Growing hazelnuts

Hazelnut has many varieties, it is a cultivated hazel. Numerous experiments eventually made it possible to develop hazelnut varieties that are very fertile and resistant to difficult weather conditions.

Some of them are used at the industrial level, others have excellent decorative properties. Most importantly, you can now grow hazelnuts yourself.

But first you need to decide what kind of variety you want to see on your site.

This hazel is presented in the form of a branched shrub, the height of which can be from 1.5 to 5 m. Occasionally, trees can be found whose height reaches 7 m.

The flowering period is February-April. The time depends on where the nut grows. In the southern regions, the flowering period begins towards the end of January. It happens before the leaves bloom. Often only one grain develops, although the ovary includes two ovules.

The fruit is a drupe in a plush. The fruits are cylindrical, but sometimes there are round-ovoid and flattened drupes. When ripe, the shell of the fruit becomes intensely brown, the nut falls out of the cup.

It grows mainly in oak and mixed forests.

The life span of a hazelnut is no more than 80 years. From one hectare, the yield is from 500 kg. up to 2.5 tons. Wild hazelnut has become the basis for breeding new varieties for industrial use.

Red-leaved hazelnut bushes are the common name for a whole scattering of varieties.Their distinguishing feature is the foliage of a dark red color, which can turn green only in autumn.

Such shrubs serve not only as a way to obtain nuts, but also play an important decorative role. A red-leaved hazelnut hedge will give the site an excellent appearance. In addition, bees are very fond of it, and therefore the presence of shrubs near the apiary will allow you to get good honey.

Of the currently useful varieties of red-leaved hazelnuts, the following can be distinguished:

• Catherine,
• Academician Yablokov,
• Smolin,
• Kudrayf,
• Moscow ruby.

The most famous hazelnut, bred in Ukraine. Hazel first appeared on the territory of the Crimea 500 years ago and is most common here.

It has a number of characteristic features, such as:

• Large size;
• Fat content - 72%;
• Output core - 60%;
• For 100 nuts in the shell, approximately 500 gr. product;
• Frost resistance up to 32° below zero;
• Ripens in the second decade of August;
• This is the largest type of hazelnut in the entire world;
• Incredibly valued in the industry, but rare at this level;
• Refers to the highest grade according to state standards.

In addition to these varieties, there are many more varieties of hazelnuts that are recommended to be grown. These include:

• Circassian;
• Kudryavchik;
• Kerasund;
• Palace;
• Badem;
• Lombard;
• Barcelona;
• Ata-baba;
• Yagly;
• Panahesian;
• Gali;
• Kadetten, etc.

This nut is valued as a shrub for growing seedlings, which are then sold. Or you can grow bushes and collect fruits on your own plot, which is also very healthy and tasty.

For all the features of planting hazelnuts, see the video.

Hazel or hazelnut can be propagated using the nuts themselves. Quite often, such seedlings turn out to be even better in terms of quality than the "parents".

Occasionally, you can use the method of vaccination. However, it is not always relevant, since the branches are tender, and the cambium layer is thin.

If you are sowing indoors, then in December you need to lay nuts for germination for stratification. It lasts for a month and a half. Seeds are placed in a container filled with sand and sent to the refrigerator. You can also use a snow cushion or a basement where there is no heating.

After that, the nuts are taken out and planted in containers, inside of which there is soil with sand. The layer of sand should be approximately 25-40 millimeters. Covered with polyethylene.

As soon as sprouts appear, constant pollination with water should begin and care should be taken as for simple seedlings. Prepared seedlings should be transplanted to a permanent place in greenhouses in June.

Growing seedlings on your own is a rather long and difficult procedure. In addition, they can be easily found on the market. But to choose the right option, you need to know a few simple rules:

1. root system.It should be well developed, plus see that there is no dryness.
2. On the shoots, damage is not allowed in any case.
3. Pay attention to the kidneys. If they have already blossomed and turned into leaves, it is better not to take such seedlings. Give preference to pecked or dormant buds.

Before proceeding directly to landing, you should correctly select a place for this. Here it is worth paying attention to several features:

• The site must be flat, but small slopes up to 10 degrees are also allowed;
• If the slope is greater, then they must be traced, as well as equip the corresponding holes;
• Choose the direction north, west or east. The southern ones are too dry, therefore they are not suitable. Because of this, hazelnuts can suffer from frost and premature flowering;
• Choose a place where there is protection from the cold winter wind. Preferably natural - other plantings, trees, etc.;
• Chernozem, gray forest bud is suitable for cultivation. Do not use saline, swampy and dry sandy soils;
• Most of all known varieties of walnut are very fond of moisture, because the harvest will largely depend on the intensity of watering.

1. When choosing a vegetative propagation method, divide planting materials into ordinary seedlings, non-standard and suitable for planting. Non-standard landed in the school, where they grow up.
2. Seedlings, layering and rhizomes are planted in shkolka. At the same time, the row spacing is 90-120 centimeters, and in rows - 20-30 centimeters.
3. The optimal time for landing is autumn, about a month before the cold snap begins. This will allow the root system to recover by spring, just in time for the beginning of the growing season.
4. Ready seedlings should be placed at a distance of approximately 4-5 meters. Placement method - squares or chess principle. If the site is with a steep slope, then use only a checkerboard pattern.
4. In the planting pit, add about 5 kilograms of humus, about 50 grams of potassium salt, and also superphosphate - about 100 grams.
6. If the soil is poor enough, the indicated amount of fertilizer is doubled. Then the seedlings need to be watered abundantly and mulched.

For growing hazelnuts on an industrial scale, see the following video.

It is not enough just to plant and water hazelnuts after planting. Now he needs a lot of maintenance.

Care includes a number of activities:

1. Hazelnuts will take a lot of nutrients from the soil, which means that fertilizers must be added annually so that the yield does not fall.
2. Compost and manure are the best fertilizers that have everything a nut needs. They need to be introduced under deep digging. If there was little organic matter, then potash and phosphorus fertilizers can be used.
3. Nitrogen supplements dissolve very easily, so it is recommended to use them during care in early spring. Nitrogen plays a very important role in the initial growing season.
4. Nitrogen fertilizers, as well as phosphorus additives are applied every year, and potash fertilizers can be added only once every two years.
4. During the growing season, the soil must be loosened several times, weeds must be removed. The trunk circle is not loosened deeply - no more than 8 centimeters. This is due to the risk of damaging the roots located at a depth of only 10-15 centimeters.
6. Be sure to treat the shrubs from pests. They are not very dangerous, but not worth the risk.The first treatment is carried out after flowering is completed, and the second - when the size of the nuts is approximately equal to the size of the peas.