Content
- 1 How many varieties of walnuts are there?
- 2 Frost-resistant walnut varieties
- 3 Early fruiting walnut varieties
- 4 Dwarf walnut varieties
- 5 Lateral varieties of walnut
- 6 Large-fruited walnut varieties
- 7 Walnut varieties for the Moscow region
- 8 Walnut varieties for the Krasnodar region
- 9 Which walnut variety is the best?
- 10 Conclusion
Many varieties of walnuts can be successfully grown not only in the favorable southern climate, but also in central Russia. The material below describes varieties of walnuts with descriptions of varieties and photos that can bear fruit both in the south of the Russian Federation and in the temperate zone.
How many varieties of walnuts are there?
Walnut is a crop known since time immemorial. It is grown in Central Asia, Moldova, the Republic of Belarus, Ukraine and the southern regions of the Russian Federation. To date, a large number of varieties have been developed that are distinguished by early fruiting, high yield, frost resistance and ease of care.
A large segment of breeding work is aimed at creating cold-resistant trees in order to expand the range of successful walnut cultivation. In the Tula region, Candidate of Agricultural Sciences Evgeniy Vasin created a collection of walnut crops, including 7 species and more than 100 hybrids of walnuts. Among them there are those that can withstand temperatures as low as -38.5°C.
Breeders from the Tashkent region, where walnuts have been growing in the wild since the Tertiary period, made a valuable contribution to the creation of new hybrids. Vast walnut forests are a valuable gene pool for the selection of high-yielding varieties that can bring good profits when grown on an industrial scale.
Frost-resistant walnut varieties
In central Russia, when choosing a walnut, the first thing you need to pay attention to is frost resistance. In the harsh climate for this southern culture, not every hybrid will be able to survive the winter even under good shelter. There are several varieties specially bred for such conditions that have proven themselves excellent from this point of view.
Ideal. Bred in 1947 by an Uzbek breeder from Fergana Sergei Sergeevich Kalmykov. It is distinguished by early fruiting, it can begin to bear fruit already 2 years after planting, however, a good harvest can only be harvested from a 5-year-old tree or older.
It grows 4-5 m in height, the flowers are perfectly pollinated by the wind. The nuts are oval-shaped, the shell is thin, the average weight of the fruit is 10 g. Harvesting takes place from the beginning of autumn to the end of October. Can bear fruit in 2 waves. Walnut Ideal can withstand temperatures down to -35°C and is resistant to chlorosis.
Astakhovsky. A relatively new variety of walnut, characterized by increased resistance to frost and pest damage. Included in the State Register of Russia in 2015. Recommended for cultivation in private farms of the Central Black Earth, Central and Middle Volga regions of Russia.
The crown of the tree is able to quickly recover from frostbite and can easily tolerate cold temperatures down to -37°C. It begins to bear fruit at the age of 6; you can harvest 10-20 kg from one hazel tree.Nuts with a thin shell that easily splits in two. The average weight of the fruit is 23.4 g, the maximum is 27.1 g. The variety is considered dessert, the rating of professional tasters is 5 points.
Memory of Minov. Brought out by Belarusian breeders on the basis of the Republican Unitary Enterprise "Institute of Fruit Growing". Positioned as a large-fruited walnut of medium ripening period. The tree is characterized by a rapid growth rate, the crown is powerful, of medium density, fork-shaped. The flowering type is homogamous, that is, male and female flowers bloom simultaneously, which ensures excellent pollination. Fruiting is apical and regular throughout the years, the first harvest is obtained after 5-6 years. Ripening occurs at the end of September.
The nuts are large, with a thin shell (1 mm), flattened in shape with weak ribbing. The average weight is 15 g, the largest is 18.5 g.
This winter-hardy walnut variety can withstand frosts down to -37°C. Among the advantages, it is worth noting immunity to brown spot.
Samokhvalovichsky-2. A fast-growing, frost-resistant variety with a medium ripening period. The Republican Unitary Enterprise "Institute of Horticulture" of the Republic of Belarus was established. The tree is powerful, with a medium dense crown, nuts are formed in 2-5 pieces. There are 8-10 fruits on a branch or in clusters. The average weight is 8.3 g, the maximum is 10.5 g. The thickness of the shell is only 0.8 mm. Samokhvalovichsky-2 is considered a dessert variety.
Duet. A universal variety characterized by good winter hardiness, stable yield with high kernel yield. Recommended for cultivation in the Central Black Earth region. The tree grows up to 13 m, the crown is dense and rounded. The nuts are ovoid, weight - 11.2 g. From one specimen you can collect up to 10 kg of fruit per season.
Early fruiting walnut varieties
Every gardener, when planting a new tree, wants to quickly see the fruits of his labor, that is, the first harvest. For impatient summer residents, when choosing a walnut variety in the description, you must, first of all, pay attention to such a parameter as precocity.
Precocious Levin. Low-growing (4-5 m) variety, characterized by increased frost resistance. At prolonged negative temperatures of -35°C it may freeze, but after pruning it quickly recovers. This variety was bred by a breeder from Voronezh, Ivan Pavlovich Levin, from Ideal.
The fruits are thin-barked and easily break when squeezed with your fingers. Nuts weigh on average 8-14 g, the kernels have a pleasant table taste. Fruiting is regular; up to 20 kg are harvested from one adult nut. Not susceptible to pests and diseases.
Krasnodar precocious. It is characterized by high productivity and is not affected by diseases and pests. The growth rate is high. The harvest ripens by the end of September. Medium-sized nuts, weighing 8-10 g.
Dessert. A vigorous, spreading tree with a round-oval crown. Resistant to drought, but winter hardiness is low. With proper agricultural technology, it bears fruit annually starting from 4-5 years, the type of fruiting is apical. The successful ratio of fats and proteins in the core provides Dessert with an excellent taste. Nuts weigh on average 11.8 g; up to 22 kg can be removed from one tree per season.
Korenovsky. Obtained by Russian breeder V.V. Stefanenko by pollinating local large-fruited varieties with Ideal pollen.The trees are not tall and bear fruit in clusters for 2-3 years. The nuts are large, with a thin shell, and have a dessert taste. The Korenovsky walnut can bloom twice a year.
Uzbek precocious. Bred in Asia. The tree is compact in size, making it possible to plant more densely. It begins to bear fruit in 3-4 years and blooms in several bursts. The nuts are large, weighing 14-16 g, and retain their presentation and taste for a whole year.
It is impossible not to note several early-fruiting varieties bred by Ukrainian breeders:
- Piryatinsky;
- Donetsk precocious;
- Porig;
- Champion;
- belongings;
- Stus;
- Spark;
- The gift is pure.
Dwarf walnut varieties
Low-growing walnut varieties are attractive due to their ease of harvesting and the ability to plant a larger number of trees in a small area. The most famous, from this point of view, are the varieties listed below.
Dwarf-3. The tree grows weakly, by the age of 20 it does not exceed 2.3 m, crown diameter is 1.8 m. The fruits are round-oblong, with an average weight of 12 g. The shell is strong, 1.5 mm thick. When broken, the entire core is removed. The harvest is harvested in mid-September, from 1 hectare - up to 50 c.
Dwarf-5. The name of the variety speaks for itself - the tree does not exceed a height of 1.5-2 m. It grows slowly, the crown is round in shape, the branches are located at right angles to the trunk. The fruits are medium-sized, egg-shaped, thin-barked, average weight - 10.5 g. It begins to bear fruit after 3 years, and bears a harvest annually. It is characterized by average frost resistance; at a temperature of -24°C, the proportion of frostbitten areas is 40-60%.
Kocherzhenko. This walnut variety was bred by a breeder from Kiev and named after the name of its creator. This is an improved version of the well-known variety Ideal.The tree is distinguished by a sparse, compact crown, the height does not exceed 2.5-3 m. It ripens early, the first harvest can be harvested in 2-3 years. The fruits are large, round, covered with a delicate thin shell. The weight of an average nut is 14 g.
The Kocherzhenko walnut is distinguished by its ease of care, early fruiting and high frost resistance (up to -30°C). Recommended for cultivation in private gardens from Vladivostok to St. Petersburg; there is successful experience of cultivation in the Urals and Siberia.
ANDvan is crimson. A short hybrid that does not grow higher than 2-2.5 m. The starting material for obtaining the Ivan Bagryany walnut variety was the same Ideal. It bears fruit in clusters for the 2nd year. Trees can be planted according to the 3*3 m pattern. They have better frost resistance compared to the Ideal variety.
Yuri Gagarin. The description of the walnut variety Yuri Gagarin indicates increased frost resistance, good yield and excellent immunity to diseases. It grows no more than 5 m, the crown is dense and spreading. The nuts are large and oval in shape.
Abundant. An adult tree does not exceed 3-5 m in height. It bears fruit from the age of 4, the fruits are formed in the form of a cluster of 3-8 nuts. The average fruit weighs about 12 g; 28-30 kg can be harvested from one plant. Abundant is gaining popularity among gardeners year after year, due to its high yield, excellent taste and resistance to brown spot. The only negative is that the variety does not tolerate frost.
Lateral varieties of walnut
Species and varieties of walnuts with lateral (side) fruiting are especially valuable for breeding work.On such a hazel tree, female inflorescences, and subsequently fruits, develop not only on the tops of mature branches, but also on young shoots. With sufficient lighting, such a lateral branch is capable of bearing fruit for several seasons in a row, which significantly increases the yield of lateral trees compared to terminal (apical) fruiting hazel trees. Lateral varieties enter the time of stable fruiting faster, on average 4 years after planting in the garden.
Peschansky. Medium-sized tree, rounded crown, medium-leafed. The branches are quite sparse, located almost 90° to the trunk. The nuts are smooth, without pronounced ribs, round-oval. The kernel is dense, buttery, with a pleasant creamy color. The taste is dessert. The harvest is harvested from late September to early October. The Peschansky variety has good resistance to drought and frost (up to -30°C).
Vasion. The tree is of medium height, not prone to major diseases of fruit and berry crops. It tolerates frosts down to -30°C well; only young shoots can freeze without negative consequences for the plant as a whole.
The fruits are spherical in shape, on average 18-20 g, the shell is thin. The Vasion variety is high-yielding; up to 50 centners of nuts can be collected from 1 hectare.
Taisiya. A variety with late flowering and ripening. With regular pruning of the crown, the tree does not exceed a height of 3-4 m. Medium foliage allows for denser planting. With sufficient sunlight penetration, the side shoots will also be fruitful. Walnuts of the Taisiya variety are large, on average 16-20 g, the shell is thin, the inner partition is easily separated. Presentation and taste are excellent.
Timofey. The variety is an exact copy of Taisiya, with a difference in the blooming time of male and female flowers. Timofey and Taisiya are mutually pollinating.
Chandler. American scientists worked on the creation of varieties of lateral fruiting type back in the 19th century. The most famous variety, obtained in California in 1979, bears the name of its creator, William Chandler. This is a medium-sized, high-yielding variety that begins to bear fruit after 3-4 years. The fruits are formed in the form of clusters, the weight of one nut is 14-16 g. From 1 hectare you can collect up to 5 tons of dry nuts. Under Russian conditions, it is possible to cultivate this variety only in the southern regions on frost-resistant acclimatized rootstocks.
Large-fruited walnut varieties
Fruit weight is an important factor taken into account during breeding work. To date, several varieties have been developed that are leaders in this indicator.
Giant. The Giant variety is an improved version of Ideal. Has identical frost resistance indicators. The tree grows up to 5-7 m, the crown is elegant and compact, which allows this walnut to be planted not only as a fruit crop, but also as a decorative one. The Giant begins to bear fruit fully at the age of 6. The weight of the nuts reaches 35 g; up to 100 kg can be collected from one adult hazel tree.
Bukovina bomb. The original form of this mid-season nut was found on a personal plot in the Donetsk region. The tree is vigorous with a spherical crown. Fruiting is moderate, but annual, the average fruit weighs about 18 g, specimens weighing 28-30 g are known. The nuts have a rounded-cylindrical shape, compressed from the sides.Bukovina bomb is characterized by increased winter hardiness and mediocre immunity to brown spot. It perfectly conveys the properties of the mother plant when propagated by seeds.
Kalarashsky. A tall tree with a dense, lush crown. Fruits annually; in rainy summers it can be affected by brown spot. The nuts are large, weighing 15-19 g. The shell is slightly ribbed, round, of medium thickness; when cracked, the whole kernel can be removed.
Without a doubt, the plants described above can be classified as large-fruited varieties:
- Astakhovsky;
- Memory Minov;
- Ideal.
Walnut varieties for the Moscow region
In addition to the winter-hardy varieties listed above, a sufficient number of walnut variations have been created for the Moscow region and regions with similar climatic conditions. The main criteria for selecting seedlings are frost resistance, productivity, and excellent taste.
Fruitful. Mid-season variety, nuts ripen by the end of September. The height of Urozhayny can reach 6 m, the crown is broadly oval, dense, with an apical-lateral type of fruiting. The harvest is regular from 4-5 years; up to 24-28 kg of nuts can be collected from one specimen. The weight of the average fruit is 8.7 g, the shell is no more than 1 mm thick. Resistance to brown spot is mediocre.
Winter-hardy, recommended for widespread cultivation. Harvest is an old, time-tested variety, included in the State Register of Breeding Achievements back in 1965.
Aurora. A vigorous tree, growing more than 6 m in height, growth rate is fast. It bears fruit from the age of 4, and the yield increases with each season.An adult Aurora walnut can produce up to 25 kg per season. The weight of an average nut is 12.8 g, the thickness of the shell is 0.9 mm.
It is characterized by winter hardiness and good immunity to various diseases. Recommended for widespread cultivation in industrial plantations.
Sadko. This frost-resistant dwarf variety is often called Shugin's nut, after the name of the breeder. A native of Kharkov, when moving to the Moscow region, he set out to develop a variety that could survive the winter in the conditions of the Moscow region and at the same time not be inferior in taste to its southern Ukrainian counterparts. In the early 80s, he received Sadko - prolific, winter-hardy and early ripening.
The tree is short (up to 3.5 m) and begins to bear fruit in the 3rd year. The fruits are small - about 4 cm in caliber, but 6-8 pieces ripen on one bunch.
Moscow region. An early ripening variety with good frost resistance. The nuts are large, the kernel has an excellent dessert taste. The name implies cultivation in the conditions of the Moscow region.
Walnut varieties for the Krasnodar region
Especially for the favorable conditions of Krasnodar with its warm climate, Russian specialists from the Federal State Budgetary Institution North-West Scientific Research Institute of Water Resources and Plants have obtained several varieties of walnuts that are optimally suitable for cultivation in this region.
Elegant. A mid-early variety that begins to ripen in mid-September. The tree is medium-sized, up to 5 m in height, with a powerful, well-leafed oval-shaped crown. The first decent harvest is harvested in 5-6 years, fruiting is terminal.
The nuts are in excellent presentation, weigh about 12.5 g, and the shell thickness does not exceed 1.2 mm.From an adult hazel tree you can get up to 20 kg per season. The Graceful variety is characterized by high resistance to drought; it rarely suffers from marsonia. Recommended for industrial cultivation.
Krasnodar. The variety is undergoing state testing. The tree is tall, with a wide-rounded dense crown that requires thinning. It bears fruit annually from 4-5 years, harvesting occurs at the end of September.
The nuts have excellent taste and decent presentation. The average weight is 12.7 g, up to 20 kg is removed from a 10-year-old hazel tree. Krasnodar tolerates drought well and rarely suffers from fungal diseases, in particular from marsonia.
Pelan. The tree is tall, with apical-lateral type of fruiting, by the 14th year of life it reaches a height of 10 m with a crown diameter of 9.5 m. It brings a stable harvest from 4-5 years. In the Kuban region, nuts are collected on the 20th of September. The fruits are small, broadly oval, average weight - 9.5 g. The shell is thin; when extracted, the kernel breaks in two.
Pelan rarely suffers from pests and diseases, and is characterized by increased resistance to negative temperatures and drought.
Dawn of the East. An early ripening variety, zoned in the Krasnodar region. The tree has an average growth rate, bears fruit from 4-5 years, the type of fruiting is apical-lateral. The nuts ripen by the end of September. The fruit size is medium, weight is about 9 g. From an adult specimen aged 10-12 years, up to 24 kg of nuts can be removed. The variety is characterized by average winter hardiness, resistance to marsoniosis is also average. Zarya Vostoka is considered one of the best walnut varieties for Kuban. Recommended for private gardens.
Uchkhoz Kuban. Characterized by abundant and regular fruiting starting 4 years after planting.The nuts are thin-barked and weigh an average of 9 g. They tolerate frost well, but have low immunity to diseases and pests.
Five-year plan. A new variety undergoing state testing. It is characterized by increased frost resistance and high annual yield. In field conditions, it is resistant to brown spot. Fruiting is apical-lateral, occurs 4-5 years after planting. Nuts are collected in late September; up to 20 kg can be harvested from one tree 8-10 years old. The weight of the average fruit is 9 g. Pyatiletka is a promising variety for cultivation in the Kuban.
In addition to those described above, the following varieties are popular in Kuban:
- State Farm;
- Breeder;
- Petrosyan's favorite;
- Krasnodar precocious;
- Dessert.
Which walnut variety is the best?
The concept of the best walnut variety is ambiguous. It is different for every gardener. With today's rich assortment, it is easy to choose a variety based on your own preferences and the climate of the region. Some focus on yield in order to plant the crop in industrial quantities, others on frost resistance so that the young tree does not die during the first snowy winter, and still others on the tasting characteristics of the kernels.
Conclusion
Various varieties of walnuts developed recently have significantly expanded the area of possible cultivation of this crop. Once you plant at least one nut seedling in your garden, you can provide yourself and your loved ones with a healthy and environmentally friendly product for many years to come.
