Can Walnuts Get Through Low-Chill Winters?

Walnuts need more winter chill than almost any other tree crop in California, and UC research shows that requirement is only getting harder to meet as winters warm. UCCE advisor Kat Jarvis-Shean has spent several years testing dormancy-breaking tools, including Dormex, in real orchards to see how they affect bud break timing, harvest timing, and yield. The results are promising but nuanced, and she breaks down what growers should weigh before using these tools in their own operations.