Growing Edible Nut Trees in the UK: A Guide for Beginners
Introduction
Do you want to grow your own delicious and nutritious nuts? If you have a garden in the UK, you’re in luck! Several types of nut trees thrive in our climate, and with a little care and attention, you can enjoy a bountiful harvest of nuts for years to come.
Types of Nut Trees Suitable for UK Gardens
There are three main types of nut trees that grow well in the UK:
- Almond trees: These attractive trees produce sweet, crunchy almonds. They need a warm, sunny spot and are susceptible to frost damage, so they’re best suited to milder regions.
- Cobnut trees (also known as hazelnuts): These bushy shrubs or small trees produce flavorful hazelnuts. They’re relatively easy to grow and can tolerate a range of soil conditions.
- Sweet chestnut trees: These large trees produce edible chestnuts. They prefer moist, well-drained soil and can tolerate partial shade.
Choosing the Right Nut Tree for Your Garden
When choosing a nut tree for your garden, it’s important to consider the size, shape, and pollination requirements of the tree.
Size and Shape: Nut trees come in a range of sizes, from small and bushy shrubs to large trees. Choose a tree that will fit comfortably in your garden and won’t overshadow other plants.
Pollination: Some nut trees, such as almonds, require a pollination partner (another tree of the same type) in order to produce nuts. Other trees, such as hazelnuts, are self-fertile and can produce nuts on their own.
Site Selection and Soil Conditions
Nut trees need a sunny spot with well-drained soil. Avoid planting them in low-lying areas where cold air gathers, as this can damage the blossoms and affect the crop.
Planting and Care
- Dig a hole twice the width of the root ball and just as deep.
- Place the tree in the hole and backfill with soil, tamping down gently to remove any air pockets.
- Water the tree well and mulch around the base to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
Harvesting Nuts
The time to harvest nuts varies depending on the type of tree.
- Almonds: Harvest almonds in late summer or early autumn when the hulls start to split open.
- Hazelnuts: Harvest hazelnuts when the husks turn yellow.
- Sweet chestnuts: Harvest sweet chestnuts in autumn when the prickly casings fall from the tree.
- Walnuts: Harvest walnuts from summer onwards. You can either pickle and eat them green or leave them to ripen fully in autumn.
Recommended Nut Tree Varieties for the UK
Almond Varieties:
- ‘Ingrid’: Self-fertile, reliable variety with good resistance to peach leaf curl disease.
- ‘Princess’: Free-fruiting, self-fertile variety with pale pink spring blossom.
- ‘Robijn’: Good resistance to peach leaf curl disease and flowers later than most almonds, reducing the risk of frost damage.
Hazelnut Varieties:
- ‘Kent Cob’: Popular variety with yellow-green spring catkins and a good crop of nuts. Self-fertile.
- ‘Cosford Cob’: Heavy crop of nuts that ripen from mid-August.
- ‘Purple Filbert’: Showy purple foliage, purple spring catkins, and edible autumn fruits. Ideal for small gardens.
Sweet Chestnut Varieties:
- ‘Marron de Lyon’: Produces large, dark brown nuts from an early age. More compact growing habit than most sweet chestnuts.
Walnut Varieties:
- ‘Broadview’: Reliable cropper that starts producing fruit from just three years old. Self-fertile.
- ‘Buccaneer’: Slender, upright shape, making it suitable for smaller gardens. Self-fertile.
- ‘Lara’: Self-fertile, early cropping variety that forms a compact tree.
Conclusion
Growing nut trees in the UK is a rewarding experience that can provide you with a delicious and nutritious harvest for many years to come. By choosing the right tree for your garden and providing it with the proper care, you can enjoy the sweet taste of homegrown nuts.
