"How To Grow Nuts "

Growing nuts in your garden provides the family with good fats and loads of nourishing vitamins and minerals.

However, it isn't always wise to grow huge trees near the house so a solution is at hand! Nature usually provides for our needs and hazels are perfect for an average sized garden.

Positioning: Apart from the size of your trees, all deciduous plants will drop leaves in the autumn, and, although very pretty fro a few days, after a couple of rainy days, the leaves get slippery underfoot and not particularly nice to look at. Avoid planting too near paths, unless you don't mind the raking.

Generally, you should choose a sunny position, but check on the recommended growing instructions when you buy your tree.

Online tree suppliers:

Nuts at Crocus - UK

Nature Hills Nurseries

Planting:

Buy your trees from a reputable garden centre or nursery and make sure they come with growing recommendations when you buy. Different varieties have different growing needs. Are your trees going to grow huge? Can you buy dwarf varieties? Hazels can be grown as a hedgerow and take up much less space than a large tree. Larger trees tend to spread their roots far and wide and can pull the moisture and nourishment from a large expanse of growing ground.

I have started many hazel trees from cuttings. Cuttings should be at least 24 inches (60cm.) in length. Push them into the ground, cut end down, in the autumn .Plant as many as you can, leaving about 12 inches (30cm) between them. The following spring, some will produce leaf and some won't. At the end of the summer, discard those that haven't shown any sign of growth. In the autumn carefully transplant the others to where you want them.

Prepare the ground well, whether you are planting trees from a nursery, or your own plants you have started from cuttings. Dig in plenty of well-rotted down compost, and gently tease the roots out into a fairly deeply dug hole. Hole the tree in place while you fill in the earth around it. Firm down with your heel. If you need to stake your tree do it while planting, to avoid the risk of damaging the roots later.

Water well after planting.

Caring for your trees

As long as they get plenty of water in the first few years of growth, trees look after themselves. Don't water during the wet or cold months, while the tree is resting, or the roots may get waterlogged.

After three or four years, hazel trees usually start producing nuts, although most trees will take up to ten years to produce a good crop. If you have squirrels in the neighbourhood, you will need to protect your trees. They take the nuts before they are ripe. It's good to leave one or two trees to encourage them, but net the rest. Honestly squirrels are clever and adorable creatures, but if you want to eat the nuts you are growing, precautions have to be taken!

Prune back every autumn/winter, and always check over for any signs of disease.

Storing

After harvesting, check over all the nuts for signs of damage, mould or little holes that may indicate a bug is inside. As long as they are sound they will keep well for months, in some conditions up to a year. Keep in a dark place, free from damp, but not too dry. In a very warm dry environment the nut inside the shell will shrivel.

Store in net bags or on wooden trays. Don't keep too many in one place, in case you missed a baddie when you were checking them.

You can find more about hazelnuts and even a few recipe ideas in my book recently published with Findhorn Press. Grow Your Own Pharmacy You really can grow enough fruit and veg to keep your family glowing with good health!

Happy Gardening!

More "Nut Trees" Reading

www.flower-and-garden-tips.com/nuts.html