How to plant hazelnuts in the fall: how to properly plant and care for a hazelnut seedling

Planting hazelnuts in the fall in your own garden is possible without any special conditions. All it takes is desire and hard work. Hazelnut It's called the king of nuts because it's the most nutritious and beneficial. Medicines made from it are used in dermatology, cosmetology, nephrology, and gastroenterology.

Description of hazelnut

Hazelnut, also known as filbert or Corylus, is a perennial plant belonging to the genus Hazel. Wild varieties exist, more common in the south—in Crimea and the Caucasus. They are characterized by smaller fruits, making them more difficult to harvest. Their flavor is inferior to that of garden varieties, and yields are low.

This is a tree-like plant, growing from 2 to 5 meters in height. It has a rounded crown, smooth, delicate bark, and conical nuts. The leaves of the hazel tree resemble a fish—a bream, hence the name.

During flowering, elongated buds appear on the branches, tipped with a double purple tassel. Crimson in color. This is what the female inflorescences look like. The male ones resemble birch catkins. Fruit appears in the sixth year.

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Hazelnuts have a vibrant flavor and are a very high-calorie food. They contain many beneficial substances. One nut contains 73% oils, 20% protein, approximately 5% sugars, and 3% fiber.

Where to plant

Hazelnuts are best planted in a sunny location. Light is an important factor when choosing a site for hazelnut trees.

When the north side is blocked by trees or building walls, thus protecting the plantings from the wind, that's excellent. The shrub tolerates low temperatures well. However, it's best not to plant hazelnuts in such locations.

Nearby crops with dense canopies should be located 5 meters away from the hazelnut tree. This will increase the yield.

Any soil is suitable—chernozem, brown soil, sod-podzolic soil. Hazelnuts also thrive in sod, floodplain, gleyed, gley, and podzolic soils. The pH should be between 5 and 7, meaning neutral or slightly acidic. The plant needs adequate moisture, but it should not grow in marshy soil or near high groundwater levels.

When and where to plant a shrub

The best time to plant hazelnuts is in the fall. This should be done 2-3 weeks before the onset of sustained frost. This will give the seedling time to develop its root system by early December.

Planting rules

For good pollination, it's best to plant several hazelnut bushes at once. The optimal distance between them is 6 meters, so they don't become crowded.

Stages of work:

• to plow or dig up the land;
• make holes 1 m wide, 1 m high and 1 m long;
• fill them ½ full with humus or manure;
• pour 10 liters of water into each hole;
• cover the seedling with soil so that the root taproot protrudes 3 cm from it;
• water - 20 liters per hazelnut tree.

Selection of planting material

Planting material can be purchased at a store, a fair, or prepared by the gardener. There are some rules, tips, and recommendations for preparing for planting:

1. Seeds. Germinate on a windowsill in small containers. Keep them in a cool, dark place—a refrigerator or cellar—for several months. Make 5 cm deep holes in the soil.
2. Root cuttings. Take them from a three-year-old plant, from the edge of the main bush. Before transplanting to their permanent location, the cuttings should be grown in a garden bed or greenhouse for 1-2 years. This method preserves absolutely all the varietal characteristics of the plant.
3. Division. Branches with root systems up to 15 cm long are separated from a mature bush. This method is suitable for thinning out hazelnut trees.
4. Young cuttings. Take a two-year-old tree, just as the shoots are beginning to develop woodiness. Plant in a 1:1 mixture of peat and sand. Water along with the foliage.
5. Seedlings. To grow hazelnuts, you need a leafless seedling with a well-formed root system 45-50 cm long. The root system has two pairs of shoots, each 1.5 cm in diameter and 1-2 cm in length. Hazelnuts are sown in rows or as individual bushes.

Caring for hazelnuts

When the hazelnut tree hasn't yet spread out in the garden, the space underneath can be used to grow cereals or annual vegetables. Remove weeds, loosen the soil, but not too deeply to avoid damaging the hazelnut rhizome, and water regularly—once a month.

How to fertilize and feed

Mulching with wood shavings, pine needles, and fallen leaves is done every fall, including in the first year. During the initial period, the sun-loving seedling is also artificially shaded. After one week, water again. It's best to do this in portions. Empty the new bucket after the water has been absorbed. This will prevent rot.

A hole fertilized with manure and fertilizer nourishes the plant and promotes its growth for several years. Fertilizing is no longer necessary for four years.

Pest control

Wormy fruits and affected leaves are collected and discarded. As a preventative measure, clean the bark, loosen the soil to oxygenate it, and collect leaves and debris from the area.

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Pests that hazelnuts are susceptible to:

1. The walnut nut borer is a beetle with a long horn. It measures 0.7-1 cm and is light brown. It overwinters in the ground. It lays eggs in nuts, where the larva develops.
2. Aphids are small beetles, 2 mm in size, that feed on leaves.
3. The walnut longhorn beetle is a black beetle with an elongated abdomen, yellow legs, and long antennae. It eats leaves.
4. The currant bud mite is a worm-like insect with a 0.5 cm abdomen. Besides hazelnuts, it also inhabits currants and gooseberries. It lives and develops in the buds of these crops.

This shrub shouldn't be ignored. Regular care and effort reward the gardener with a beautiful plant with a lush crown and delicious nuts. Hazelnuts are easy to grow and don't require constant fertilizing. Buying seedlings is affordable for everyone. Furthermore, there are several varieties that can be grown indoors. With careful cultivation, hazelnuts will thrive in the garden for many years.