European Hazelnuts - finally making nuts

[Native Hunter]

Can't remember exactly how long ago I planted them, but bushes are now 8 or 9 feet tall. Guessing 6 years ago.

Things I did right:

• Got a good mix of cultivars for pollination.
• Used commercial cultivars developed at Oregon State University to be immune to Eastern Filbert Blight. I do have one cultivar not developed there but known as an excellent and DR variety.

What I did wrong:

• Planted them in too shady of a place. Euros are not as shade tolerant as Americans. I feel that the shade is one reason my fruiting has been delayed. They are at the edge of a woods and getting 1/2 day sun or less. This would be fine for Americans, but not great for Euros.

Important Facts:

• I can easily start these at other places by layering them. I'm already doing it. They are on their natural roots, so no problem. Already getting some new ones started in sunny places.
• Euros are bigger than Americans. That's why they are grown commercially.
• My crops are not large this year, but one of the bushes is pretty loaded. Ironically, the most loaded one gets the least sun.
• Americans are immune to EFB, but run of the mill Euros are affected. That is why it's important to use cultivars developed for immunity. Mine look very healthy.

 

[dogghr]

My American are in full sun and maybe 4-5 ft tall and 3 year planted and on poor soil dry hill side. Guess I may be waiting a while for nuts. Well nuts!!

 

[Native Hunter]

My American are in full sun and maybe 4-5 ft tall and 3 year planted and on poor soil dry hill side. Guess I may be waiting a while for nuts. Well nuts!!

Your Americans will do okay with full sun, but they are just more shade tolerant when it becomes necessary for them. I don't think the dry hillside will hurt them either. You may end up doing just fine with them.

 

[F12Mahon]

I planted three bare root stock Americans this spring. all have leafed out!

Eugene

 

[MattJK]

Do you protect them? I have to cage my American hazelnuts like fruit trees. The deer seem to prune them back to the cage when suckers start to spread. If I recall from a similar thread, this is not unique but not common either. Any preference for browse American vs European?

 

[Native Hunter]

Do you protect them? I have to cage my American hazelnuts like fruit trees. The deer seem to prune them back to the cage when suckers start to spread. If I recall from a similar thread, this is not unique but not common either. Any preference for browse American vs European?

I do have to cage the Europeans when they are small. Once they get large I can remove cages and get minimal nipping at low new growth. I've never personally seen an American Hazelnut browsed.

 

[dogghr]

My Hazelnuts are def getting browsed out of the tube. Guess I'll be doing some caging dangit.