Last of the walnuts (from 2020)

The last of the 2020 walnut crop has finally been consumed. They have lasted just about one year and now for while there will be no walnuts to add to my morning porridge. As someone quite content with routine I have had porridge for breakfast virtually every day for maybe thirty years. I don't tire of it, and in any case breakfast is not a meal I linger over; its not a banquet, after all. And in the past, when I had workaholic tendencies, speed was the essence first thing in the morning. 

We have a very large mature walnut tree and last year there was an enormous crop. Large enough for the squirrels to help themselves but leaving plenty for us. However, this tree, like many fruit trees but especially apples and pears, has become biennial bearing. That is, it produces a big crop followed by a very small crop. This year there were hardly any walnuts to be had. The problem is that when a fruit tree produces a very large crop it uses up much of the energy needed to produce new fruit buds for the following year's crop. After 'resting' for a year (or sometimes longer) the tree recovers and builds up the reserves to blossom and set fruit for another very big crop. 

The initial cause of biennial fruiting could be hard frosts one year when in full bloom preventing fruit from setting. The energy saved from fruit formation is channelled to forming fruit buds for the future instead. The same effect can also result because of a prolonged drought. Either way the pattern is set for future years. The risk can be reduced by taking out half the flower buds when in flower to induce a smaller crop. This takes a steely determination, though. Judicious pruning which removes a good proportion of fruiting buds is another approach. Both approaches are not viable options for our enormous walnut tree, however.  We have to let Nature take its course and accept whatever comes our way and be grateful for that, large or small.

In the meantime, instead of walnuts, I add to my morning porridge a handful of apple slices from this year's crop which we de-hydrated. They are stored handily in large airtight Kilner jars ready for use.