Hazelnuts, which require as much knowledge to plant and care as radishes, are a cultivated nut species commonly found in garden plots. With proper cultivation techniques, a high yield can be achieved.
Hazelnut is a shrub growing to about 3 m in size. Its leaves are heart- or oval-shaped. The plant is often used to create compositions in landscape designA single specimen contains both male and female flowers, making the hazelnut monoecious and dioecious.
Flowering occurs before bud break, most often in March. Pollination occurs by wind or insects.
By September, the fruits are already ripe and have a thin shell. The fruit is a nut in a green wrapper.
Planting hazelnuts
The planting site should be well-lit. There are no specific soil preferences, other than marshy or sandy soils. Fertile, loose soils are ideal.
The selected area should not be flooded by spring floods.
Planting can be done in either fall or spring. Hazelnuts are perennials. Because their crown is very lush and dense, the distance between trees should be at least 4 meters. Many people plant trees individually, so for best fruiting, at least three seedlings should be planted together.
A planting hole measuring 70x70x70 cm is prepared in advance. Humus, superphosphate, and potassium sulfate are placed at the bottom of the hole. These are mixed with soil. A small mound is made in the center of the hole, the seedling's root system is treated with a clay-manure solution, and the seedling is planted on the mound. The mound is then filled with soil and compacted.
The area around the bush should be watered and mulched with sawdust. Shade the seedlings during the first few days after planting.
Caring for hazelnuts
Plant care includes: weed removal, fertilizing, disease and pest control, watering, pruning, and mulching.
Periodically, the area around the hazelnut tree trunk must be loosened, while removing weeds and mulching with sawdust or peat.
Watering. This should be done especially during dry weather, particularly in June and July. This is the season when the plant's organs for the coming year are formed.
Top dressing
Every few years, you should add organic fertilizer. Humus or compost can be used.
To increase yields, it is recommended to use mineral fertilizers such as urea or ammonium nitrate. These are applied twice throughout the season.
Trimming
This is done in late autumn. Particular attention is paid to formative pruning, which will allow the shoots to receive more light. Pruning should be completed before fruiting, which occurs after four years from planting.
The formation of the bush begins with trimming off excess shoots in the middle, and the side shoots are bent to the sides and secured with wire.
At 5 years of age, pruning will be necessary, which involves thinning the bush. Broken, weakened, and old branches are removed.
At 15 years of age, pruning is performed to rejuvenate the tree. Two to three trunks are removed, and young shoots are lightly trimmed.
Harvesting
Harvesting is done based on the variety, most often in August and September. Ripeness can be determined visually: the shell turns yellow or brown, and the nut is easily removed from the shell. Harvesting involves shaking the bushes; fallen fruits are collected, and those remaining hanging are removed by hand.
Next, the nuts need to be dried. To do this, they are laid out in a ventilated area. Once dry, the wrappers are removed, and the nuts are completely dried. They can be stored for several years.
We invite you to watch a video on how to plant hazel bushes.