Hickory nut type? - Wildlife Gardeners

Hedgerowe · 07-03-2009, 01:55 PM

Is anyone out there conversant in hickory nuts?

I found these in the woods, both on the ground and whizzing by my head. I'm pretty sure that they are Carya. They seem to most resemble Carya ovalis, red hickory. The skin is thin and they smell wonderful, very peppery and spicy.

JennyC · 07-03-2009, 03:31 PM

We eat a lot of hickory nuts, but I'm not conversant in the different types; mostly we have shagbark around here.

I can tell you that those you have aren't ripe (and they don't ripen if they fall; those probably have worms or something). If you can locate the tree, the healthy nuts will be ready in the fall.

Hedgerowe · 07-03-2009, 06:30 PM

Thanks JennyC. The woods I walked through today were full of the nuts so there must be several hickory trees there. I did look around for shagbark but did not see any. When do they generally ripen in GA?

gbreadman · 07-03-2009, 07:04 PM

Looks really neat, definitely a sign of carya with a spicy husk.

Dan

Hedgerowe · 07-03-2009, 08:09 PM

They really smelled good! My car still has the scent of them, hours after I brought them inside.

JennyC · 07-04-2009, 10:29 AM

Here, they'll ripen ... gosh. When do they ripen? October? Late September? I'm a bit hazy -- I know I gathered them in the heat and continued up until Thanksgiving (they don't suffer much from a little bit of weather).

I'd love to smell those! I don't think I've ever encountered them.

Hedgerowe · 07-04-2009, 11:34 AM

Next time I go back I'll gather some for you. PM your address.

gbreadman · 07-04-2009, 12:28 PM

Please, some here too...no red hickory here. I have a great spot that's gonna be plowed in the lawn for some new wood growth. We'll trade some shagbark nuts!

Carya usually ripens here in August, about 5 or 6 weeks from now, but the squirrels will eat them even before they ripen. Luckily even the squirrels have butter(nut) fingers and will drop a couple dozen.

Dan

Hedgerowe · 07-04-2009, 01:27 PM

Haappy to oblige Dan. PM your address and they'll be yours!

JennyC · 07-04-2009, 02:01 PM

Cool! Thanks! I'm just going to do a quick check to see there's no disease affecting hickories that we might spread by accident. As long as there isn't, I still have shagbark nuts in the freezer, so I can send you some, too.

07-03-2009, 01:55 PM	#1
Hedgerowe Snag Aficionado Join Date: May 2009 Location: Chesapeake Bay, Maryland, USA	Hickory nut type? Is anyone out there conversant in hickory nuts? I found these in the woods, both on the ground and whizzing by my head. I'm pretty sure that they are Carya. They seem to most resemble Carya ovalis, red hickory. The skin is thin and they smell wonderful, very peppery and spicy. Attached Thumbnails

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07-03-2009, 03:31 PM	#2
JennyC WG Editor Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: The South	We eat a lot of hickory nuts, but I'm not conversant in the different types; mostly we have shagbark around here. I can tell you that those you have aren't ripe (and they don't ripen if they fall; those probably have worms or something). If you can locate the tree, the healthy nuts will be ready in the fall.

07-03-2009, 06:30 PM	#3
Hedgerowe Snag Aficionado Join Date: May 2009 Location: Chesapeake Bay, Maryland, USA	Thanks JennyC. The woods I walked through today were full of the nuts so there must be several hickory trees there. I did look around for shagbark but did not see any. When do they generally ripen in GA?

07-03-2009, 07:04 PM	#4
gbreadman Grub Join Date: May 2009 Location: NJ	Looks really neat, definitely a sign of carya with a spicy husk. Dan

07-03-2009, 08:09 PM	#5
Hedgerowe Snag Aficionado Join Date: May 2009 Location: Chesapeake Bay, Maryland, USA	They really smelled good! My car still has the scent of them, hours after I brought them inside.

07-04-2009, 10:29 AM	#6
JennyC WG Editor Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: The South	Here, they'll ripen ... gosh. When do they ripen? October? Late September? I'm a bit hazy -- I know I gathered them in the heat and continued up until Thanksgiving (they don't suffer much from a little bit of weather). I'd love to smell those! I don't think I've ever encountered them.

07-04-2009, 11:34 AM	#7
Hedgerowe Snag Aficionado Join Date: May 2009 Location: Chesapeake Bay, Maryland, USA	Next time I go back I'll gather some for you. PM your address.

07-04-2009, 12:28 PM	#8
gbreadman Grub Join Date: May 2009 Location: NJ	Please, some here too...no red hickory here. I have a great spot that's gonna be plowed in the lawn for some new wood growth. We'll trade some shagbark nuts! Carya usually ripens here in August, about 5 or 6 weeks from now, but the squirrels will eat them even before they ripen. Luckily even the squirrels have butter(nut) fingers and will drop a couple dozen. Dan

07-04-2009, 01:27 PM	#9
Hedgerowe Snag Aficionado Join Date: May 2009 Location: Chesapeake Bay, Maryland, USA	Haappy to oblige Dan. PM your address and they'll be yours!

07-04-2009, 02:01 PM	#10
JennyC WG Editor Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: The South	Cool! Thanks! I'm just going to do a quick check to see there's no disease affecting hickories that we might spread by accident. As long as there isn't, I still have shagbark nuts in the freezer, so I can send you some, too.