The black walnut (Juglans nigra) along with the English or Persian walnut, and white or buttercup walnuts are the three major varieties of walnuts found in the world.All of the above-mentioned walnuts are completely safe for human consumption. In fact, since black walnuts taste sweet, they are known to replace English walnuts in several dessert recipes!Black, or eastern black, walnuts, belonging to the plant kingdom of order Fagales, family Juglandacease, and genus Juglans, are a type of nut. The scientific name of this walnut is Juglans nigra. It is a native of North America in the states of Ontario (Canada), South Dakota, Georgia, Florida, and Texas. The black walnut is the fruit (nut) of a black walnut tree, also known as American walnut or Eastern black walnut. In comparison to the two other walnuts, these nuts are relatively smaller in size ranging between 2-3 in (5.08-7.62 cm). The color of the husk or shell is brownish-green with a semi-fleshy texture. The nuts found inside the husks or shells are corrugated with a brownish hue. Black walnuts are less common than English or Persian walnuts since the former cannot be extracted as easily as the latter. Besides the use of black walnuts in food recipes for their distinct smell and unforgettable taste, they have several medicinal values and are great for the heart.Keep reading this blog to find out more interesting facts about the delicious black walnuts! You can also check out our are bay leaves edible and are beans a vegetable articles to discover fun facts about them.Description Of A Black Walnut And Balck Walnut TreeBlack walnuts grow on black walnut trees which are one of the scarcest hardwood tree species. The various parts of this tree have several domestic uses apart from possessing medicinal values. Hence, these trees are desired by all and harvested by ‘walnut rustlers’ which has eventually constricted the tree’s growth in the wild.A black walnut tree grows in abundance in North America namely in Ontario (Canada), South Dakota, Georgia, Florida, and Texas. They grow in wild, riparian zones and are commonly found along the sides of roads, forest edges, and fields. In spite of the popularity of its nuts, it is among the rarest species of hardwood found in those regions. Under forest conditions, a black walnut tree generally grows up to 32.8-43.7 yds (30-40 m). However, trees growing up to 109.3 yds (100 m) have also been recorded. From a bird’s eye view, these trees are seen forming canopies with their crowns in the wild. Being shade-intolerant, this tree grows and survives best under direct sunlight, and on soil that is properly drained. For this reason, it tends to grow up straight with a tall trunk and very few branches hanging low. However, the branches spread towards the ground on occasions when the tree is planted in solitary and for harvesting nuts. The black timber of this tree, characterized by dark, straight, and heavy hardwood, is highly coveted for making furniture as well as for veneer. The dark side of this tree is that it produces juglone, a natural herbicide that restricts the growth of plants and trees around it. This limits competition and leaves the tree with more water and nutrients for optimum growth. The scientific name of this walnut, Juglans nigra, has derived the portion juglans from here.Steps To Harvest A Black Walnut TreeBlack walnuts are largely in use for various purposes such as baking, cooking, and for nutty snacking. They are delicious and add more flavor to desserts such as ice cream, chocolate, and brownies. They are extremely popular and expensive for their sweet walnut flavor and can be stored for a minimum of two years and are not poisonous to humans. These are a little difficult to harvest but, perhaps, it’s worth the effort!Although harvesting black walnut trees may seem difficult, picking the nuts directly from the plants is child’s play. In fact, a light shake literally makes the nuts fall from the tree. The fruits are set by the plants in summer and require several weeks for the nutmeat to ripen. The nutmeat has a very hard outer covering called the hull (husk) which is green in color. The nutmeats ripen during the fall and the nuts start falling from the trees to the ground by September or October. It is essential that the appearance of the fallen hulls is checked for ripeness before collection. If the fruit is unripe, the husk will be green in color and for ripe fruits, it’ll be brown. It is necessary to wear gloves while harvesting since the hull has a strong stain which is potent enough to leave a permanent brown shade on the fingers. Then, the nuts are to be collected in a bucket before hulling them. The most difficult stage of harvesting is to crack open the husks. One must never try cracking the husks with their teeth. A hammer can be used to crack open the hull and extract the nut. Thereafter, the shells covering the nuts are washed and it is essential to wear gloves while washing the shells as they too have a potent stain. One will need the hammer once again to crack open the shell which is harder than the hull. Finally, the nutmeat is extracted and dried for two to three weeks.Ways To Ensure Black Walnuts Are Safe To EatWell, who wouldn’t cherish the view of ripe black walnuts falling right from the tree in their garden? Black walnuts are harvested during the fall between the months of September to October. Once the nuts start falling from the plants, they are hulled, shelled, and cracked before extracting the nut. One must be very careful while sorting the nuts before eating them.To begin with, the ripeness of the fruit must be checked by examining the outer appearance of the fruit. If the fruit is unripe, the husk will be green in color and for ripe fruits, it’ll be brown. A nut that is black in color is in a rotten state and must be discarded at once. Again, the trees may drop fruits that are in an unfinished condition. One must refrain from picking them. Needless to say that the nuts which show signs of damage by insects must also be discarded. These criteria must be kept in mind while sorting the nuts so that the sweet, ripe ones are not comprised. One can eat them right after they fall from the trees or add them to a scoop of ice cream!Difference Between A Black Walnut And An English WalnutThere are several but subtle differences found between the two most popular walnuts of the world. However, one major difference is that black walnuts usually grow in the wild while English walnuts are products of the plantation. Nonetheless, both are deemed as sources of Omega-3, antioxidants, and contain huge amounts of protein and fat.Black walnuts are native of North America while English walnuts are grown in Persia and Europe. A black walnut has a thick, hard shell that is green in color unlike the shell of an English walnut which is delicate and thin. As a result, it is more difficult to extract the nut from black walnut. Black walnut has a rich smell and distinct flavor whereas the flavor of a Persian walnut is decent. The reason behind an English walnut’s extreme popularity over a black walnut is its flavor and utility as a ready-made source of food.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for are black walnuts edible then why not take a look at are hickory nuts edible, or are black-eyed peas beans fun facts pages.
The black walnut (Juglans nigra) along with the English or Persian walnut, and white or buttercup walnuts are the three major varieties of walnuts found in the world.
