Nut Trees

English Walnut
Planted Spring 2010
Died Winter 2010

Although black walnuts grow extremely well in Kansas, we detest them. The shells are harder than wood-peckers' lips. You can't open a black walnut without a special vice that is rather dangerous to use. Many Kansas farmers recommend a cracking method that involves laying down plastic tarps and plywood and driving over the nuts. That doesn't sound very appetizing to me.

We wanted English Walnuts. No nurseries in Kansas carry English walnut trees. However, our favorite mail-order seed catalog guaranteed that if we purchased one, it would grow. With a year-long guarantee, we decided to give it a try.  When we opened the box, we found a twig that appeared to be set in rooting hormone. I loved its pachaderm skin and was sad to see it slowly die after loosing too many leaves in a thunderstorm.

NE+ Almond Tree
Planted Spring 2011

No one grows almonds in KS. However, our favorite mail-order nursery catalog promised that if we bought one, it would grow. We were intrigued.

It has performed beautifully! Every year we see large pink blossoms that smell like almond-cherry hand lotion. Vincent Van Gogh frequently painted almond trees, blossoms, and orchards. No wonder, they are enchanting.









Update Summer 2013
Height: 10'
Production: about 20 almonds this spring which fell off in a late frost. They look exactly like peach buds.

Halls Hardy Almond Tree
We bought two pollinators in the Spring of 2013. This one promptly died. The other is still alive. The Halls Almond and The NE+ Almond both produced almonds this spring, but they were killed off in a late frost.