How To Harvest Hazelnuts
The rich flavor of hazelnuts--also known as filberts--goes well with chocolate and baked good. The hazelnuts ripen late in summer but remain on the tree until autumn when they begin to fall to the ground. Hazelnut harvest season is typically August to September in the Midwest and Pacific Northwest. Mature hazelnuts trees can reach up to 20 feet; trees can provide a nut crop for 50 years if well cared for.
Wait for hazelnuts from high-up branches to drop to the ground. Gardeners can wait for all hazelnuts to drop to the ground and harvest nuts as they fall. Gather fallen nuts in a basket and bring them indoors.
- The rich flavor of hazelnuts--also known as filberts--goes well with chocolate and baked good.
- Gardeners can wait for all hazelnuts to drop to the ground and harvest nuts as they fall.
Shake the tree branches to encourage more nuts to drop. Get as many nuts from the tree or from the ground before autumn rains come, since these can damage the nut crop.
Spread harvested hazelnuts on a screen in a well ventilated location and allow them to dry completely. This should take one to two weeks, advises Rural Advantage. When the nuts feel light and dry to the touch, they're ready for the next step.
Husk the nuts by hand or by using a nut sheller. Discard the husks.
- Shake the tree branches to encourage more nuts to drop.
- Get as many nuts from the tree or from the ground before autumn rains come, since these can damage the nut crop.
Store husked hazelnuts in an airtight container. Place the container in the refrigerator or the freezer to extend their shelf life.
Ripen Hazelnuts
Wait until the hazelnuts begin to drop from the tree in fall. This method allows the nuts sufficient time to ripen on the tree. Shake the tree's limbs to induce other ripe hazelnuts to drop. Lay full nuts in a single layer on a screen in a dry, shady area with good air circulation for eight hours to cure. Continue to ripen and harvest hazelnuts in this manner until all of the nuts are harvested from your tree.
- Store husked hazelnuts in an airtight container.
- Continue to ripen and harvest hazelnuts in this manner until all of the nuts are harvested from your tree.
Tip
Hazelnuts will go rancid over time (within approximately six months) if not stored in the refrigerator or freezer. Use them before this date for optimal flavor. Rancid nuts taste sour.
Warning
Do not attempt to harvest nuts that have fallen to the ground and have then been rained on, as these could harbor disease.
References
- Oregon State University Extension: How To Harvest, Handle and Store Nuts from the Home Orchard
- Rural Advantage: Hybrid Hazelnuts
- Go Pets America: Hazelnut Growing Tips
- University of California, The California Backyard Orchard: Harvest and Postharvest
- Oregon State University Extension Service: How to Harvest, Handle and Store Nuts from the Home Orchard
- Oregon State University Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation: Oregon Commodities - Hazelnuts
- Washington State University Spokane County Exension: Filbert Culture
- California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo: Purple-Leaf European Filbert
- Fine Gardening: Corylus Avellana "Contorta" (Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick, Corkscrew Hazel)
Tips
- Hazelnuts will go rancid over time (within approximately six months) if not stored in the refrigerator or freezer. Use them before this date for optimal flavor. Rancid nuts taste sour.
Warnings
- Do not attempt to harvest nuts that have fallen to the ground and have then been rained on, as these could harbor disease.
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