Walnuts / Juglans
Walnut species introduction in the farm started in autumn 2019 by direct seeding Juglans ailantifolia in a forest cutblok and meadow.. During these years, we tested different direct seeding methods, times, and also used planting in forest land and in fenced areas.
Currently on the farm, we have Juglans ailantifolia, J.nigra, J.regia trees. In 2026 we plan to add Juglans alantifolia var cordiformis or heartnuts. Nuts are planted in the forest, meadow, and agroforestry system to disperse them all over the property.
Juglans ailantifolia
We seeded J.ailantifolia in a forest cutblok, using tree stamps as seeding spots and also free seeding in a meadow, simply pushing nuts in soil. We seeded 3-5 nuts per spot. Part of the nuts sprouted next year, but some walnuts are popping up even in 2025. Luckily, deer are not interested in specie. The only damage we have - roedeer horn scratching on a few trees. Specie seems shade-tolerant at least in the first years of life.Juglans nigra
We direct-seeded a small spot in autumn 2020 in a forest opening, as the seeding spots used tree stamps. In 2025, they have reached a size of about 1m. Probably, the lack of light and acidic soil from the spruce plantation. next seeding we did in spring 2025 in the former meadow under grey alder (Alnus incana) canopies. At least first year it functions well. Meanwhile, we planted plants in a grey alder shelterwood system, and it seems that the function is also good.
Juglans nigra & Corylus americana, Companion planting of both species.
n autumn 2025 we started to create an agroforestry system of Black walnut in combination with American hazel (corylus americana). We try to mimic how they could grow at home. It will be a linear planting, a tree alley along the farm
This project was started in autumn 2025 by bringing from Canada seeds of Juglans nigra from Domaine Joly-De Lotbinière, which is the most northern located black walnut population, planted in 1880 and 1968.
And a second crop- Corylus americana cultivar seeds we obtain from Grimo nursery.. All of them are part of the Upper Midwest Hazelnut Development Initiative (UMHDI) breeding program. They are cold-hardy hybrid hazelnuts developed for northern climates (Zones 4–6), with strong resistance to Eastern Filbert Blight (EFB) and good nut quality.
In the forest, we have some damage from roe deer to black walnut plants, they use it for horn scratching.
Juglans regia
From 2022 until today, we have planted a lot of Latvian-origin Persian walnuts in an agroforestry system. There we have a late frost every year, and to help walnuts establish in autumn 2023 we planted a shelterwood trees, black alders (Alnus incana) beside walnuts.As a second shelterwood system, we use a young spruce plantation, about 10y old, and in free spots among spruces we planted Persian walnuts. There they struggle to compete with wood small reed (Calamagrostis epigeios).
We also did a direct seeding of Persian walnuts in a former spruce plantation. They grow, but it seems that they need to be in full sun.
First impression (2025 ) about Juglans regia- the specie needs to be cared,to grow in the full sun, and has some issues with wet climates.