How to Harvest Black Walnuts in Ohio

Walnuts are a common ingredient in many dessert and candy recipes.

Walnuts provide a delicious and nutritious snack and are a popular ingredient in many recipes. Walnuts are the edible fruit produced by a walnut tree, which is a member of the Juglandaceae family. Walnut trees grow throughout the United States, including Ohio. The black walnut tree is a common sight in Ohio and can grow to heights of 70 feet. Harvesting the walnuts is done in the fall before the squirrels can get to them.

Things You'll Need

• Gloves
• Bucket
• Container
• Gravel

Instructions

1. Obtain the owner's permission to enter and collect the walnuts if the tree is not on your property. Wear a pair of gloves to prevent staining to your hands. Carry a bucket or other container to store the walnuts in while harvesting.

2. Pick the walnuts off the ground and from the tree that are within arm's reach. Shake the remaining walnuts off the tree gently.

3. Pick up walnuts with greenish-yellow colored hulls that are still intact. The hulls will change from green to yellow as the walnut matures. Press your thumb into the hull. If your thumb creates an indentation in the hull, the walnut is ready for harvesting.

4. Remove the hulls immediately. According to the University of Minnesota, you can soften the hulls for easier removal by filling a container with three parts nuts, one part water and a handful of gravel. Vigorously stir the contents together for several minutes. Repeat the process until the hulls are softened enough for you to remove them.

5. Cure the nuts after you have removed the hulls. Place nuts in a dry, cool location that is out of direct sunlight and has proper ventilation. Let the nuts cure for two weeks undisturbed. After the allotted time has passed, check the nuts by breaking one open. When cured properly, the kernel will break with a sharp snap.

Tips & Warnings

• Wear gloves when harvesting, removing hulls and curing the walnuts to prevent staining.

• The nuts will mold if not cured properly.

References

• University of Minnesota: Harvesting Black Walnuts
• Iowa State University Extension: Harvesting, Cracking, and Storing Black Walnuts
• Nature Skills: Black Walnut Harvesting
• Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry: Black Walnut (Juglans Nigra)