cary Posted August 15, 2005 Share Posted August 15, 2005 Have a lovely big walnut tree in our garden. Does anyone know when to pick the walnuts and how long they take to dry out?? Were not sure so thought i'de rack the brains of the living france forum!! Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saddie Posted August 15, 2005 Share Posted August 15, 2005 Just let them drop off the tree. Take any outer skin off and make sure that they are dry before storing. Some people knock the tree with a stick to make the nuts drop but it is not really neccessary.There is an old English sayingA woman, a dog and a walnut tree, the more you beat them the better they be.Not very PC! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Polycarpe Posted August 15, 2005 Share Posted August 15, 2005 In Aude (11) they ripen from the first week of October onwards and can be dried and stored, or used fresh in salads with a blue cheese dressing - Danish is better than Fourme d'Ambert or Bleu d'Auvergne, more acidic. Excellent! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexis Posted August 15, 2005 Share Posted August 15, 2005 Yes, they will drop off in a couple of weeks. You have to collect them daily. Well, we do.Watch out for the stain when the outer casing splits. You will have lovely brown hands.We dry them on racks to let the air circulate.And never eat one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Missy Posted August 16, 2005 Share Posted August 16, 2005 [quote]Yes, they will drop off in a couple of weeks. You have to collect them daily. Well, we do. Watch out for the stain when the outer casing splits. You will have lovely brown hands. We dry them on r...[/quote]>>Watch out for the stain when the outer casing...<<If you have some furniture with slight scratches, rub this casing over the scratch, then with soft cloth rub some bee's wax over it and it will make the scratch disappear.It is how furniture restorers do it. Saves you the expense of tinted waxes etc... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a.foreman Posted August 16, 2005 Share Posted August 16, 2005 When do you eat them ? This year or leave them till next year Andy (56) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teamedup Posted August 16, 2005 Share Posted August 16, 2005 I like to leave them at least a few months to dry out as I find that they can be a little bitter if too new. I suppose it will always be a matter of taste really. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cary Posted August 16, 2005 Author Share Posted August 16, 2005 so they should be ready to eat just in time for christmas?? Will watch for mine to fall, didn't move here til December last year and there weren't any on the floor so i reckon someone came and collected them all!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fantine<br><br><br><br>Susie Posted August 16, 2005 Share Posted August 16, 2005 Tip: Sometimes when I buy potatoes (5k+) they come in orange net bags; open them carefully at the top and keep them handy to store your walnuts in. 'Stitch' the top of the bag back up when full and hang them up to let the air circulate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cary Posted August 17, 2005 Author Share Posted August 17, 2005 good idea, didn't think of that!!! I have several of those bags which i ripped open right in the middle so next time i shall be a bit more careful hey??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jo Taylor Posted August 18, 2005 Share Posted August 18, 2005 I find them really nice to eat when fresh - but don't eat too many fresh ones in one sitting. I sat eating them steadily throughout one evening and couldn't venture far from the lavatory the next dayNext year, pick some before the end of June and pickle them - delicious (especially with some strong Cheddar...)! This absolutely has to be done when they are soft, when a needle can easily be passed through, they're disgusting if left too late. Having done them for years, I've finally worked out a recipe that isn't too sour, which is what puts many people off.Can second the use of the potato bags, have some waiting for this year's crop, huge tree, laden this year.Jo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Avery Posted August 18, 2005 Share Posted August 18, 2005 You will know when they are ready when the green pods split open and they fall to the ground, rather like chestnuts or you see the French going round bashing and shaking trees, probably a couple of weeks to go yet depending on your region. The black ones on the tree or ground have rotted skins, usually due to wet conditions, so may not be too many this yearAs posted earlier, the black skinned walnuts have not ripened before the skin has rotted and should be treated with care, they need to be dried out. Also as Alexis said earlier these can stain the skin, good for furniture restoration but very very difficult to get off the skin, so get those marigolds out if picking up and opening windfalls. There is no problem with eating fresh new walnuts that have split from the pod, they are ripe, and the good thing is that you can keep them for a long long time in dry conditions without deterioration Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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