Seed Nut Removal Before Transplanting

As seedlings start to put on their second flush of growth, it may be time to prepare for transplanting outside. One best practice in this preparation is to remove the remaining nut from the seedling — reducing some of the temptation for wildlife.

Steve Hoy, the Orchard Manager here at Penn State is doing just that in the photos below. There isn’t much room in these growing tubes so the process calls for finesse. Locate the nut and the root connection to the plant. With a sharp pointed pair of scissors carefully snip this connection and pick out the nut. There may still be some meat in the nut but at this point the seedlings are making their own food through photosynthesis and should be fine.