If the only ball - bearing trees you ’ve ever seen are towering pecans , walnuts or hickory , the idea of having a homegrown junkie harvest may vocalise , well … simply nuts . But some of the easiest nuts to arise — hazelnuts ( Corylus spp . ) — come from pocket-sized trees or easily maintain bush . To take if growing them is a possible action for you , read on !
Expert gardener ’s tips :
Commercial Hazelnuts
From a commercial standpoint , three species of hazelnuts are of import :
All three of these hazelnuts grow as vase - shaped , multi - stemmed shrubs . They accomplish from 10 to 16 groundwork tall and up to 13 feet wide . With even pruning , however , they remain much smaller . European hazelnuts are often trained as small Tree .
Hybrid Hazelnuts
In the seventies , researcher found that European hazelnut cultivar ‘ Gasaway ’ was insubordinate to EFB . After nearly 50 years of backcross other variety to ‘ Gasaway , ’ breeders begin commercializing several EFB - resistant hybrids . Among them are :
All these hybrids grow as trees 8 to 12 feet grandiloquent , with an up to 12 - foot spread . Others may top out at 15 to 20 base . look on their variety , hazelnut tree hybrids are hardy in USDA zones 4 through 8 or 9 .
Ornamental Features
Cascades of yellowed male flowers dangle like longsighted , slim pine cones from hazelnut ramification in spring . They far outshine the invisible female cuddle on the outgrowth tips . In fall , the flora ’ nutshell intensify from green to hazel and their deep - dark-green leaves become tinct with shade of jaundiced , orange , rose or purple .
If you ’re uncoerced to exchange a bountiful nut harvest time for a four - season show-stopper , develop a ‘ Red Dragon ’ ( Corylus avellana‘Red Dragon’)tree . It pairs sinuously twisted branches with Bourgogne - crimson leaping flowers . Its newfangled branch and leaves emerge dark red and its red egg husks contrast strikingly with bronze summer leave .
Its one drawback is that its only pollinator is the EFB - susceptible European hazelnut – and even when pollenate , its yield is small . ‘ Red Dragon ’ is hardy in USDA zones 4 through 9 .
Where Hazelnuts Grow Best
The in force news show is that hazelnuts grow the most nuts in comparatively broken - nutrient soil . Growing them on a very fertile land site results in lots of foliage but very few prime or nuts . They need upright drain and four or more minute of daily sun . More is respectable .
Hazelnuts and Pollination
Although cobnut produce both male and distaff flowers , they seldom ego pollinate . To guarantee yourself a harvest , it ’s essential to plant in groups of three or more . By doing so , you ’ll multiply the odds that some flowers are shedding pollen while others are receptive to receiving it .
The good way to accomplish that is to plant several variety that acquire pollen at different clip . Compatible groups with early- , mid - and tardy - spring pollinators include :
Expert gardener ’s steer : Some hazelnut sort carry a transmissible queerness that determine the bit of other cultivar they can receive pollen from . It ’s all important to do your homework before choose your groupings . Otherwise , you ’ll have respectable , attractive bushes but no harvest .
Pruning Hazelnut Bushes
To keep hazelnut George H.W. Bush trim and tidy , prune in winter by snub about one - third of the oldest branches back to the soil . open up up the center for better Sunday pic and air circulation , but leave the youngest twigs where the female flowers grow .
Always take away sucker — the stems that emerge along the roots — as before long as they appear . Unless you delve them up , your cobnut ’s emergence will soon be out of ascendance .
