dzhevyus, or bomba) with very large fruits, but very small grains or seeds, suitable only for fresh consumption; it was called the “Christmas tree nut”, it was used to decorate New Year trees. Also remarkable is the variety serotina (late, or St. John's hazel), in which leaves bloom late and flowers appear, and therefore suffers less than others from frost, to the influence of which walnuts are generally very sensitive; as well as fruit-bearing praeparturiens - short-growing, characterized by early fruiting - sometimes at the age of three or four. The varieties racemosa (tasseled), in which 10–13 nuts sit together in the form of a cluster, and microcarpa (small-fruited) were also considered very fruitful. As an ornamental variety – heterophylla (variegated) and American varieties (cinerea, nigra and others).

Walnut sprout

Fruiting in walnuts begins at 8–10 years of age (with proper crown formation and good care, they bear fruit from 4–5 years of age), but more abundantly from 15–20 years of age and continues until 150–200 years and later. . The harvest of nuts in Moldova reaches up to 1.5–2 thousand pieces per tree, in Vinnitsa and Khmelnytsky regions of Ukraine - up to 25 kilograms, and sometimes over 150 kilograms; in Crimea, 25–40-year-old trees produce 2–2.5 thousand nuts annually .

Breeding

Walnuts are grown almost exclusively by seeds; We also managed to find a reliable way to graft nuts into the cleft of one-year-old or two-year-old seedlings, planted after grafting in a greenhouse.

The walnut is not picky about soils, although it prefers deep and loose sandy-stony soil, not very dry, and, moreover, abundant in lime. Since the walnut tree shades other trees too much, it should be planted at the edge of the garden.

The ripening of stamens and pistils in walnuts occurs at different times, which excludes self-pollination. This property promotes cross-pollination and the production of full-fledged nuts. In some varieties, the flowering times of the female and male flowers overlap, usually when the female flowers bloom first. The tree whose male flowers open first is self-sterile, since the catkin can gather dust from several hours on hot days to 7 days in cloudy weather.

In the seventh or eighth year, the tree bears fruit and retains this ability until the end of its life. Productivity can reach 25-30 centners per hectare.

Walnut is unpretentious and does not require special care. Until the trees begin to fully bear fruit, other crops (for example, corn) are grown in the interrows.

Wood

Longitudinal cut of walnut wood

Burl Walnut Veneer
The heartwood color can range from pale brown to dark chocolate with darker brown stripes. The color can sometimes have a grey, purple or reddish tint. The sapwood is almost white. Curly grain patterns such as curls, branches, and burls may also occur.

Walnut wood is semi-ring-porous. This means that early growth with large pores differs from late growth with small pores, but not as much as in ring-porous woods. As a result, a decorative moire pattern appears on the tangential cut of walnut wood, and a pattern of stripes appears on the radial cut. In addition, the texture of heartwood is often uneven, resulting in surfaces with a complex pattern of texture, color and internal play of light, which are especially valued. Walnut wood is fine-fiber, has medium hardness and density, ranging from 450 to 750 kg/m³. The wood is tough and flexural, but not elastic. Resistant to moisture, easy to process, paint and polish. When dried, it warps greatly, but when dried it retains its shape.

The sapwood of the walnut has a grayish color, sometimes with a reddish tint, and is clearly separated from the dark kernel, which can have a very different color, from dark gray to dark brown. The color of wood often depends on the place of growth, in particular on the climate and soil properties. The market distinguishes between the places of origin of wood. Thus, “Italian walnut”, in comparison with walnut from Germany or Switzerland, has a redder tint and a complex wood grain structure. In Germany, the “Caucasian walnut” with its black coloring was especially valued. There is a greater demand for “French walnut” because of its special color and pattern.

Walnut wood is considered a valuable wood species used for making high-quality items. Since it is a by-product of growing walnuts, as a result of which its supply is irregular, enterprises using this wood are few in number and focused on small volumes. To make the most valuable, richly patterned veneer from twisted wood, the lowest tuberous, thickened parts of the tree trunk are often used.

This wood is used for making furniture, parquet, and decorating the interiors of houses and cars. Due to the high cost, veneer is usually used for these purposes. In addition, walnut wood is used for the manufacture of wooden parts of hunting weapons due to its high dynamic strength and minimal tendency to cracking. There is an opinion that the use of walnut wood in weapons production led to a significant reduction in the area of ​​distribution of trees during the war years. Previously, airplane propellers were made from walnut wood. In 100–120-year-old tree stands with a crown density of 0.4–0.6, the wood supply is 100–200 m³/ha.

Since 2011, timber logging has been prohibited in Russia.

Gallery

Walnut – polished veneer

Walnut – varnished veneer

Made from walnut

Mechanical properties and characteristics of wood (for dry wood - moisture content 12%)

Related wood species

1. Black walnut (Juglans nigra)

Types of wood with similar properties (density and hardness are the same ±10%)

1. Acacia koa • Density – 610 kg/m³ • Hard. Yanka – 5.18 kN
2. Red acacia (Acacia seyal) • Density – 660 kg/m³ • Hard. Yanka – 5.11 kN
3. Black acacia (Acacia melanoxylon) • Density – 640 kg/m³ • Hard. Yanka – 5.18 kN
4. Andiroba (Carapa guianensis) • Density – 660 kg/m³ • Hard. Yanka – 5.43 kN
5. Afata (Cordia trichotoma) • Density – 630 kg/m³ • Hard. Yanka – 5.02 kN
6. Birch (Betula spp.) • Density – 640 kg/m³ • Hard. Yanka – 5.36 kN
7. Oak (Quercus spp.) • Density – 700 kg/m³ • Hard. Yanka – 5 kN
8. Iroko (Milicia excelsa, M. regia) • Density – 660 kg/m³ • Hard. Yanka – 5.61 kN
9. Sipo (Entandrophragma utile) • Density – 635 kg/m³ • Hard. Yanka – 5.26 kN
10. Cherry (Prunus avium) • Density – 600 kg/m³ • Hard. Yanka – 5.12 kN

Use of walnut in medicine

Thanks to the huge amount of useful substances, walnuts are widely used in medicine, including folk medicine.

For example, as a single product or as part of various dishes, in the form of pastes, decoctions and tinctures, the kernels, intra-fetal septa, pericarp, leaves, as well as the bark and oil of Juglans regia are used for the prevention and treatment of:

• wounds, cuts, abrasions, cracks, burns and other skin damage - as an external remedy, as well as a general health supplement to the diet;
• bleeding of various natures, including hemorrhoids - as an astringent;
• menstrual and some other types of pain;
• psoriasis, furunculosis, eczema and some other dermatological problems;
• stomatitis and other inflammations of the gums and mucous membranes of the oral cavity - brewed leaves are used for rinsing;
• anemia and other diseases arising from iron deficiency;
• vitamin deficiency, especially seasonal;
• acute inflammatory diseases, as well as their consequences - as an immunomodulatory and restorative agent;
• disorders of the digestive system - it is recommended to consume regularly on an empty stomach, in combination with honey;
• atherosclerosis, hypertension, coronary heart disease - you can mix the kernels with raisins, this dish will additionally strengthen the heart muscle;
• diabetes mellitus type 2;
• depression and insomnia - an alcohol tincture made from purified nuclei or partitions works well as a sedative;
• diseases caused by parasites - it is best to use unripe kernels in combination with a mild laxative as a mild anthelmintic drug;
• some types of tumors, in particular prostate adenoma (the product has a pronounced anti-carcinogenic effect, therefore it is indicated as a prevention of cancer);
• liver dysfunction, including hepatitis;
• hyperfunction of the thyroid gland;
• metabolic disorders;
• tuberculosis;
• vitamin deficiency

We also advise you to familiarize yourself with the beneficial properties of tincture of walnut partitions for thyroid problems.

Varieties of walnut trees

Over the past century, breeders have developed different varieties of walnuts, which differ in terms of fruiting, fruit weight, yield and immunity to diseases and pests. The most common varieties:

1. Skinovsky
   . The variety is recognizable by its relatively low height of about 10-12 m and voluminous dense crown. It has good winter hardiness and productivity.
2. Codren
   . Moldavian variety with large and heavy fruits, in which the kernels account for more than 60% of the total nut mass.
3. Dessert
   . The variety was bred in Russia and is considered heat-loving. The mass of each nut is approximately 10-12 g.
4. Giant
   . Walnut tree with high adaptive abilities. Can be grown in regions with temperate climates, giving a stable, regular harvest.

Walnut Chandler

The Pancake week variety of walnut comes from California, where it was obtained in 1979 and named after the famous American botanist William Chandler. In the USA it is the most common. Seedlings bear fruit 3-4 years after planting. Flowering is later, which serves as protection against late return frosts. 1 hectare of plantings yields a harvest of up to 4-5 tons. Oval smooth fruits are up to 4 cm in diameter, in the shell they weigh up to 16 g (the almost white kernel weighs up to 6.5 g). The variety has very high drought resistance. For cross-pollination, varieties Franguette and Fernette are recommended.

Walnut Robert Livermore

This variety is one of those that bear fruit already 3-4 years after planting. The red walnut was introduced in the USA in 1999 and became the basis for other red-fruited varieties. The unusual shade of the skin of the kernels does not radically affect the taste, but it looks advantageous in desserts, for which it has gained high popularity in cooking. A tree up to 6 m high usually blooms in May, and the fruits ripen in August-September. Frost resistance – down to -37°C. The variety is characterized by consistently high yield (up to 60-90 kg per tree) and resistance to diseases. The weight of a large fruit is up to 30 g, the taste is pleasant and oily.

Canadian Chandler

A low-growing variety of almost dwarf walnut (on average 3-5 m tall), bearing fruit even in the climatic conditions of the Moscow region. Seedlings after planting give the first harvest in the 3rd year. Flowering occurs in May, and the nuts ripen in September. On average, the weight of the fruit is up to 30 g, the taste is sweetish and oily. The shell is easy to clean. The highlight of the variety is the beautiful bright yellow color of the foliage in autumn.

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