How to Plant Black Walnut Seeds for Successful Germination

Planting Black Walnuts from Seed

Found a handful of black walnuts on a neighborhood walk? With a little patience, you can grow your own majestic trees. Here’s the straightforward method that works with nature’s timeline.

Fall Planting: Let Winter Do the Work

1. Choose a sunny, well-drained bed and plant nuts 1 inch deep in autumn.
2. Protect from squirrels: Cover the area with 1-inch mesh chicken wire, secured with bricks or landscape staples. Squirrels are expert nut detectives.
3. Wait for spring. Most viable nuts will germinate after natural cold stratification over winter.

Aftercare and Transplanting

Leave seedlings in place for their first growing season. This allows them to develop a strong taproot. The following fall—when they’re dormant—transplant the year-old seedlings to their permanent locations. Space them at least 40 feet apart; mature black walnuts are large, allelopathic trees that inhibit many nearby plants.

Pro Tip

Mark the planting row clearly. The nuts themselves will disappear underground, and you’ll forget exactly where they are until sprouts appear.