Identifying husk split is critical in a year-round integrated pest management program for walnuts. If harvest is delayed after husks have split, walnut kernels can be damaged by high temperatures, molds, or navel orangeworms, which can enter nuts after husks split.
As a general rule an economic harvest is achieved when about 80% of the nuts can be shaken from the tree. Therefore, harvest nuts as soon as shaking on a few test trees removes 80% of the nuts and 95% of the nut hulls have split. If third generation navel orangeworm eggs are found in egg traps when husks are split, harvest promptly.
|
|
|
