Walnut failure!

Back in October I collected a basketful of walnuts. According to my research, in order to store them I had to remove all the flesh and then dry the nuts in their shells, after which they would keep for many months...

I've just cracked them open (with a hammer - my nutcracker was not powerful enough) and they're all completely dried out inside, with only the teensiest little nuts that wouldn't even feed a mouse :(
Disappointed!

Walnuts!