When to Plant Walnut in Alice Springs, Arid / Semi-Arid Guide

Plant July to August. Right now in September it is out of season. The next planting month is July.

Published · Last reviewed · By Garden Buddy
Growing advice is reviewed by hand. Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.

This Walnut guide is written for the Arid / Semi-Arid zone, which takes in Alice Springs, Broken Hill and Port Augusta. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.

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Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.

Walnut

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Large deciduous nut tree that needs cold winters (500-1000+ chill hours) and warm dry summers. One of the best nut trees for cool-temperate and cold-highland Australia. Beautiful timber tree and shade tree. Important: walnut trees produce juglone, a chemical toxic to many plants grown nearby (allelopathy). Long-lived (100+ years). English walnut (J. regia) is the eating nut; Black walnut (J. nigra) used as rootstock and for timber.

Best Planting Window for Arid / Semi-Arid

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
- - - - - - P P - - - -

P = Planting window

Plant bare root July-August with irrigation.

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How to Grow Walnut in Arid / Semi-Arid Australia

When to Plant

Plant bare root July-August with irrigation.

Soil
Deep, fertile, well-drained. Walnuts have deep tap roots and need minimum 2m soil depth. Reasonably tolerant of clay but must not be waterlogged.
pH Range
6.0-7.5
Sunlight
Full sun.

Companion plants: Grass (tolerant of juglone)

Avoid planting near: Tomato, potato, pepper, eggplant (juglone sensitive), Apple trees (some juglone sensitivity), Azalea, rhododendron (juglone sensitive), Any plant within root zone that is juglone-sensitive

Arid / Semi-Arid Growing Tips for Walnut

Recommended Varieties

  • Chandler
  • Howard
  • Vina

Key Challenges

  • Water requirements
  • Alkaline soil may need amendment

Pro Tips

  • Excellent walnut zone with irrigation. Cold winters + hot dry summers = ideal.
  • Dry conditions virtually eliminate blight, huge advantage.
  • Commercial walnut orchards are expanding in irrigated inland areas.

Harvesting Walnut

When ready: Green husk cracks and separates from shell. Nuts begin to fall from tree. Shake branches to accelerate harvest.

How to harvest: Collect fallen nuts. Remove any remaining husk (stains hands, wear gloves). Dry in single layer in shade for 2-3 weeks until shell interior walls are dry.

Where to next

Also worth sowing in the arid and semi-arid zone this September: Ginger, Chilli Peppers, Lemongrass and Beetroot.

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Common Questions About Walnut

When do you plant walnut in Australia?

It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:

Which zone am I in?

Type your postcode into the box under the heading and the page tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Arid / Semi-Arid zone, Alice Springs is its reference city.