Hazelnuts. I can't say enough good things about them. Except unfortunately my goats also love them. Hazelnuts are hardy, easy-to-grow nuts that start producing much faster than other nuts.
What Are Hazelnuts?
Hazelnuts also known as filberts are a bush versus a large tree. Walnuts and pecans grow quite tall and can take eight or more years to produce. Hazelnuts start to produce delicious nuts in 3 - 4 years.
So the words hazelnut and filbert are often used interchangeably. In America, we use the term hazelnut most often and grow the American Hazelnut (Corylus americana). Across the pond, Europeans grow filberts (Corylus maxima) a close cousin but technically a different species. Both hazelnuts and filberts are in the family Corylus.
Not a lot of cultivars have been developed. A few from Oregon State University have been developed for commercial agriculture including Lewis and Yamhill. For the most part, nurseries just list it as Amercian Hazelnut.
Hedges
Since they are a bush they do well in smaller spaces and can be planted close together. In fact, hazelnuts are often used for hedges. They make an attractive summer privacy screen or windbreak and are great for wildlife gardens.
Their dense, bushy growth habit makes them an ideal choice for establishing property boundaries, providing privacy, and attracting wildlife. When planted closely together, hazelnut shrubs can form a dense barrier that serves as a windbreak and noise buffer, offering both functional and environmental benefits.
These shrubs provide food and shelter for various birds and small mammals, enhancing the overall health and vitality of the surrounding environment.
They are also handy in suburban lots where an edible hedge is a great way to utilize space in an attractive landscape.
Planting
Hazelnuts do well in full sun or part shade. They like a neutral pH. Hazelnuts grow to about 10 feet tall and just as wide but they are prunable especially if you want a hedge effect.
They grow well in a variety of soils in zones 4-8 and are native to woodlands in the Eastern and Central US. Just follow the squirrels to find them!
Hazelnuts need fertile soil just like fruit trees so use my secret sauce recipe to amend your soil. If you have heavy clay soil then add some greensand to loosen it up.
Ame’s Secret Sauce Recipe
Planting Distance
If you want a dense hedge you will plant about 6 feet apart. For a garden area plant 10-12 feet apart.
Hazelnut suckers from the roots which is another reason they do so well in thickets and for hedges.
Mulch and Water
Mulch around your tree and use a protective tree wrap if you have bunnies in the area.
Pests and Diseases
Many wildlife love hazelnuts and they make a good tree if you want to attract birds and mammals to your garden. That said you may need to fence them off if you want the nuts for humans. Or use garden netting.
My worst crisis was when the goats got loose and decided hazelnut bushes were the perfect size for an easy snack! It set me back a full year.
nut weevil
(Curculio nucum) A medium-sized beetle that is a big pest in European commercial operations. I personally did not have a problem with them but I did have my hazelnuts on my orchard spray schedule. Although they are in America as well we more often see a closely related species attacking chesnuts.
Pollination
You will need at least two bushes for proper pollination. However, 3-5 is recommended for nut production. There are the catkins or male flowers that appear in spring. The female is the small flower that grows close to the branch. The catkins are also enjoyed by grouse and wild turkeys.
Green nuts form after pollination. As they mature the nuts turn brown and in some varieties, the leaves curl around and form a covering.
Maintenance
Hazelnuts are pretty hardy but they will benefit from the same organic maintenance plan as your fruit trees. You can download my free orchard maintenance guide from the website.
Pruning is important for hazelnuts. Trim out suckers leaving 3-5 main stems or trunks in late winter.
Trim out branches that are crocked or crossing each other or that take away from the main scaffolding branches.
You can also shape the bush for the desired height and width. Trim branches right above the node.
Coming Soon! My book on Growing Fruit, Nuts, and Berries in Zone 6
Check out my gardening book!
Harvest
Hazelnuts are harvested from late August to mid-October. Nuts should be harvested when they become loose in their husks to avoid losses to wildlife.
In some varieties, this may be when the husks are still green and moist, and in others, it may not be until they are brown and dry. In general, if the clusters can be pulled from the bushes easily they are ready to harvest.
If the husks were still kinda green at harvest time they should be allowed to dry completely by spreading them out in a well-ventilated (but wildlife-proof) location, hanging them in mesh bags, or spreading them out on a table, until completely dry.
Ways to Use Hazelnuts in Cooking:
Toasted Hazelnuts: Toasting hazelnuts enhances their flavor and can be used as a topping for salads, yogurt, oatmeal, or desserts.
Hazelnut Butter: Blend roasted hazelnuts in a food processor until smooth to make homemade hazelnut butter, a delicious alternative to peanut butter.
Hazelnut Crusted Fish or Chicken: Crushed hazelnuts can be used as a coating for fish or chicken for a crunchy and flavorful twist.
Hazelnut Pesto: Substitute pine nuts with hazelnuts in a traditional pesto recipe for a unique and nutty flavor.
Hazelnut Granola: Add chopped hazelnuts to your homemade granola mix for an extra crunch and nutty taste.
Hazelnut Chocolate Spread: Combine hazelnuts with chocolate and a sweetener of your choice to make your own hazelnut chocolate spread, perfect for toast or desserts.
Hazelnut Crumble: Use chopped hazelnuts in a crumble topping for pies, crisps, or fruit desserts.
Hazelnut Salad Dressing: Blend hazelnuts with oil, vinegar, herbs, and spices to create a creamy and flavorful salad dressing.
Hazelnut Energy Bites: Mix finely chopped hazelnuts with dates, oats, and other ingredients to make nutritious and delicious energy bites.
Hazelnut Encrusted Cheese: Roll a soft cheese like brie in chopped hazelnuts for an elegant and tasty appetizer.
With Vegetables: They are good with mashed potatoes and squash and in salads.
Author, Ame Vanorio, loves hazelnuts almost as much as goats! Check out her Amazon Author Page.
You may think because your yard gets only partial sun and has a lot of shade that you can’t grow vegetables or herbs. You are in luck! Many vegetables such as greens and root crops grow well in part shade.