black walnut tree

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grumpareb Collinsville, IL Jun 13, 2008

I recently discovered the reason for my tomato plants dying was becuase of a black walnut tree planted close to my garden space. I have two questions, first if any of the tomatoes or other vegetable survive wil it be safe to eat them, second what can I do to be able to use this same space next year? I plan to remove the tree, but not sure if this will solve my problem

thank you
grumpareb

Post #5098870
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TMaple Saint Paul, MN Jun 14, 2008

I don't understand why a black walnut would kill your garden. I have an uncle in IN who has many many black walnuts on his land and he is a corn a bean farmer who also has a very large vegetable garden. He has never told me of any problem he has with the garden dying because of the trees. He has had timber cutters offer him HUGE money for his black walnuts but he has refused because he likes them where they are. If your black walnut is of any size and you insist on getting rid of it I would suggest calling a mill and seeing what they would give you for it. They are worth A LOT of money (my uncle was offered $5000 a tree, but they were huge old growth trees) to cabinet makers and woodworkers and shady characters will try to talk you out of them for nothing. By the way, my grandma used to make all sorts of dishes that had black walnuts in them, they have a very strong flavor but can be quite good in the right dish.

Post #5101140
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feldon30 Houston, TX(Zone 9a) Jun 14, 2008

The roots of Black Walnut (Juglans nigra L.) and Butternut (Juglans cinerea L.) produce a substance known as juglone (5-hydroxy-alphanapthaquinone).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juglone

Many plants such as tomato, potato, blackberry, blueberry, azalea, mountain laurel, rhododendron, red pine and apple may be injured or killed within one to two months of growth within the root zone of these trees. The toxic zone from a mature tree occurs on average in a 50 to 60 foot radius from the trunk, but can be up to 80 feet.
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/1000/1148.html

Post #5101356
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TMaple Saint Paul, MN Jun 14, 2008

Good info feldon30, I did not know this. I guess when I think about it my uncle's garden is farther than 60 feet from the closest black walnuts he has. I don't personally have any black walnuts so I've never had to deal with it but I can see how it would be frustrating. How long after the tree is removed is the ground toxic?

Post #5103042
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Loligo Murphysboro, IL(Zone 6b) Jun 15, 2008

There are a ton of lists out there like this one http://www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/nursery/430-021/430-021.html that identify plants that are resistant to the walnut toxins. I don't see a lot of crop plants on that particular list, but you could look around further. Maybe there's some way to keep the tree and still grow vegetables there!

Post #5105001
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