Mixing Walnuts

[Randall]

Is there any reason you should not plant Black and Carpathian Walnuts
together in the same orchard?

[MrJim]

Black Walnuts have a better market?

[Texas Ranger]

 Just like real estate, location, location, location, do you have a market for either, or is this long term lumber kinda thing?

[Randall]

Thanks, the question is if the two kinds cross pollinate and cause the nuts to not develop or something along those lines.

[Texas Ranger]

 That one I cannot answer, some species will cross pollinate, but don't know about these two.

[ibseeker]

I haven't been able to find much info on persian/carpathian walnuts.
Here's what I found on crossing different walnuts, however this doesn't refer to pollination but to hybrides.

Black walnut has been crossed with other species of Juglans in attempts to increase nut production, to produce a thin-shelled nut, or to produce a faster growing tree. Juglans can be divided into three sections: the black walnuts, the butternuts, and the Persian/Carpathians.
Crossing between the black walnut and butternut sections is difficult or impossible. A cross between J. nigra and J. ailantifolia (Japanese walnut) is the only one recognized between the black walnut and butternut sections.
However, J. regia (English walnut) can hybridize with species in both the other sections, although the crosses are not always easy.

It appears that cross pollination is not likely to occur naturally, easily or successfully. The two articles that I read referred often to the difficulties of attempts to cross walnuts.

[beenthere]

ibseeker
Seems I recall a lot of research into walnut cultivars was taking place at Purdue U. (PU for those needing a rib tickle  ).
I've not looked at their literature, but have heard of successes from there. Mine were already planted and growing so I was not real interested in keeping up with what the PU results were. Might be worth a look at their pubs (or have you already?).

[ibseeker]

The PU work has been fairly successful from what I've read. A local supplier offers the Purdue One cultivar and that is what I've been considering. That's what prompted my question in the other thread on this subject. The State nursery offers Improved BW's at $82/100 seedlings while the supplier charges $11.50 per seedling that includes a "Miracle Tube" and a package of mychorzial fungi....a hefty difference.   

[Left Coast Chris]

Randall,

You used the word "orchard".  An orchard is usually planted for the production of English Walnuts.  Selling the walnuts is big business here in Calif.   A black walnut (Claro) here in Calif does not produce marketable nuts (or less desirable) so  walnut producers do not want a black walnut taking up space in the orchard since raising it for wood would take too long gererally to make it profitable. 

Another disadvantage of having a nut producing black walnut in your english walnut orchard is the attraction of husk flies.  We spray for husk flies and do not want to attract them.  The husk flies lay eggs in the developing walnut husk and causes the nut to be rejected by processors.  A husk fly will crawl ten miles for a black walnut.

Hope that helps

[Randall]

I've planted 15 trees on a 1/2 acre so far. I know it's too close but I can cull later. There's no market here but I just want more deciduous trees since the conifers have one thing or another happen to them all the time including the fire danger. If the moose don't wreck the tree cages they should be OK in a few years. Black walnuts grow well here but no one seems to know about the carpathians. It sounds like I should plant small orchards/groves for each type to be safe. The trees are about two feet tall now. The blacks seem to be growing faster then the carpathians.

[Texas Ranger]

Farmer 77.  Are you familiar with the McAdams Ranch Road in or around Redding?  Land owned by one of my clients in Texas.

[Left Coast Chris]

Ranger,

Im not familiar with McAdams Ranch Road.  I live about 10 miles south of Redding in Anderson on Dodson Lane.  Part of the old Dodson ranch near the Sacramento River.

[Dana]

There is a mix of Black and Carpathian walnuts at my parents home. No cross pollination is noticible in the nuts that are harvested.