Can walnuts be grown in Guangdong?

Walnut, also known as common walnut, is one of the four major dried nuts. The walnut kernel is highly nutritious, beneficial to human health, and in great demand on the market. Walnut is a deciduous fruit tree of northern regions. Can it be grown in Guangdong?

1. Can walnuts be grown in Guangdong

Guangdong is not suitable for growing walnuts. Walnuts are suited to regions with an average annual temperature of 8-15°C and an average annual rainfall of 800-1200 mm, whereas Guangdong has an average annual temperature of about 19-24°C, abundant rainfall throughout the province, and an average annual precipitation of 1300-2500 mm. Such excessively high water and heat conditions are not conducive to walnut development.

2. Growing conditions for walnut trees

Walnut trees adapt to an ecological environment with deep, loose, fertile, moist soil and a warm, cool climate. In China they are distributed across North China, Northwest China, Southwest China, Central China, South China and East China. They prefer warmth and fear frost. Walnut trees growing on mountain slopes and hilly areas at an altitude of 400-1800 m bloom in May and bear fruit in October.

Walnut trees prefer fertile, moist sandy loam and are commonly found in places with deep soil layers on both sides of mountain valleys. Agricultural planting is generally carried out in low hills at an altitude of about 200 m. They are highly adaptable and not strict about environmental conditions. Generally, places at an altitude of 500-1500 m, with an average annual temperature of 8-15°C, annual rainfall of 800-1200 mm, sandy loam or calcareous soil, pH 6.5-7.5, and deep, loose, fertile, well-drained soil can all be planted. Soil that is too clayey, too wet or poorly drained is not suitable for planting. Walnut is a light-loving fruit tree and requires ample sunlight; when establishing an orchard in mountainous areas, a south-facing slope should preferably be chosen.

3. Nutritional value of walnuts

Walnuts are rich in nutritional value and enjoy the reputation of “king of longevity”, “longevity fruit” and “treasure of health preservation”. 86% of the fat in walnuts is unsaturated fatty acids. Walnuts are rich in copper, magnesium, potassium, vitamin B6, folate and vitamin B1, and also contain fiber, phosphorus, niacin, iron, vitamin B2 and pantothenic acid. In every 50 g of walnuts, water accounts for 3.6%, along with 7.2 g of protein, 31 g of fat and 9.2 g of carbohydrates.

Growing any plant requires planning based on the biological characteristics of the crop and the local environmental conditions.