Hazelnut trees are grown for the nuts which are roasted, eaten fresh as well as used to make spreads. So is a Hazelnut a Filbert… yes they are the same. And yes they make a nice ornamental as well.
Eating Hazelnuts
You can eat hazelnuts straight from the tree, but take a nutcracker to break the shell. Wait until the outer husk breaks open, this is the fuzzy covering that hides the real shell. When this breaks the nuts should be ripe.
Roasting makes them sweeter and blanching is the easiest way to remove the skin from the nut, and the skin is the bitter part so remove it before eating
Care
These trees actually flower late winter to spring and require two varieties for cross pollination and high yields.
They are a long lived tree but do take 5-6 years to crop heavily. A cool winter in a frost free location is best for Hazelnut trees.
A well drained moist but humus rich soil is best. Zones 4-9 seem to be the most suitable
Varieties
- American Filbert
- Beaked Hazelnut
- European Hazelnut
- Ennis
- Barcelona
- Lewis
- Casina
- Jefferson
- Yamill
Hazel Nut trees are available for sale from the following specialist nurseries.
STARK Bro’s NURSERIES& ORCHARDS Co.- phone: 1-800-325-4180 fax: 573-754-8880
PO Box 1800 Louisiana MO 63353
Originators of Red and Golden Delicious apples. Full line of fruit, Apricots, Berries, Cherries, Quinces, Pears, Grapes, Nuts, shade and flowering trees, shrubs roses and small fruits .Includes: Blackberries
Z’s Nutty Ridge LLC NY
email – dawnz@znutty.com
Hazelnut and Chestnut for USDA zones 4 to 7. Blight resistant tree
