Pumpkin Center, Kern County, California. This article is about the unincorporated community in Kern County. For the unincorporated community in Lassen County, see Pumpkin Center, Lassen County, California.
Harvesting Chestnut Trees. After the chestnuts fall from the tree, watch for the spiny burs to split. Donât harvest chestnuts if the burs are still green and closed because the nuts inside will be unripe. Harvest the nuts every couple of days.
Walnut harvest usually begins in the southern and central valleys in early September and the northern regions in early October. The walnuts are ready to be harvested when the green outer hull splits exposing the nut. At this time, many walnuts have already dropped from the trees to the orchard floor. Nuts that have not dropped naturally are then mechanically shaken from the tree.