Walnut Cultivar Table

Walnut

Characteristics of some of the popular walnut cultivars grown in California

Cultivar	Leaf date	Growth habit	Bearing & yield	Harvest date	Net weight (g)	Shell	Kernel weight	% kernel	Kernel	Pollenizers	Notes & Assessments
Chandler	4/4	Moderately vigorous	Lateral bearing, strong yield	10/8	13.2	Oval, smooth, light color, thin shell, becomes stronger in older trees	6.5	49	Extra light color, easy removal in halves, not well filled	Cisco, Franquette, Fernette	Most common variety, excellent color & halves, fewer pest problems, but relatively late harvest
Cisco	4/14	Smaller & more precocious than Franquette	Terminal bearing, moderate yield	10/12	14.2	Good seal & strength	14.8	44	Color can be variable, generally medium light	Used as a pollenizer for Chandler	Pollenizer variety only, for use with Chandler, Howard
Eureka	3/28	Vigorous	Terminal bearing, fair yield	9/29	15.2	Elongated and round at both ends, solid shell & seal	7.4	49	Poor kernal color	None recommended	Old mid-season variety with distinctive elongated nut shape
Fernette	4/15	Moderate vigor	Lateral bearing, good yield	10/13	14.9	Good strength	7.5	50	Light & extra light	Used as pollenizer for Chandler	Developed in France. Abundant pollen producer, more precocious than Franquette.
Forde	3/30	Moderate vigor	Lateral bearing, good yield	10/8	15.5	Strong shell, good strength & size	8.1	52	Plump, light color, good removal	Ivanhoe, Howard, Tulare	Females bloom before catkins, hulls don't open well at maturity, selected for blight resistance, late harvest
Franquette	4/23	Vigorous large tree	Terminal bearing, fair yield	10/17	11	Medium-thin shell with good seal	5.5	50	Good quality, light & extra light color	Used at pollenizer for Chandler	Old variety, late harvest, primarily used as pollenizer for Chandler & Hartley
Gillet	3/25	Moderately vigorous	Lateral bearing, strong yield	9/27	15.2	Large with good shell, seals can be weak	7.7	51	Light color & easy to remove	Payne, Vina, Serr	Newer mid-season variety with large nuts, some blight resistance
Hartley	4/3	Large tree	Terminal bearing, moderate yield	10/4	14.3	Classic in-shell shape	6.5	45	Preferred for in-shell use	Often no pollenizer used, Cicso, Franquette	Classic variety for sale in the shell, distinct triangular shape, susceptible to deep bark canker
Howard	4/2	Moderate, not as vigorous as Chandler in some locations	Lateral bearing, strong yield	9/28	14.3	Large, strong, good seal,can be a bit rough	7.2	51	Light color but darkens in storage	Cisco, Franquette, Fernette	Large nuts, often marketed as an in-shell variety, does not grow well in Jan Joaquin Valley, limb breakage
Ivanhoe	3/17	Fairly small to moderate tree	Lateral bearing, strong yield, very precocious	9/13	12.8	Smooth, thin shell	7.3	57	Extra light color, easy removal	Payne, Serr	Not resistant to blight, very early harvest date with excellent color, female bloom before catkins, recommended for San Joaquin Valley
Payne/ Ashley	3/18	Precocious, moderate size, upright	Lateral bearing, moderate yield	9/15	12.9	Good strength & appearance	6.4	50	Light color, good quality, easy removal	Tehama, Chico, Hartley	Early harvest date, very susceptible to blight, DNA markers indicate Ashley & Payne are identical
Poe	4/7	Large	Terminal bearing, fair yield	10/4	13.7	Thick shell, not well filled	5.6	41	Small kernel marketable for flavor	None recommended	Unique variety grown in Lake Co, CA for its flavor
Robert Livermore	4/3	Moderate, similar to Chandler	Lateral bearing, moderate yield	9/29	12.9	Solid, moderately small & dark	6.4	50	Red kernel skin	Cisco, Franquette, Fernette	Kernels with distinctive uniform red skin color
Serr	3/20	Very vigorous	Moderately fruitful on laterals, yield variable	9/19	14.4	Thin shell, good seal, well filled	8.1	56	Light color & excellent quality	pollenizers not recommended	High quality and potential high productivity but susceptible to flower drop if exposed to excess pollen
Sexton	3/26	Densely branched canopy, flowers in clusters common	Lateral bearing, good yield, very precocious	10/1	15.6	Large, smooth, round, good strength	8.3	53	Large, light color and easy to remove from shell	Covers itself well, Chandler, Howard, Tulare	Unusual forked branch habit & cluster flowering
Solano	3/28	Moderate, similar to Chandler, upright	Lateral bearing, strong yield	9/24	14.6	Good strength & appearance, suitable for in-shell use	7.9	54	Light & extra light color, good removal	Chandler, Howard, Tulare	Vina timing with better color & upright growth habit
Sunland	3/20	Vigorous	Lateral bearing, variable yield	9/27	17.9	Well filled, large, oval, solid shell	9.8	55	good quality, large, plump & oval	Chico, Tehama & Tulare	Potential for high productivity but susceptible nut drop & oilless nuts
Tehama	3/31	Vigorous	Lateral bearing, heavy	9/25	14.1	Solid shell, can have weak seals	6.8	48	Light color, not well filled	Used at a pollenizer for Serr	Primarily a pollenizer for Serr
Tulare	4/1	Upright, vigorous	Lateral bearing, strong yield	9/28	14.1	Medium texture & strength	7.6	53	Light color, good fill	Often planted with no pollenizer	Vigorous growth, good mid-season yield, upright canopy; susceptible to fall & winter cold temperatures
Vina	3/26	Moderate size, not upright, tendency to over-bear	Lateral bearing, strong yield	9/23	12.6	Good seal & strength, can be used in-shell	6.2	49	Often color is not adequate	Chico, Chandler, Tehama, Howard	Highly productive but reputation for inadequate kernel color & branch structure