‘3 TREES FOR NUTS’ Three named cross compatible cultivars of Corylus avellana – (European Hazelnut). Plant as a group and every tree will crop.

Available from select retail garden outlets.

AUSTRALIAN GOURMET HAZELNUTS

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Home Gardeners can grow hazelnuts with the confidence that each tree will produce delicious large hazelnuts within three to four years.

Australian Gourmet Hazelnuts (AGH) is an Australian owned vertically integrated hazelnut enterprise. We have supplied trees to and processed product from commercial groves for 15 years. Our cultivar mix produces award winning large nuts highly regarded for outstanding flavour and nutritional content.

European Hazelnut Trees are:-

Attractive & functional: emerald green leaves in summer, pretty yellow catkins in winter – cool summer shade and let in winter sun.

Low Maintenance compared to pome, stone &

nut crops – the major pests and diseases of hazelnut are absent from Australia.

Annual Pruning – is not required for fruit set. First years - remove excess suckers. Once one to four bearing stems have established remove all suckers several times a year. Trim lightly to maintain an open vase shape and maintain light levels. Ideal for Cold Climates - Hazels have many adaptations for cold conditions and tolerate winter temperatures of minus 10 Centigrade. They thrive in regions with cool summers, and perform well in regions with warm summers if watered regularly. Very hot dry wind may result in leaf scorch, hazel trees soon regenerate lost leaves.

About 3 Trees for Nuts Cultivars Oregon Barcelona – cross-compatible with both TBC and Turkish Cosford. The first to shed pollen, followed a few weeks later by tiny female flowers. Jumbo nut, high yield, vigorous upright habit.

T.B.C. – cross-compatible with Barcelona and Turkish Cosford; is the next to shed pollen, followed by female flowers. Large nut, high yield, vigorous upright habit.

Turkish Cosford – cross-compatible with Barcelona and TBC; is the last to shed pollen during late flowering of Barcelona and mid flowering of TBC. Medium nut, upright twiggy habit.

The Hazelnut Year Late March - April – fertilise after nut fall and maintain watering. Moisture stress at this time may cause premature catkin drop.

May – leaf fall. Spray trunk and branches at 50% and 100% leaf fall with a copper spray to point of run-off as protection against Bacterial Blight.

July - August – winter flowering and pollination.

September – bud burst commences and trees leaf out.

October - tiny clusters of nuts form (pictured left). Fertilise.

November - the shell swells protected by leafy green husk. Catkin initials form.

December – Shell is at full size and kernel fill starts.

January – critical period for kernel fill – avoid moisture stress which results in poorly filled shells.

February – the full kernel ripens and the shell darkens. Pick nuts green* or allow to fully ripen.

March - ripe nuts fall. Pick up regularly to avoid predation by vermin and spoilage if left lying in long grass or damp conditions.

Nut Storage:- Dry nuts to 6% moisture content for safe storage. Place on a rack or sheet in the sun – bring inside before dew-fall. Once dry store nuts in nets or sacking in a cool airy vermin free area.

*Green Hazelnuts – hand pick from tree while still green and in husk. Kernel has milky texture. Tree height should be managed to permit safe picking.

Why have three trees?

Hazel trees bear both male and female flowers. They are wind pollinated. Tiny primitive male flowers are strung on long catkins. They release millions of pollen grains (25 microns) that float in the breeze.

Female flowers emerge as tiny red stars on dormant buds. They are sticky and trap floating pollen grains.

Pollen that lands on female flowers of the same tree or cultivar is not compatible. Up to 30 genes that govern incompatibility between hazel cultivars have been identified. They are expressed in pairs in both male and female flowers for instance:– 1:2, 5:23 and 5:15. If the same gene is present in both the pollen and female flower the plants and cultivars are incompatible and nuts will not result.

Compatible pollen must be also available while female flowers are receptive. Hazel trees usually shed pollen a week or two before their own female flowers emerge.

Unique features of ‘3 Trees for Nuts’:-

1. Three Cross compatible cultivars 2. Over-lapping pollen shed and female flowers 3. Cultivars are named and their compatible

cultivars indicated on the plant label.

Each tree in the pack will produce hazelnuts if planted within pollination range (12 m) of the other two trees and in full sun to part shade.

Hazels require a period of chill to initiate flowering. The effective chill for hazelnuts appears to be between 2 C and 9 C.

Nut production cannot be guaranteed every year in climatic zones with very short or warm winters.

Right: male catkins shedding pollen. Left and centre: receptive female flowers, and pollen grains on female flower.

Right:Ripe hazelnuts. Left: Hard frost does not affect flowering.

European Hazelnut (Corylus avellana) - for best results.

Situation – full sun to part shade, shelter from strong winds.

Soil Type – grows on many soil types, prefers light clay, clay or sandy loam.

Preferences – pH 5.5 – 7. Avoid sites with poor drainage, excessive shade or sources of reflective heat – eg brick wall, colour bond fence.

Planting hole – wide enough to spread roots radially,and deep enough for the top roots to be covered with 6 - 8 cm of soil. Do not plant deeper. Tread down after planting, water and mulch to protect shallow fibrous root mat. Avoid high N fertilizers and strong manures for the first year. Protect lower trunk from sun scald with a tree-guard or paint the trunk with mixture of 50% water and white acrylic paint from ground to 30 cm up trunk.

To create a tree - strip the lower lateral buds leaving 6 – 8 top buds to become the bearing branches. Remove ground suckers three to four times a year.

To create a hedge – plant 0.5 – 0.75 m apart. Retain all lateral buds and suckers – these will thicken the hedge base.

Post planting - hazels respond to complete fertiliser as a foliar application or soil drench twice a year. After year three, fertilizer should contain trace elements including boron to assist nut set.

Watering - hazel trees form mycorrhizal associations with soil fungi and benefit from damp soil containing plant organic content. Water regularly, but avoid over watering.

Annual Management - remove ground suckers several times a year. Spray a proprietory copper spray with white oil as a sticking agent at half and full leaf fall.

Landscaping and Management Options

Small Orchard - height 2.5 m – 4 m. Plant 5 m apart as row or up to 8 m apart in a rough triangle – train to a tree comprising of one to five trunks.

Low Trees or Shrubs – height 1.5 m – 2.5 m. Recommended where green nuts will be hand-picked. Plant 4 m – 5 m apart. Allow 6 – 8 suckers to develop as bearing units. Remove excess suckers. A year before required height is exceeded, allow replacements to develop. Cut out the tall old growth once new stems are productive.

Arbour, Shelter-belt, Green Screen or Stock Proof Hedge. With ‘3 TREES FOR NUTS’ gardeners and landscapers can achieve a variety of heights, planting densities and decorative values – with the knowledge that every tree will crop hazelnuts.

‘3 Trees for Nuts’ Australian Gourmet Hazelnuts are available from retail garden outlets and nurseries in suitable climatic regions.

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