Processing Shagbark Hickory nuts (Carya ovata) - Hulling, Storing, Stratifying, and Planting Advice

In this video, I talk about how we process hickory nuts for future planting and eating. I talk about the process from harvesting the nuts in fall to planting the nuts in spring. I also show a typical nursery bed of first year hickory seedlings.
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[@jimschlaugat6475]

That seems to be a great way to stratify nuts. I'm going to try this .

[@TheRealSuperVillain]

Okay this is epic! would love to see more nut dehuskings in the future

[@robetheridge6999]

I am so excited that I. have about 30 sprouted shagbark hickories that I just transplantacije in +to a larger container. I put them in a 5 gallon bucket (with holes in the bottom) with pine back fines and left them outside. I had about 50% germination, so the pigs were happy.

[@stephanecome4234]

Nice! I've just finished drying 50 gallons of husks. Used a handful to smoke some pork chops. Oh man, so good! Next time, keep the husks and dry them as well. As for compost, do you know if the hickory husks are like black walnuts where they aren't good for some plants, specially tomatoes. Be careful what kind of compost you mix this in.

[@redtwignursery2621]

Using husks rather than the wood for smoking sounds like a much better, less destructive alternative. I will definitely try that! As for the hickory husks, I don't believe their husks produce as much juglone as black walnuts. In fact, I also add black walnut husks to my compost, but I let it age for at least 1.5 - 2 years before using it in the nursery. I haven't noticed any issues, but to be honest, I don't grow a lot of tomato plants.

[@danvankouwenberg7234]

I think the Juglone or Juglans is just in the walnut genus. Never heard of the same thing with Hickory or any other tree. The whole Walnut tree can irritate you. I've had little caustic burns from English Walnut sawdust on my arms when they were sweaty. The toxicity of the walnuts affects different plants in different ways. I think it's worse for pines than anything else.

[@stlogpraisegod287]

Wow, Thank you for the info. I have three large shag bark hickory in my yard. Maybe 70 feet tall. They are loaded with nuts this year, so I will try to use some for food. Another 6 large hickories close to my property line are loaded. We have several squirrels, so I am not sure if that is a bad thing, but they constantly pick the nuts. Should I wait for the nuts to fall or can I pick them? I could only reach the lower half of the trees from my ladder. Probably too dangerous.

[@2techshop]

Nice video, very informative.

[@violettracey]

Cool! Thanks!

[@Jackyboi887]

Are the biggest ones shellbark? They tend to be larger and more elongated

[@Jewels3480]

You forgot to mention how long it takes for them to grow out to start fruiting I read that it can take 25 years. Good thing you're starting now

[@jeronimomod156]

I'd like to see you do a video next year on hickory syrup

[@redtwignursery2621]

Hi Jeronimo, I've never tapped a hickory before, but I have tapped black walnut trees. Does their sap flow around the same time as maples?

[@jeronimomod156]

@@redtwignursery2621 yes. I'm thinking about doing hickory black walnut and Maple all in the same batch. I got five trees which is way more than enough for me to end up with a gallon or more of syrup. I think it's going to be fabulous. I might post some pictures on Facebook but I'm not going to do video. It would be really awesome to see you do video though ♥️👌

[@MultiShaed]

Can you tap all nuts like that? Thinking I might experiment with my pecan trees

[@claytonshearer1582]

I may be being overly fussy, but if you have multiple sources, I would skip the graveyard. They use serious chemicañs to treat the dead which are potential mutagens to the plant. Great video and channel, thanks

[@redtwignursery2621]

Interesting thought, I hadn't though of that. Thanks for sharing!

[@kylenoe4044]

When you plant out the nuts, do you orient them a certain way? I'm planting about a hundred hickory nuts in an airprune bed. I noticed these shagbarks have two pointy ends but they definitely have some different characteristics. Will the nut not care how it is oriented?

[@redtwignursery2621]

I usually plant them laying flat on their side, about an inch and a half deep. I'm not sure which end they sprout from, I'd guess the non pointy side. Last year I planted about that many in an air prune bed myself. I didn't leave enough air space underneath the mesh and they all grew right through it into the ground haha. Not my proudest moment. Good luck growing these!

[@chuckhooper5215]

I’m in Connecticut and already have several black walnut. How can I purchase the shag bark from you ? When is best time of years to plant ?

[@juliachesterfield2816]

I'm in CT and I can safely say if you take a walk in the woods you'll find many shag bark hickory saplings/seeds! Happy hunting!

[@bryanmcgury9398]

Hi, I'm living in Germany and was wondering if you ship seeds? I am looking for oak and hickory species.

[@toddlangstaff5298]

I have 1 million acorns, walnuts & hickory nuts, shagbark and American hickory.

[@pambennett8967]

I have three trees and big nuts . I also have loads of small baby trees that won't get big because too much shade. I'm looking to transplant them from the ground and see if they'll survive in pots for awhile . The thing with these nuts is there isn't much meat

[@MommaChaga]

Is there a certain way you chuck them?

[@redtwignursery2621]

Just by hand. The husks should easily peel away in four pieces from the nut, sometimes almost falling away by itself.

[@1neAdam12]

@3:25 Go on...

[@connormckean9765]

What state do you live in

[@redtwignursery2621]

I'm in Wisconsin.

[@petrawhorton8515]

These nuts look like small coconuts

[@markwathern9524]

It would have been interesting, but with the long drawn out explanations and all the umm's, I found it impossible to finish watching!

[@july77773]

Your brain is trained to prefer polished Hollywood productions.

[@stevegraves2968]

Um, interesting umm

[@MultiShaed]

I'm so excited to find a nursery that sells the seeds as well as seedlings

[@Mmhashbrowns]

I actually sell them

[@justicebinder6544]

I have been collecting these from an old tree and have gotten a few to grow into small little trees