When Do Walnuts for Decorative Use Ripen and Hit the Market? A Full Look at Bearing Years and Growing Regions

Walnuts for decorative use are walnuts that have been specially selected and processed for distinctive shapes and features, giving them collectible value. So when do they ripen and hit the market? How many years until they bear fruit? And what growing regions are there? According to walnut grower Old Zhang, decorative walnuts generally start bearing fruit after 2 years. But in the first few years the yield will be small. Gradually, over time, they will produce more year after year. Dozens of pairs a year is possible.

When do walnuts for decorative use ripen and hit the market?

1. The walnut tree for decorative use is a crop with a relatively long dormancy period. In the north, from spring budding to autumn leaf fall, the decorative walnut tree is dormant for roughly 7 months; while from budding to fruit maturity is only about 5 months. Of course, there are slight differences depending on local climate and environment.

2. The timing of harvesting decorative walnuts (Ma walnut) from the tree is very important. If harvested early, the fruit is not ripe enough, its color is pale yellow, the fruit is light, and the hardness is insufficient, making it hard to develop color and a porcelain-like finish. If harvested too late, the color will not be bright and will look dull gray.

3. Decorative walnuts (that is, Ma walnut) mature slightly earlier than Mian walnut (the common edible walnut), and slightly later than Qiuzi, that is, from August 1 to August 20. Because of differences in environment and geographical location, the ripening time of walnuts varies slightly. Secondly, the time also differs by growing region: warmer plains areas ripen earlier, while mountainous areas surrounded by mountains on all sides ripen later; areas with good soil and water conditions ripen later, while areas with poor soil on the mountains ripen earlier. Each year's climate and temperature conditions are different, which also affects and changes the harvest time of walnuts. The harvest time of Ma walnut in each place must be determined according to local conditions and cannot be uniform. The simplest way to judge whether it is ripe is to pick off the green husk, gently cut in with a fruit knife, then give it a horizontal pry; if the green husk and the kernel separate easily and naturally, it is ripe.

What growing regions are there for decorative walnuts?

Decorative walnuts are widely distributed in China, from Heilongjiang in the north to Yunnan and Guizhou in the south, from Xinjiang in the west to Shandong and Liaoning in the east. Walnuts are found in most parts of the country. As for the distribution of walnuts that meet decorative standards, they are mainly produced in North China, Northwest China, Northeast China and Southwest China. Among them, Beijing, Hebei, Tianjin, Shanxi and other places have the most outstanding decorative walnut quality and are also the production areas of traditional superior varieties. The climate and environment there are also conducive to the planting and growth of decorative walnuts.

1. The Northwest region, including Shanxi, Shaanxi, Gansu, Ningxia, Xinjiang and other places. The Qinling Mountains in Shaanxi mainly produce autumn walnuts such as Denglong, which are large in size, full in shape and have many burrs. The yield is also high. Gucheng Town, Luonan County, Shangzhou City, Shaanxi, is also an important walnut production base. Other areas of Shaanxi also produce varieties such as Guanmao, which are rather large in size, and their shape and skin differ greatly from Guanmao from Beijing and other places. Some mountainous areas of Xinjiang also have wild mountain walnuts, which belong to the autumn walnut variety and are average in quality. The situation in Gansu and Ningxia is much the same.

2. The Northeast region, Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, mainly produces autumn walnuts. Jilin's yield and quality are both relatively good. In fact, walnuts from the Northeast are not as famous as walnut wood. The “Qiuzi wood” we know of is the wood of the tree that produces Qiuzi walnuts; its wood is hard and its grain is attractive, and most of it is used for furniture legs.

3. The Southwest region. The Southwest region all produces iron walnuts. Among them, the old iron walnuts for decorative use are mainly concentrated in Yunnan. Most of these old iron walnuts grow in the primitive forests of Yunnan, pure and pollution-free, without any processing or improvement by modern technology. The old iron walnut is like a gentleman who does not compete or grab, always keeping its true colors.