i have a black walnut tree and all the green balls are on the ground, when do i harvest them, and how long do they last

Question

do you shuck right a way, how many make a meal

Answer 1

U have 2 layers to go to get to the nut meat.  If u crack the green balls when fresh, your hands will be black with stain for about 10 days. U can knock the green hucks off with a hammer or let them set and dry out a little and it will be easier, too much makes it harder. In the south, I've seen ppl. but them in the drive-way and run over them with the car tires, then collectt the nuts in the shell. The shells R hard to crack too, and hard to pick out, but black walnut ice cream is my favorite.  An old hill remedy is to boil the green hulls and bottle to use for sun spots and skin cancers but I don't know if it works or not.

Comments

After taking off the outside green shells, you have to let the nuts dry out in their next casing for one year.  We used the cool basement to keep the squirrels out of it.  Use gloves or the green/black stain will last for about 2 weeks.  I helped my Father clean 4 bushels of them and we did not wear gloves.  Oh my did the nuns at school hoop & holler and kept sending me to wash my hands.  So please wear heavy gloves.  My favorite is to use them in cake or cookies.