When Do Green Walnuts Ripen?

Green-skinned walnut refers to the drupe of the walnut tree; the nut is spherical, and the outer pericarp is smooth. It is also called walnut (hutao). During the fruiting period of the walnut, we call it green-skinned walnut. So in which month do green-skinned walnuts ripen and go on the market?

Green walnuts generally ripen in August-September. Green-skinned walnut refers to the drupe of the walnut tree; during the fruiting period of the walnut, it is called green-skinned walnut. According to the Compendium of Materia Medica, green walnut has an analgesic effect and can be used to treat conditions such as skin itching and pain; walnut green husk soaked in liquor can be used to treat liver-stomach qi pain, gastric neuralgia, and acute and chronic stomach pain.

Methods for peeling green-skinned walnuts after they ripen:

1. Natural drying in the shade: After the green-skinned walnuts are harvested and naturally dried in the shade for a few days, the outer skin will become wrinkled and shriveled, and then separate naturally from the nut.

2. Manual peeling: Wear rubber gloves, use a small knife to first peel off the large pieces of green skin, then use a wire brush together with clean water to continue brushing off the remaining green skin, and finally use a fine needle and a toothbrush to clean it thoroughly.

3. Ripening-assisted peeling: Evenly spray a 200-fold dilution of “ethephon” solution on the green skin. After one day, the green skin will separate from the nut automatically.