The European types can be grown as a central leader tree and don t require much thinning or pruning when mature. Fruit is born on spurs and also on new wood. Japanese plums are best grown with open centers and are very bushy, requiring thinning of branches. English and Cooksey black walnuts are self-fertile but may produce at a younger age with a second variety for pollination. Plant two black walnut seedlings for pollination.
Walnuts require full sun to crop effectively.
40 foot spacings are most commonly used as a permanent spacing for walnuts. Walnuts drop from trees from late September to mid-October. Seedlings will bear in six or more years, while our grafted trees will often bear in the second or third year following planting. For good production and long life, walnuts should be located in reasonably deep soils of good drainage. They prefer slightly acid to neutral soils.