Walnuts

As I was walking around the destruction last Sun evening I discovered a walnut tree that had fallen, and I am now the proud owner of 70 lbs of walnuts. I vaguely remember from my misspent youth that we dried them until the husks fell off- is that correct? Can I dry them in a lowish oven? Is it worth the trouble?
Once again I thank you for your collective knowledge.

Gary,

Are they black walnuts? If so, try these links:

http://www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/hortnews/1994/9-16-1994/bnut.html

http://www.extension.umn.edu/yardandgarden/ygbriefs/h404blkwal.html
DEb

Don't forget to wear rubber gloves when you dehull them! That stain lasts FOREVER. I remember going to school for a couple of days with it on my hands.

My dad used to spread a single-layer of black walnuts between two pieces of plywood in the driveway and then he'd drive the car over it to dehull them. My mom and I would then spend evenings picking nut meat out of the shells.

Lois

Lois, I have that exact memory from my childhood too!!!

We have a black walnut tree in our back yard that dropped HUNDREDS of walnuts during the storm. May have to put them to good use. I'm unclear as to when to harvest the meat....do I do it while the hulls are still a greenish yellow, or do I wait until they have turned black?

Don't forget to wear rubber gloves when you dehull them! That stain lasts FOREVER. I remember going to school for a couple of days with it on my hands.

My dad used to spread a single-layer of black walnuts between two pieces of plywood in the driveway and then he'd drive the car over it to dehull them. My mom and I would then spend evenings picking nut meat out of the shells.

Lois

Same here........we also gathered hickory nuts. Now there's a "tuff nut"

thanks for the flashback.

You're welcome, Tom. We never worked with hickory nuts. I imagine they are pretty hard.