Especially when space in the garden is limited or there is no garden at all, but you want to cultivate a walnut tree, all sorts of considerations come to mind. Questions like “Can I keep a walnut small?” are often found in forums. Plant lovers often also want to know whether a walnut tree can be grown in a pot. We would like to clarify this matter below.
Can you grow a walnut tree in a pot?
A walnut tree in a pot is possible if you choose a dwarf variety that only grows to around 1.2 meters high. These varieties develop well in sunny locations and bear fruit after just a few years. Normal walnut trees are unsuitable for keeping in pots.
Keep normal walnut trees in pots? Impossible
First of all, bad news: You definitely can't keep a normal walnut tree in a pot in the long term. This works well for a few years, after all it is even advisable to grow the walnut in a bucket, if only to protect it from pests and frost.
But sooner or later every classic walnut tree needs a place outdoors - its gigantic taproot needs a lot of space to develop, apart from the fact that walnuts grow up to 25 (sometimes even 30) meters high and the crown can reach a diameter of up to 15 meters.
Dwarf varieties of walnuts as solutions for the pot
If keeping it in a pot is the only option for you and you don't want to miss out on the beauty of a walnut tree, fortunately there is a he althy solution that both you and the tree can live wonderfully with: buy a dwarf variety!
Walnut tree dwarfs are unusual breeds that are grafted onto weak rootstock, so that ultimately the smallest trees are created. However, there are still differences within this walnut category:
The 'Europa' variety, for example, grows to around 3.5 meters high and is recommended for keeping in small gardens (in the ground!).
But there are also varieties that only reach a height of around 1.2 meters - with a trunk circumference of around 40 to 60 centimeters. You can easily keep such walnuts in a pot if you want.
But make sure to provide the tree with a very sunny location so that it can develop well.
The dwarf varieties surprise their owners after just a few years (often it takes just two to three years) with a rich harvest of delicious walnuts.
For comparison: With a normal walnut tree, the first harvest can usually only be expected after around 15 to 20 years of existence.