Some of the outer green hulls were beginning to split so I figured it was time to harvest. I might have been too hasty,

The green fruit smells slightly medicinal. Dr Google warned me (too late) to wear rubber gloves when handling as the skin contains phenol – a mild disinfectant.

I used a knife to split the hulls, but only half of them would part easily to reveal the inner, brown walnut shell. The rest I had to discard.

I will leave the nuts to dry for a month or two and hope they yield edible treats. We shall wait and see.