How To Get Rid Of Worms In Walnuts

Getting rid of worms in walnuts starts with identifying the pest and then removing the infested nuts before the problem spreads.
 
If you’ve been wondering how to get rid of worms in walnuts, the good news is that you can save most of your harvest with a few smart habits.
 
The worms you see are usually the larvae of the walnut husk fly or the codling moth.
 
These larvae tunnel into the husk and sometimes reach the shell, which ruins the nut inside.
 
To get rid of worms in walnuts, you need to break their life cycle at every stage.
 
In this post, we’ll walk through how to get rid of worms in walnuts naturally, when to act, and how to store your nuts so the worms never come back.
 
Let’s dig in.
 

How to Get Rid of Worms in Walnuts Naturally

Getting rid of worms in walnuts naturally means working with the seasons instead of against them.
 
You can get rid of worms in walnuts without harsh chemicals if you stay consistent.
 
Here are the most effective natural methods.
 

1. Gather and Destroy Fallen Nuts Daily

The first step to get rid of worms in walnuts is to pick up every nut that drops early.
 
Infested nuts fall before they’re ripe because the larvae inside have already done their damage.
 
If you leave them on the ground, the worms crawl out and burrow into the soil to pupate.
 
Then next season, the cycle starts again.
 
Collect fallen walnuts every day during harvest season and toss them in the trash, not the compost.
 
This simple habit alone can dramatically reduce how many worms you deal with next year.
 

2. Harvest Walnuts Promptly

When you harvest on time, you get rid of worms in walnuts before they spread to the healthy nuts.
 
Don’t wait for the husks to split completely on their own.
 
Shake the tree gently when the husks start to crack, and gather the nuts right away.
 
Nuts that sit too long on the tree or the ground give worms more time to move in.
 
The sooner you harvest, the fewer worms you’ll find.
 

3. Hull the Nuts Right After Harvest

Getting rid of worms in walnuts also means removing the husks fast.
 
The husk is where the worms feed and hide.
 
If you leave the husks on for days, the larvae keep eating and may reach the shell.
 
Hull your walnuts within 24 to 48 hours of picking them.
 
Wear gloves because the husk juice stains your hands.
 
Once the husks are off, inspect each nut and toss any with tiny holes or dark spots.
 

4. Soak Nuts in Salt Water

A saltwater soak is one of the oldest tricks to get rid of worms in walnuts.
 
Fill a bucket with cool water and add about a cup of salt per gallon.
 
Drop your hulled walnuts in and let them sit for 24 hours.
 
Any worms still hiding inside will crawl out or float to the top.
 
Scoop out the floaters and the worms, then rinse the good nuts well.
 
This step also helps separate empty or damaged nuts from the healthy ones.
 

5. Dry Nuts Thoroughly

You can’t fully get rid of worms in walnuts if you skip proper drying.
 
Moisture invites mold and keeps larvae alive.
 
Spread your walnuts in a single layer on screens or trays in a warm, airy spot.
 
Let them dry for two to four weeks, turning them every few days.
 
A properly dried walnut is crisp and its shell feels light.
 
When they’re dry, the worms have nowhere left to survive.
 

Preventing Worms From Coming Back to Your Walnuts

Once you get rid of worms in walnuts this season, prevention keeps them away next year.
 
Sanitation is your best tool.
 
Clean up every last nut from the ground before winter arrives.
 
Prune dead or damaged branches so air moves freely through the tree.
 
You can also hang sticky traps or pheromone traps near the trunk to catch adult flies and moths before they lay eggs.
 
If you have chickens, let them scratch around the base of the tree.
 
They’ll happily eat the larvae hiding in the soil.
 

Storing Walnuts So Worms Stay Away

After you get rid of worms in walnuts, storage matters just as much.
 
Keep your dried walnuts in airtight containers in a cool, dark place.
 
You can also freeze them in sealed bags for long-term storage.
 
Check your stash every few weeks for any signs of webbing or tiny holes.
 
If you spot trouble, remove the affected nuts right away so the rest stay safe.
 

So, How Do You Get Rid of Worms in Walnuts?

Getting rid of worms in walnuts comes down to quick harvests, fast hulling, a saltwater soak, and thorough drying.
 
If you’ve been asking how to get rid of worms in walnuts, the answer is consistency more than any single trick.
 
Clean up fallen nuts, inspect what you keep, and store everything properly.
 
Do that, and you’ll get rid of worms in walnuts for good and enjoy a clean, tasty harvest every single year.