I'm growing a vegetable garden in my yard for the first time, and I'm trying to decide the best place to put it. What has me scratching my head the most is the issue of Black Walnut trees. I've heard that Black Walnuts release a chemical that can inhibit the growth of other plants. Black Walnuts are our weed tree. They've grown up everywhere in the last 20 years. How much will this effect my veggies? And my fruit trees? Am I right to be worried about this?
Sara
Black Walnut trees and growing vegetables...
It dpends on how large the trees are and what you are planting.
The larger the tree the further the roots go out and that is bad for about all other plants and fruit trees as these roots rob those other plants of water, nutrients, and the roots and nuts produce juglone which inhibits many plants such as tomatoes and apple trees among many other plants.
There are some plants that are not affected so much by that juglone, but still the roots of the walnut tres are not good for other plantings.
You cannot grow tomatoes for sure & possibly other solanae crops like peppers etc. by black walnut. Black walnut is THE worst for tomatoes.
I have never had problems with black walnuts effecting tomatoes or peppers. Black walnuts are weed trees for me also, I have about 20 on a 2 acre lot. My garden was directly under several ( before the Missouri Chainsaw Massacre).
No personal experience with that.... just read it about 20 different places...
I've heard the rumor, too, but so far, so good with mine and their adverse effect on the garden. Shhhh! Don't tell my tomato crop!!!
Black Walnuts won't even grow down here....I feel lucky. But we have our fair share of trash weed trees too, but they live elsewhere.
=)
...and 100 miles north, black walnuts grow. Fortunately there is much open land to garden so they don't interfere. The black walnut taste is so intense it is wonderful and thankfully only takes a few to "flavor". Hard to harvest the nutmeat.
Are they the ones that have a green skin on the outer shell, then a shell as well?
Yes and a booger to shell.
And not to doggone fun as they are dropping on your head while riding on the tractor, either! My friend calls them junk trees!
LOL ~ I was thinking when you mow over them and they become window breaking missiles... but the wood is beautiful and desirable for more than firewood too.
Well, that's good to know, so I won't eye them hatefully when I "drive" by!
Ohio State Cooperative Extension has a good online article and list of plants affected by Black Walnut trees.
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/1000/1148.html