Growing nuts is not something people talk about very much. I couldn’t tell you why.
That said, I like eating nuts. Why not grow some? Especially hazelnuts. Yum. And with Raintree in WA, no worries on the postal system! (Oregon won’t ship hazelnut plants to Washington.)
Almonds
Something I just learned: Almonds and Peaches are related. It makes more sense to me now after some of the peach recipes I found in the Blue Chair Jam Cookbook. In her Peach (and Cherry) recipes, she will often have you save some of the pits and then crack them, peel them, and include the ‘pit’meats in the fruit mixture as it cooks. Apparently it imparts a almond-like essence to the final product. Well there you have it folks. It’s all coming together.
But what doesn’t anyone grow almonds in Walla Walla? Answer: I really don’t know.
Overly cautious (because seriously, why don’t people?) I land on the Titan Almond at Raintree Nursery. “This unique almond tree boasts extreme winter hardiness, so it can grow and fruit successfully far North of where other commercial varieties have frozen out.” In the little picture I’ve created, I have two or three trees dotted around as landscape eyecandy with a purpose.
Hazelnuts
“This small tree prefers a cool, wet climate. Filberts flower in mid-winter.” Hm. Maybe as foundation plants where they can enjoy a small microclimate of slightly-less-arctic winters? Aha. Zone 5. I’m Zone 7. How did I not notice this before? Well, I’ll keep it under consideration.
Raintree Nursery also carries Beech Nuts, Walnuts, Pine Nuts, Chestnuts, Butternuts and Ginkos. Yes, Gingo’s make fruit and nuts, if you have male and female trees. Most places don’t plant both because of the serious mess and the considerable stank, “the ripening fruit has no aroma, but if left to rot it has an unpleasant rancid smell.”
Honestly, none of these are too good to miss. Maybe Gingo would be fun if I put them out near the animal area. I love Gingo trees as they are, their fun leaf shape and fall color. Plant a couple and see if the fruit/nut is anything worth fighting the birds for.
barn | lust 