How To Harvest English Walnuts From Your Tree

You can harvest English walnuts from your tree once the outer green husks begin to split and the nuts inside are fully formed.
 
This usually happens in late summer to early fall, depending on your climate and the specific variety.
 
If you’ve been wondering how to harvest English walnuts from your tree, the good news is that the process is pretty straightforward once you know the signs.
 
English walnuts are also known as Persian walnuts or common walnuts, and they’re one of the easiest nuts to harvest at home.
 
In this post, we’ll walk through exactly how to harvest English walnuts from your tree, when to do it, and how to dry and store them so they stay fresh for months.
 
Let’s dive in.
 

When to Harvest English Walnuts From Your Tree

Timing is everything when you harvest English walnuts, so let’s look at the signs that tell you they’re ready.
 
Here’s how you’ll know it’s time to harvest English walnuts from your tree:
 

1. The Green Husks Start Splitting

One of the clearest signs that you can harvest English walnuts is when the outer green husk begins to crack and split open.
 
This husk is the fleshy layer that surrounds the hard shell, and when it starts to separate, the nut inside is mature.
 
If you harvest English walnuts too early, before the husk splits, the nut meat will be underdeveloped and rubbery.
 

2. The Nuts Begin to Drop

Another reliable sign that it’s time to harvest English walnuts is when you see nuts falling to the ground on their own.
 
When English walnuts are ready, the tree naturally releases them, and you’ll find them scattered beneath the canopy.
 
This is actually one of the easiest ways to harvest English walnuts, since the tree does half the work for you.
 

3. The Shell Turns Hard and Brown

If you crack open a husk and the shell inside feels hard and looks brown, that’s a good indicator you can harvest English walnuts.
 
The shell should be firm enough that you can’t easily dent it with your fingernail.
 
When the shell reaches this stage, the nut inside is fully formed and ready for drying.
 

How to Harvest English Walnuts Step by Step

Once you know it’s time, here’s how to harvest English walnuts from your tree without damaging the nuts.
 

1. Wait for Natural Drops or Shake the Branches

The gentlest way to harvest English walnuts is to simply gather the ones that fall on their own.
 
If you want to speed things up, you can shake the branches lightly to encourage ripe nuts to drop.
 
Just be careful not to break branches, since that can harm next year’s crop.
 

2. Pick Nuts Still on the Tree

If some nuts are still hanging but their husks have split, you can pick them by hand or use a pole to reach higher branches.
 
This is a common way to harvest English walnuts when you want to get them before the birds and squirrels do.
 

3. Remove the Green Husks

After you harvest English walnuts, you’ll need to remove the green husks fairly quickly.
 
You can do this by hand with gloves, since the husks can stain your skin, or by rubbing them against a hard surface.
 
Once the husks are off, rinse the nuts in water to remove any leftover husk bits and debris.
 

Drying and Storing English Walnuts After Harvest

How you handle walnuts after you harvest English walnuts matters just as much as the harvest itself.
 

1. Dry Them in a Warm, Airy Spot

Spread the nuts out in a single layer somewhere warm and well-ventilated, like a garage, porch, or screen.
 
Let them dry for two to four weeks, turning them occasionally so they dry evenly.
 
Proper drying is essential when you harvest English walnuts, because damp nuts will mold quickly.
 

2. Test for Dryness

You’ll know your walnuts are dry enough when the shells feel light and the nut inside rattles a little.
 
If you can still feel moisture, give them more time before storing.
 

3. Store Them Properly

Once dry, store your harvested English walnuts in mesh bags or breathable containers in a cool, dark place.
 
For longer storage, you can shell them and keep the nut meat in the fridge or freezer.
 
This way, the English walnuts you harvest will stay fresh for up to a year.
 

So, How Do You Harvest English Walnuts From Your Tree?

You harvest English walnuts from your tree by waiting for the green husks to split, gathering the nuts as they drop or picking them by hand, and then drying and storing them properly.
 
It’s a simple process that just takes a bit of patience and good timing.
 
Once you know how to harvest English walnuts, you’ll be able to enjoy your own homegrown nuts season after season.
 
Happy harvesting.