VARIETY GUIDE

• ‘Rex’ is best for Otago- and Canterburytype climates. It is a high-yielding lateral bearer that is quite resistant to walnut blight. The blonde kernel is sweet and tasty. • ‘Meyric’ is recommended for mild, fertile, climates such as in Wanganui, where Diana and Wal Loader began planting 1000 walnut trees in 1987 to establish Nuts ‘n May, now run by their daughter Hel Loader. ‘Meyric’ is a terminal bearer so takes longer to come into full production, but at 15 years, their trees were producing quantities of long, thin-shelled nuts that crack out reliably to produce honey blonde halves. These store well and can keep their flavour and colour for up to 15 months.

The tree is moderately susceptible to blight (more so than ‘Rex’).

• ‘Serr’ does well in hot, dry, climates with poor soils. It tolerates the heat and resists sunburn, though is very susceptible to blight in humid climates. The mid-season nuts are large, with a 45 per cent crack-out producing a thin, dark kernel whose high-health fatty acid content is equal to that of ‘Rex’.

•‘ Shannon’ is best for fertile soils with humid or damp climates. It originates from Manawatu and thrives in the deep fertile soil of similar climates, with high production and resistance to blight. It bears when quite young and has large crops that drop quite late in the season. The nuts are easily husked, of a good size, and easy to crack. They are not as big as ‘Wilson Wonder’ nuts but are fuller in the shell. •‘ Franquette’ is best for areas prone to late frosts as it is one of the latest to break dormancy. This terminal bearer produces good quantities of well-sealed nuts with a thin shell that are resistant to blight.

•‘ Lara’ is the variety to watch, according to Nick Nelson-Parker, a walnut grower, breeder and trialist in Eastern Bay of Plenty. The Walnut Industry Group imported the French variety from Tasmania and trees in New Zealand are still only young, but they are proving to be precocious with heavy crops of good quality nuts.

• ‘Wilsons Wonder’ is the variety most of us know from our childhood. In full production within seven years, it produces large, clean, easy-to-crack nuts, but it is not reliable – the thick-shelled nuts tend to twist and expose the kernel to withering or mould if not harvested and cured properly.