AUSTRALIAN GOURMET HAZELNUTS

New ... 3 TREES FOR NUTS ... New

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.

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.

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.
Right: male
catkins shedding
pollen. Left and
centre: receptive
female flowers,
and pollen grains
on female flower.
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.
2.
3.

Three Cross compatible cultivars

Over-lapping pollen shed and female flowers
Cultivars are named and their compatible
cultivars indicated on the plant label.
Right:Ripe hazelnuts.
Left: Hard frost does not
affect flowering.

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.

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.
Left blank for retail nursery stamp