WALNUTS
I was told that a walnut tree grown from seed would take years to produce.
However, I’ve recently visited a grower who has proven otherwise. She has hundreds of trees, grafted and seedling side-by-side, and says some of the seedlings had produced earlier than the grafted trees. It depended most on the aftercare provided.
Her seed-grown walnuts have also been less susceptible to blight.
How to grow a walnut for free
Walnut seedlings only vary slighty from the parent.
Choose a good fresh nut and do not let it dry out. Remove the husk and do a float test to ensure it is viable (discard floaters).
If you’re in the winterless north you will need to cold stratify nuts in the fridge (as for pipfruit) before planting.
Plant into a garden bed close to your home, with the seam of the nut vertical so water does not pool inside the shell and rot the nut.
A young walnut grows its taproot first, which needs depth. Planting it in a pot is detrimental long term. If grown in the garden, leave for at least a year so it develops side roots. Then carefully transplant it to its final spot.