Hazel, hazelnut, hazelnut: what's the difference? Common hazel - useful and medicinal properties where the shrub grows.

Hazelnut is native to Asia Minor. However, this plant can now be found all over the world, in the Caucasus and in Russia, in Canada and Europe, in America. Where does hazelnut grow in Russia? In the wild, the easiest way to meet this tree is in the Perm Territory, on Southern Urals and in other regions. On the territory of our country you can find four types of this plant:

• common variety;
• Manchurian;
• heterogeneous;
• treelike or "bearnut".

The most common species is the common hazel.

Botanical description

Common Hazel refers to The use of the term "hazelnut" to this plant is somewhat misleading. If you translate it from the Turkic language, where it came from, then the word "hazelnut" means "nut". But hazel is still considered a shrub, monoecious, with dioecious flowers. Nevertheless, it was it that took root and is used among an ordinary layman all over the world.

This flowering occurs in the spring before the leaves appear. Depending on where the hazelnut grows in Russia, flowering also begins. It could be March, April or May.

The appearance of edible nuts is associated exclusively with the growth of two genetically different trees next to each other, that is, they can appear only with cross-pollination. The fruiting period is around August-October.

This is a large shrub that by the age of 30 can reach 15 meters in height and above.

Soil Requirements

Regardless of where the hazelnut grows in Russia, the plant is not picky about the soil. It tolerates light and clay soil equally well. However, the best results can be achieved on permeable and wet soils, which contain a lot of nutrients. The plant can also grow on soils where there is little moisture, but then the yield will be minimal and hazelnuts may suffer from frost.

The hazelnut itself is a mycorrhizal plant. That is, the roots of the plant grow well with a number of fungi that form at the tips of the root. Mycorrhiza improves the absorption of nutrients from the soil. To this end, if the hazel is grown artificially, when planting, it is necessary to sprinkle the soil near the trunk with mycorrhizal soil. It can be taken in any forest area where hazel, oak or spruce grow.

What does the fetus look like?

Hazelnut is an edible fruit that is shaped like a nut or hazel surrounded by a leaf-like wrapper. This involucre is toothed and formed from the bracts of the female flower.

The shape of the common hazel fruit can vary greatly depending on where the hazelnut grows. It can be a rounded nut with a thick shell, or very thin, small or large. And the color of the shell varies from light to dark. Brown color.

How long does a bush live

In the early years wild plant grows very slowly. The first flowering falls on the 11th year. From this moment, rapid growth begins.

If we talk about cultivated shrubs and newly bred ones, then most varieties begin to bear fruit already in 3-5 years. Although commercial fruiting often occurs in the sixth year. The total life span of hazelnuts is about 80-90 years.

Why hazel fruits are valued

The fruits of hazel are valued not only where the hazelnut grows in Russia, but also in all countries of the world. It's highly nutritious food product. One nut contains about 18% of protein, minerals and vitamins, the remaining 72% is fat.

Paste and oil are made from the fruits of the shrub, reminiscent of almond in taste. Hazelnut oil is widely used not only for the preparation of culinary dishes, but also in painting, perfumery production and in the manufacture of paint and varnish products on an industrial scale. This is due to the fact that the oil dries quickly and does not change color.

Halva is prepared from the fruit cake. And the leaves and bark, the wrapping of the fruits of the shrub are used in alternative medicine, since they have a high content of tannins, about 10-15%.

Growing hazelnuts in central Russia is practiced not only for the production of nuts, but also to strengthen the soil on the slopes of ravines and gullies. The shrub has a huge number of root branches, which both support the soil and prevent landslides. Hazel bushes are often used for horticultural plantings. They grow well next to needles and in mixed plantings.

Varietal diversity

Today in the world there are many popular varieties. Of these, we can distinguish:

• contorta. Often used for decorative purposes, as it has a twisted trunk and branches, which gives the shrub a fabulous look.
• Atropurpurea. Distinctive feature bush - red and purple fruits and leaves.
• Alba variegata. Hazel leaves have white edging or specks.
• Pendula. A variety that can also be found in ornamental gardens and home gardens. Gardeners love this shrub for its branches that descend to the ground like the branches of a birch.

Growth area

In the wild, hazelnuts grow in the Middle East, the European part and the Caucasus. The plant can be found even in the northern part of the planet - in Norway. Beyond the Arctic Circle, hazelnuts grow at 68 degrees N. sh., in the Prestegordskugen reserve.

What varieties grow in our country

Hazelnut grows almost everywhere in Russia and it is believed that about a million hectares are occupied under it. Most of the wild hazel shrubs grow in the Leningrad, Perm, Novgorod and Vologda regions.

Wild shrubs, depending on the territory, grow varying degrees winter hardiness, so for growing on your own personal plot recommended to use local planting material.

Based on where hazelnuts grow in Russia, the necessary variety is selected that is suitable for growing in a particular area. And given the fact that shrubs are found everywhere in our country, growing hazelnuts can be not only fun, but also profitable business. Today, Turkey is the world leader in the supply of hazelnuts, however, many horticultural farms operate on the territory of our country, breeding this plant and breeding new varieties adapted to different conditions. climatic zones considering regionalization. Moreover, soils that cannot be used for growing other garden and field crops can be used to grow hazel. The plant can be formed in the form of trees, or left in a bushy form.

The cultivation of hazelnuts in central Russia is mainly based on varieties, which were bred by Academician A.S. Yablokov. He has a whole series of shrubs on his account: Northern, No. 40, 42, 9, 31 and 14.

In the territories of the Tambov, Moscow and Tula regions, mainly varieties grow, the breeding of which was carried out by R. F. Kudasheva. Among the most popular varieties are:

• Smolin;
• Ekaterina;
• Masha;
• Moscow ruby;
• Firstborn and others.

The topic of growing hazelnut varieties in central Russia was also dealt with by NPO Funduk. They gave our country the following varieties: Purple, Kudraif, Moscow early, Pushkin red and Sugar.

Southern, northern and western regions

A great contribution to the cultivation of hazelnuts for cultivation in the south of the country was made by the Kuban State University named after N. A. Tkhagushev, its specialists presented our gardeners with the following varieties: Panakhessky, Adygeisky 1 and Cherkessky 2.

In the south, the Futkurami variety, which grows in Georgia, takes root well.

For the north-west of our country, a lot of suitable varieties: Ivanteevka, Michurinsky, Moscow early. These varieties are suitable for growing shrubs in the European part of Russia.

Growing hazel

In addition to planting seedlings, quite often in our country, planting material is formed through the rooting of near-stem shoots. The method of rooting non-woody shoots is also used, although the rooting coefficient for this method is not very high.

For cultivation on an industrial scale, it is recommended to use seedlings obtained by in vitro micropropagation. If the seed turns out to be proper care, then the survival rate is 100%.

Choosing a place for planting shrubs

How to grow hazelnuts in central Russia? If we are talking on a plain or a site with a slope of no more than 150 degrees, then ordinary soil is required. If the groundwater is high, then you will have to make a drainage system.

When landing on slopes, it is recommended to choose northeast, northwest and north slopes. The essence of this is to stop early flowering and prevent the flowers from freezing in spring frosts, as well as their death from temperature changes. On slopes, it is not necessary to make terraces, but should be planted on a natural slope.

If the weather in the region is dry and windy, then you will have to take measures to protect from the winds and organize regular watering.

It should also be borne in mind that hazelnuts do not like partial shade and shade, so it is better to plant a plant on the edge of the site.

Is it possible to grow hazel from a walnut?

How are hazelnuts grown in Russia in their backyard? If it is not possible to purchase plant seedlings, then it is quite possible to grow a bush from a walnut.

For planting, only the best fruits, ripe and undamaged, should be used. They should be planted immediately after harvest and in large numbers.

For planting, they dig a hole to a depth of 8 centimeters, into which fertilizers are first placed. Throughout the year, weeds should be carefully collected and watered. After 12 months, a seedling about 15 centimeters high should appear. If the plant is smaller, then you have to wait another year.

The main thing to understand is that, most likely, after the bush grows up, it will lose its varietal characteristics, so you still have to graft the desired hazel variety.

Harvest Rules

Depending on the region of growth, hazelnuts fully ripen by the end of August - at the beginning of September. You can determine that the fruits are ready for harvest by the characteristic yellowish or brown color of the wrapper, and the fruits also begin to fall off on their own.

The most optimal period for harvesting is considered to be the time when, when the bush is shaken, the nuts not only fall off, but also fall out of the plush.

Pests

The most common hazel pest, regardless of where hazelnuts grow in Russia, is the walnut weevil. This pest lives on almost the entire planet, it was not possible to detect it only in North America and in Corsica. If you do not carry out timely processing from this beetle, then you can lose about 50-80% of the crop.

Nut weevil prefers the most ripe, young and developed fruits. If we are talking about a personal plot, then with a shortage of food, the pest can move to cherries and cherries. Egg-laying begins in early June and lasts until the first decade of July, it is during this period that the nut shell becomes woody. Despite the small clutches (20-30 eggs), the incubation period is very short: 5-9 days and the larvae are already appearing. And the most interesting thing is that in the place where eggs are laid, the nut never gets moldy. Damaged fruits usually fall to the ground before they are fully ripe.

If we are talking about one or two plants, then the best way to fight is to shake off the bugs. Under the tree, you must first lay out the film. In parallel with beetles, if perforated fruits are visible on the tree, they must be removed. On an industrial scale, planting trees are treated with insecticides.

In fact, growing hazelnuts in Russia is a very simple matter. Moreover, in addition to tasty and useful fruits can be landed beautiful plant in an area that will please the eye.

» Walnut

Nuts have always been valued by people for the benefits they bring to the body. Hazelnuts and hazel (hazelnut) are widely popular.

Often hazelnut and hazel are considered the same plant.. But it is not so.

Hazel, like hazelnuts, belongs to the shrubs of the Birch family. Hazel is considered to be a wild plant.

Hazelnut is also hazel. Hazelnut is called selected varieties hazel giving high yield. Hazelnuts also include hybrid varieties obtained by crossing with Pontic hazel and other species.

Hazelnut is a more thermophilic plant. Hazel fruits are more round in shape. The fruits of hazelnuts are larger, they are more elongated in shape, they are distinguished by better commercial quality, higher yields. Not all varieties of hazelnuts are suitable for growing in the middle lane.

Hazel is a wild plant, hazelnuts are hybrid high yielding varieties hazel

Hazelnut is more high-calorie. Hazelnuts have a more delicate aroma and less tart taste.

The kernels of these nuts are a valuable source of protein. Contain vitamins B, E, carotene, biotin. The content of iron, potassium and magnesium is also valued.

IN traditional medicine use the leaves, bark and wood of the shrub. IN official medicine hazel has not received much use.

Hazel has such healing characteristics as:

• strengthening immunity;
• vasodilating;
• lowering cholesterol levels;
• healing and bactericidal;
• remedy for gastrointestinal upset;
• increase in volume and saturation of breast milk.

Hazelnut or hazelnut - which is tastier?

Hazel, or hazelnut

Hazel - wild deciduous shrubs, rare trees. Height about 3-7 meters. Monoecious cross-pollinated plants.

There are male and female flowers on the same plant. Blooms in April - May. Flowers are heterogeneous. Fruit ripening begins in early autumn.

Distinctive features:

• bear fruit every year;
• they are not distinguished by high yields, which vary greatly from year to year;
• more susceptible to various diseases and pests;
• hazels are not demanding on growing conditions;
• they bear fruit even in the absence of care.

Hazelnut

Hazelnut is a cultivated form of hazel.

Distinctive features:

• is more high-yielding;
• differs in larger fruits;
• hazelnut yields are more stable;
• resistant to bad weather and pests;
• has a more developed root system;
• pleases with a large selection of varieties, fruit size;
• there is a choice in both size and height of shrubs;
• more thermophilic plant.

For growing in a summer cottage, it is best to choose varieties that are resistant to frost. Suitable also for climatic conditions.

Hazelnut and its features:

How to plant hazel?

Under natural conditions, hazel grows in the undergrowth and is normally shaded. Does not require fertile soil. In garden conditions, it is better to plant in bright places.

Please deposit before boarding organic fertilizers(compost). Likes watering. Requires pruning (it is better to leave no more than 15 - 20 stems). Cut the shoots selected for pruning as close to the ground as possible.

It is better to take a place for hazel along the edge of the site, along the fence or building.

Hazel blooms very early, there may still be snow. Very cold hardy and winter hardy.

Features of growing hazel:

• lighting: shade-loving;
• the soil
• watering: plentiful;
• maximum tree height: 10 m.

There are several ways to propagate hazel:

1. The removal of lateral shoots is carried out without separating the shoot from mother plant. A hole is dug about 10-15 cm deep and about 50 cm long. Lay layers, cover with earth with humus. Water generously. Tie the top to the peg.
2. Digging up 3-4 shrubs in the forest.
3. Reproduction by seeds. This sowing is best done in the fall. Seeds are laid in the grooves with fertilizer at a distance of 15-20 cm.
4. Walnut cultivation.

How to plant hazelnuts?

In care, hazelnuts are quite picky. It is recommended to choose well-lit places for landing. Doesn't like thickening. The soil near the shrub is periodically loosened. Dig deep. Do not touch the root system.

Hazelnut prefers fertile soil. Requires a large landing area. After loosening, water abundantly.

Don't plant one plant. Ideally 2-3 bushes of different varieties!

It is necessary to plant hazelnuts either in early spring or in autumn (early October). For a good harvest, feed annually.

Features of growing hazelnuts:

• lighting: photophilous, but planting is not on the south side;
• the soil: moist, fertile, loose;
• watering: plentiful, with obligatory loosening of the soil after each watering;
• maximum tree height: 7 m.

How to sow hazelnuts:

You can propagate hazelnuts in various ways:

1. Vertical outlets.
2. Graft.
3. Planting seeds.
4. The division of the bush.

All properties of the hazelnut variety will be preserved only when vegetative propagation. Hazelnuts will grow well both on flat areas and on slopes.

Weed, pest and disease control

Unlike hazel, hazelnut prefers the absence of weeds in the trunk circle. For an adult plant, mulching can be used.

Early shedding of fruits, their worminess, dry shoots indicate the presence of pests.

These include:

• nut weevil;
• scab;
• acorn moth.

To get rid of pests, fallen leaves are harvested in the fall, cleaned of bark in the spring, and treated with pesticides.

Typical diseases are:

• powdery mildew;
• brown leaf spot.

When watering, waterlogging and waterlogging of the soil should be avoided. This can cause fungal diseases.

Under natural conditions, rodents (hares, mice), wild boars and squirrels are dangerous for hazel.

Causes of low yield and its increase

Frost will affect yields first. Because of this, the number of ovaries may be small.

Single landings should be avoided. When planting, use plants of different varieties for cross-pollination.

Varietal seedlings planted in autumn are able to bear fruit in spring. Seedlings obtained from seeds do not have varietal characteristics. Will bear fruit in about the second decade.

To increase the yield plant should be pollinated. You can do this manually by spraying it.

Difference in collection and transportation

Hazel, as a rule, ripens a little later. It is better to collect it taking into account the climatic conditions of the place of growth. The main collection falls on July-September. Unripe fruits will not store well.

Well-ripened nuts have a brown or yellowish skin. It is not customary to pick nuts directly from the bushes. They are thrown to the ground. Apply manual collection after complete fall.

FROM material point of view, the collection and transportation of hazelnuts is more costly and unprofitable. Collection points can be difficult.

When harvesting hazel, a huge minus is the shedding of fruits. This will significantly affect the yield. Part of it will be lost. You should also take into account the collection of fruits by birds and rodents.

When harvesting hazelnuts, you can prepare. Clear a spot under the bush. The soil is compacted. Lay down a cloth or tarp. Then brush off the bushes.

The harvested crop is dried in a bright, well-ventilated area. Store in cloth bags or boxes.

With proper collection and drying, nuts are quite transportable, which allows them to be transported over long distances.

There is no big difference between hazelnuts and hazelnuts. Although it is easier to buy a hazelnut seedling for growing on a personal plot.

The economic benefits of hazelnuts are higher than those of hazel. This is due to the high yield of hazelnuts, its resistance to pests, as well as a larger nut. The ease of planting and growing hazelnuts has made them popular for gardening.

In addition to its usefulness hazel and hazelnuts also have decorative properties.

How hazelnuts grow is well known to the inhabitants of Italy, Turkey, France, Sweden, Germany, and America. Hazelnut is called "large hazel", "Lombard nut", growing in southeastern Europe and Asia. (What is the difference between hazel and hazelnut can be found in this one.) This is a deciduous woody shrub of the Birch family. The plant reaches 10 m in height. Its bark is ash-gray, the shoots are red-green densely pubescent. The leaves are oval-heart-shaped, pointed, serrated from green to crimson, up to 6 cm wide and 12 cm long.

Its flowers are both male - in the form of earrings up to 10 cm long, and female - red oblong buds. The fruits are egg-shaped nuts, up to 3 cm long, covered with a shell - plush. The walnut usually blooms during the winter and ends in early spring. In winter, hazelnut earrings catch the eye of passers-by with green, orange and pink tones, and when pollinated, they turn yellow. The leaves of each variety are different colour from green to red.

This plant tolerates shade well, has a developed root system, so growing hazelnuts is possible on slopes. But it bears fruit better if it grows in sunny places not blown by the wind.

The benefits of hazelnuts

Many people love to grow hazelnuts, as it is completely unpretentious, easy to propagate, and the value of its fruits occupies a leading position among all nuts. Its fruits are excellent taste quality And . They contain a lot of fat, proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins. In terms of nutritional properties, hazelnuts are ahead of cereals, meat, milk, bread, vegetables and fruits. Bees feed on its pollen in the first place, so it blooms before anyone else.

Prolonged use of hazelnuts in food becomes a medicine for chronic fatigue, disorders of the nervous and cardiac systems, treats anemia, diabetes, impotence, obesity. It contains many essential amino acids, macro- and microelements. Especially useful nuts will be for the elderly and children. Recently, a rare substance was discovered in its oil - tocopherol, which is considered a vitamin of youth that can prolong life. In addition to the uniqueness of the fruits, healing properties have leaves, plush and bark of the plant.

Landing

Hazelnut has been cultivated since ancient times. This was confirmed by the findings of many archaeologists. The Italians call the hazelnut "the plant for the lazy" because it is undemanding to soil and topography. It is grown on almost any land except saline, clay and sandy. Under it, the most inconvenient places for the growth of others are allocated cultivated plants, and uneven areas where hazelnuts grow will be saved from soil erosion, while giving an excellent harvest.

The main work that is necessary for the cultivation of an adult shrub is harvesting, cutting off excess shoots and abundant watering during the dry season. Hazelnut gives high yields from each bush. Fruits at proper storage can be stored for two years, retaining all natural qualities.

Hazelnuts are usually planted in autumn and spring period like all shrubs. In the South, it is mainly planted in autumn, a month before frost. By that time, it will gain strength and moisture, take root and begin to develop well in the spring. In the Central and Northern regions, it is planted both in autumn and in spring. For planting, young seedlings are kept in moist soil or water with hydrogel (4 g per 10 liters).

reproduction

The nut propagates by dividing the bush, seedlings, grafting, seeds. It can be easily grown at home and still harvest a rich harvest. Growing seedlings on your own is quite difficult, but you can buy them. At the same time, when buying, you should be more careful about such things:

• root system should be developed with no dryness;
• shoots must be intact;
• if the plant has released buds, it is advisable not to buy it when they have already blossomed. It is better to give preference to those whose kidneys are still “sleeping”.

A place

The plant will give a high yield if planted in moist soil with good light. But the walnut does not really like waterlogged soil. The richer the land, the bigger size crown reaches. Hazelnuts grow better in places where there is no strong wind and draft. IN growing season it is required to clear the soil of weeds and sometimes loosen the earth 10 cm deep.

Feeding the soil with fertilizers will not hurt either. To do this, they dig small pits into which they bury compost, manure or phosphorus and potash fertilizers. When growing hazelnuts through seedlings, it must be taken into account that the distance between them must be at least 5 m. And if hazelnuts are used as a hedge, then they are planted thicker - with an interval of 2-3 m. A planting hole is dug 70 cm deep.

disembarkation

• in the center of the dug hole, a hill is poured;
• the roots of the seedling treated with a solution of clay are placed along the hill;
• fill the hole and tamp the soil;
• deepen the soil a little for future watering;
• fall asleep with herbs or sawdust;
• the seedling is cut at a height of 25 cm from the ground;
• tie him to a support;
• the first watering is usually plentiful, as in drought.

Nuances when planting a walnut garden

Hazelnut flowers are wind pollinated and planted on one garden plot different varieties are pollinators. After planting seedlings, the first fruits appear after 5 years. You need to collect nuts after they fall out of the shell, in late summer - early autumn. The branches of the bushes bend down and use the stairs when collecting.

Pests do not really like hazelnuts, but the cockchafer is able to spoil its fruits. They fight it with insecticides or folk remedies - decoctions and infusions of herbs. It is good to plant green manure next to shrubs - lupins, oats, buckwheat. They are poisonous to insects.

Care

Trunk circles require weeding and careful loosening of the soil no deeper than 10 cm. After all, the root system of the hazel is close to the surface and the roots can be injured. At the 3rd year of life, lateral processes appear in the plant, and when harvesting, the bush can already be shaped like a tree by cutting out shoots. If hazelnuts are needed as a bush, then the density also needs to be monitored. Otherwise, the quality of the crop will decrease. Thickened branches are deprived of sunlight, and the main crop will be only at the top.

Starting from the 5th age, no more than 7 shoots should be left, removing the extra ones in the middle, and bending the rest and fixing them in the required position. So the plant will be better lit and it will be provided with maximum air flow. The dawn of the fruiting of the nut falls on the 8-20th year. A tree can develop perfectly in one place up to 150 years, if properly cared for. To do this, you need to rejuvenate the plant by cutting off old branches at the root every 2-3 years. Pruning is best done in autumn or winter.

You can grow hazelnuts not only to get a nutritious and tasty crop, but also use them to decorate the site, planting different varieties with yellow, green, dissected and red leaves nearby.

Varieties

The productivity and quality of the crop depends on the plant variety. It is desirable to grow varieties that can get used to and survive in these conditions.

• Cosford is a disease-resistant variety bred in England. Powerful and strong, it bears fruit well. Moderately hardy to frost. The leaves are deep dark green, turning red in autumn. It has many long brown catkins when flowering. Blooms early. Ready nuts are freely released from the shell. They have a flattened round shape. The kernels are juicy and tasty, the shell is thin, acquiring a red-brown hue when ripe. Cosford is an extremely prolific variety. He likes quiet places without drafts and a warm climate. It is an excellent pollinator for all varieties.
• Early mealtime - fruits are pointed with a thin shell, ripen in July. Bushes of medium size. Resistant to cold temperatures. It is considered the largest of all species. It belongs to the highest class.
• Roman - has large fruits with high lubricity of the kernel. Disease resistant.
• Almond - the fruits are light, the core tastes like almonds, ripens at the end of summer.
• Barcelornsky - a vigorous bush with a dense, powerful crown. It tolerates frosts, reaches a height of 5 m. The leaves of the hazelnut tree are large, green, and yellow in autumn. His staminate earrings are large, light green. Flowering is medium early. fruit shell big size and covers the entire nut, opening like a fan. When the fruits are ripe, it opens and the nuts fall to the ground. The nuts are large, slightly flattened, trihedral. The average height of the nut is up to 25 mm, the thickness is 15 mm. Thick shell, shiny, red-brown. The top is spiny. Juicy, sweet, tasty kernels with a fine-fibered, thin brown shell. Nuts finally ripen by autumn. The variety has a significant yield. Widely distributed, but susceptible to moniliosis.
• Gallic - bred in Germany. Bush vigorously growing with a large crown of medium density. The hairy leaves are rough, dark green. It has many male inflorescences growing in clusters. This hazelnut blooms early, like other varieties. Nuts are large, cone-shaped, regular flattened. The shell is thick, brown. The kernels are sweet and juicy cream in color. Gives a harvest quite late. Likes fertile soil and regular fertilization. He is well pollinated and perfectly pollinates other varieties.
• Warsaw red bush is vigorous. It has very tasty fruits that ripen in September. This ornamental variety with extraordinary beautiful leaves Red. In autumn they turn yellow-red.
• Red-leaved. These shrubs have rich dark red foliage that turns green by autumn. They serve as an ornamental decoration, often grown as hedge. Very loved by bees, and beneficial for planting near the apiary. The red-leaved hazelnuts include the following varieties: Ekaterina, Academician Yablokov, Kudraif. Frost resistant. These shrubs grow well in Russia, give a high large-fruited crop. They are also unpretentious to the soil, but they like strong watering after planting.

• Caucasus. This variety was bred by Russian gardeners. It has large fruits weighing 2.5 grams. Good pollinator for other species. A feature of the variety is considered easy separability from the shell. Stores well in dry areas.

Harvest and processing

Nuts are harvested after the shell turns brown and they begin to crumble. They are cleaned and stored in dry places in thick canvas bags. The plush shell is also suitable for the household. The young green shell is used for making jam. It has a pleasant sourness, and syrup treats scurvy, stomatitis, periodontal disease, improves blood circulation in hypertension.

Nuts are consumed raw, dried and roasted. They make milk from them. To do this, peeled fresh kernels are poured with water, and then, after they stand for several hours, they are ground in a wooden mortar. Water is added to the resulting slurry 1: 9 and infused for several hours, stirring the composition. Then everything is boiled, adding salt and sugar. When sour, nut milk gives tasty healthy yogurt.

In order to get hazelnut oil, known not only nutritional qualities, but also as an antihelminthic, it is thoroughly crushed, and, diluted with water, heated. The mass is placed in gauze, folded in half, placed under a heavy press, and dishes are placed under it to collect the oil. This is a wonderful perfume cosmetic product, also an excellent component in cooking and confectionery production. Hazelnut oil has a beautiful yellow, excellent aroma and it is easily absorbed by the body. Dough made with this oil rises quickly and finished goods keep softness and freshness for a long time.

Hazelnut kernels are used to make cream. To do this, they are cleaned of plush, carefully ground, adding water in portions. The doughy mixture is mixed and whipped until a homogeneous composition is obtained, reminiscent of cream in taste. They are consumed raw. They also make delicious creams for cakes, tubes and pastries.

Young leaves are used for salads, soups, teas. Cake, after pressing, is used to make rolls, halva, chocolate, waffles. Nut flour obtained from the kernels is used for candy filling. The leaves are also used to treat intestinal disorders, anemia, bone softening, beriberi. Has healing properties and ointment of hazelnut leaves. She heals wounds.

Decoctions from the bark of a tree are drunk for malaria. It has anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, soothing properties. Infusions treat dysentery, varicose veins, neoplasms.

In beekeeping, young bees are fed with harvested pollen. Pollen is good for humans too. It contains zinc, which is part of the enzymes that help treat infertility, making sperm more mobile and tenacious.

Hazelnuts can be grown even in Siberia

Most often, hazel belongs to the genus of shrubs, but there are representatives that grow to the size tall tree. In the wild, the plant forms a dense undergrowth and is known as the common hazel (corylus avellana). Description of the shape of the leaves, similar to bream, formed the basis of the name this plant.

Where does the hazel grow and what does it look like

Despite the fact that Asia Minor is considered the birthplace of hazel, it is common in America, Canada, the Caucasus and central Europe. In the wild this shrub called hazelnut and grows in the Perm Territory and the Southern Urals.

Hazel belongs to the hazel family. Sheet plates large and jagged along the edge, which turn red in autumn. The brown bark of the shrub has transverse stripes, and a powerful rhizome penetrates the soil to a great depth.

Hazel blossoms in early spring, before the leaves begin to unfold. Then long earrings are formed (from 5 to 7 cm). In the end summer period the fruit ripens - an oval nut, which is located in a green plush.

Medicinal properties of the bark and leaves of hazel

Since ancient times, the plant has been used in folk and traditional treatment. All hazel parts contain a set of vitamins, micro and macro elements, easily digestible proteins and fats, necessary human body during the recovery period or as a preventive measure.

The composition of the leaves includes the following components:

• glycoside myricitroside;
• essential oils;
• acids;
• bioflavonoids;
• sucrose.

How nut blossoms (video)

A drink made from the leaves helps maintain immunity, has antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and vasodilating properties. They can be brewed in medicinal preparations or together with regular tea.

The use of infusions from the bark and leaves has a positive effect in the fight against varicose veins veins, urolithiasis and inflammation of the prostate.

Composition and benefits of forest hazel fruits

In addition to high nutritional and energy value, the fruits of hazel are rich in minerals and vitamins, as well as fats that form its bulk, proteins and amino acids that protect the circulatory system.

The fruits of the hazel, beloved by all, are especially useful for the growing children's body, but they will not interfere with the maintenance of strength and health for the elderly. In addition, the use of hazelnuts helps to cleanse the body, freeing it from toxins.

Nuts are widely used in cooking for many types of cooking and baking. But despite great benefit plants, in order to avoid allergic reactions, it is necessary to observe moderation in its use.

The use of common hazel in folk medicine

The content of useful components in the plant allows it to be used in home therapy, including grass and fruits. A decoction of the bark is used in the pathology of the circulatory system. An infusion is prepared from the leaves, and the seeds are ground with water or egg white. Since the seeds have a wonderful taste characteristic, they can be used in food both raw and lightly fried.

To prepare a decoction, it is necessary to grind dry leaves and bark, pour 300 ml of boiling water and put in a water bath. After a third of an hour, remove the solution and strain. A decoction can be prepared only from the bark without adding leaves. Take 100 ml twice a day for diseases of the liver, kidneys, hypertension and diarrhea.

The infusion is prepared as follows: pour 2 tbsp. spoons of 500 ml of boiling water in a well-closed container. Strain the composition the next day. The bark can be replaced with leaves. For this, 3 tbsp. spoons of fresh raw materials should be poured with a glass of vodka, insist 15 days in a warm place and strain. The infusion is useful for intestinal diseases, anemia, beriberi and pathologies of the circulatory system. It is necessary to drink 50 ml before meals.

To prepare a decoction of plush, you should brew 20 gr. dry raw materials with water (200 ml), boil for 15 minutes and filter after 2 hours. Use for diarrhea.

To combat fever, urolithiasis and colitis, it is necessary to mix crushed walnut kernels with water in equal proportions. Take 50 ml three times a day.

Features of growing hazel (video)

Collection, preparation and storage of medicinal raw materials

In home therapy, all above-ground parts of the shrub are used. Young leaves are recommended to be collected in May and dried on open space well protected from direct sunlight (under a canopy, in the attic).

Hazel bark should be harvested in spring or autumn, and dry in the same way as the leaves. After the fruits ripen (September - October), they are harvested and placed in a special dryer, where they can dry at a temperature of 60 - 70 degrees. The shelf life of leaves and fruits is 1 year, and bark - 2 years.

Growing hazel at their summer cottage

Hazel grows not only in the wild, but also on summer cottages. Moreover, it does not deliver special trouble when growing. No wonder the Italians compare it with a plant for the lazy. Depending on the variety, hazel can reach up to 2 - 5 m in height. With the help of pruning, the owner, at will, forms the shape of a bush.

Choosing a place in the garden and planting features

The shrub prefers space and good lighting, therefore, it is recommended to choose an appropriate place for its landing. The composition of the soil can be anything, but not very saline. Also, the plant does not like sandy or waterlogged soil. It is advisable to plant a shrub in neutral or loose and slightly acidic soil.

In order to avoid the death of the plant, experts advise to adhere to several rules when breeding it:

• Best time to plant: autumn and early spring.
• It is important to leave a gap between seedlings of at least 5 m, since shrubs do not require further transplantation for 50-60 years.
• When planting bushes in rows, the distance between each row should be at least 5 - 6 m.
• In order for a hazel to bear fruit, it is required to plant at least three seedlings, since they alone do not form fruits.

Before planting seedlings, it is necessary to prepare recesses measuring 70x70 cm, and do this in advance, no later than 1.5 months before planting. Then apply fertilizer: a mixture of superphosphate and humus.

The root system of seedlings should be treated with manure-clay talker and place each bush in a hole prepared for it so that the root collar does not rise more than 3 cm above the ground. Then pour water over each bush (1 bucket each) and mulch with dry sawdust , peat or grass. The finished seedling needs to be cut at a distance of 20 cm from the ground and tied to a support peg.

General rules for caring for hazel in the garden

For a good harvest bush calls easy care which includes:

• Watering. It is especially important to monitor the condition of the soil during the dry season, otherwise the plant may die. The amount of water depends on the age of the hazel, but it should be borne in mind that it does not tolerate waterlogging. During active fruit growth, you can increase the amount of watering.
• Top dressing. In the case of growing seedlings in soil rich in microelements, a small amount of nitrogen fertilizers should be used. It is recommended to use organic matter, for example, slurry. Before the growing season, it is necessary to feed the tree with phosphorus and potassium, and during the growth period of the ovaries with urea. It will come in handy in autumn wood ash.
• Mulching. To prevent the soil from drying out quickly, it is necessary to update the mulch.
• Loosening. When removing weeds, loosen upper layer soil, being careful not to damage the root system of young seedlings.
• Shelter for the winter. Hazel protection can be done in two ways: cover with spunbond or bend to the ground and cover with spruce branches. Mature plants can be left uncovered.

Useful properties of hazel (video)

In order to promote a bountiful harvest and protect the crop from diseases, it is necessary to carry out timely pruning of the plant.

After the plush turns brown, the harvest begins. Usually this period falls on the beginning of autumn. Ripe fruits fall off on their own. They must be collected and dried thoroughly for 2 to 3 weeks. Poor-quality drying threatens that the nuts will become moldy. The finished product can be stored for 2 years without losing its taste and useful properties.

Hazel is a tall shrub from the Birch family. Often it grows up to 5 meters in height. Valued for tasty fruits - nuts. Many plant species have been cultivated since ancient times.

In nature, there are about 20 types of hazel:

• ordinary;
• large;
• Pontic;
• Chinese;
• Colchis;
• treelike;
• horned;
• Himalayan;
• variegated, etc.

You can bring a plant seedling from the forest, or buy it from a nursery. Cultivated varieties are more demanding to care for, but bring a higher yield than wild varieties. For decorative purposes, the Contort hazel is planted - a plant with beautifully curved branches, there are varieties with green or burgundy-cherry leaves.

Hazel varieties for growing in the middle lane:

• "Ivanteevsky red" - interesting plant with red leaves that turn green only in autumn. Harvest from one bush is about 2 kg of nuts;
• "Moscow early" - low bushes, up to 3 m, red leaves, brings about 3 kg of crop;
• "Tambov early" - successfully grown in harsh climatic conditions, gives up to 3 kg of large nuts of an oblong shape, golden yellow, which ripen in August;
• "Akademik Yablokov" - a red-leaved, hybrid variety, no more than 4 m high, is distinguished by the abundant formation of female flowers and the freezing of male flowers, large nuts (3.4 g), dark raspberry, resemble an acorn in shape.
• "Kudraif" - a bush about 3.5 m with pinkish-red leaves, the fruit of a hazel with a sharp top, yellow-brown, medium in size.

Many modern hybrid varieties with good yield and disease resistance.

Where does hazel grow in Russia

Hazel grows on the territory of Russia in deciduous-coniferous forests, on the edges. Common hazel is found in the Leningrad, Kirov, Vologda regions, Perm region. This plant is distributed throughout Europe. In the south it blooms in February, near St. Petersburg - in early May.

In the Caucasus and in the Crimea, large hazel is grown, which is also called hazelnuts.

Hazel multi-leaved grows in the Amur region. In the North Caucasus and Transcaucasia, you can find tree-like hazel, which is listed in the Red Book of the USSR.

Features of growing hazel

It is desirable to grow several varieties of hazel on the site, as these are cross-pollinated plants. All hazels do not like acidic soils, they prefer soil with neutral acidity, planted on peatlands begin to wither and grow poorly.

Watering needs regular, without it it is impossible to get decent harvest. If there is not enough moisture, the leaves will begin to shrink. Hazel also needs special top dressing. First complex fertilizers Apply in spring, before bud break.

The bush needs pruning every year, it builds up a lot of lateral shoots that need to be cut with secateurs. Without pruning, hazel will grow, drowning out other plants in the garden.

Most hazels are frost-resistant, only some heat-loving species freeze slightly. In early spring, before the start of active sap flow, pruning is carried out, removing all dry and frost-bitten branches.

Hazel propagation methods

A feature of hazel is that it cannot be grown from seeds. Grown plants will not bear fruit for a long time. Hazel is best propagated by layering. Bushes from cuttings begin to bear fruit the next year after planting, and retain all the varietal characteristics of the mother plant.

For proper reproduction layering takes root from the mother plant. The lower branches of the hazel are sprinkled with earth and sawdust. In autumn, the shoots that have started roots are separated and planted in the soil, at a distance of 2-3 meters from each other.

You can propagate hazel cuttings. Cuttings take root best in spring. They are cut when cutting a bush, the lower cut is made oblique, and the upper cut is straight, there should be 3 internodes on the handle. To better go the process of root formation, use succinic acid(soak the cuttings for 24 hours). rooted in small greenhouse, outdoors, placing the cutting in the soil at an angle of 45°. A greenhouse can be made independently from a box and a package. The roots will begin to grow about a month after planting, but it takes several months for a full-fledged root system to form.

Landing in open ground

You can plant a seedling in open ground in autumn or spring, before bud break. Autumn hazel will begin to bear fruit faster, and spring planting keep it from freezing.

Hazel is a mycorrhizal plant that needs fungi for the full absorption of nutrients by the roots. When planting, it is recommended to bring in the forest litter (bottom layer) to a depth of 15 cm. acidic soils must be notified before planting. When grown on acidic peatlands, big hole(80 cm deep and the same in diameter), fill it with neutral soil, and only after that they plant a hazel. root collar cannot be covered with soil.

In the first spring after planting, pruning is carried out over 5-6 buds for the appearance of side shoots and root shoots. The plant is grown in the form of a bush.

Hazel is not only useful, it can decorate the site with lush green foliage. You can plant it around the perimeter of the site, creating a living, green hedge, or use it as padding for other, taller plants. Hazel can be planted in a recreation area, it will create an interesting, openwork penumbra near a gazebo or bench. This shrub is well suited for diffused light or partial shade.

Large-fruited hazel, from which they want to harvest a good harvest, is planted in a well-lit place.

Hazel grows as a shrub, so that the nuts are larger, you need to properly form the crown. From 10 to 14 shoots are left around the perimeter, and the middle of the bush is freed from branches. Cut off bent and diseased branches, as well as growing deep into the crown.

The soil around the plant is loosened, deepening the bayonet of a shovel by no more than 10-15 cm, so as not to damage the roots.

In the second year after planting, the hazel is fertilized with manure or compost. Mineral fertilizers contribute in the fall, when they are laid male flowers(they resemble earrings), and in the spring when women bloom.

A hazel bush needs to be rejuvenated once every 15–20 years, cutting it almost to the root. In general, this plant is unpretentious, and grows poorly only on swampy, saline, sandy soils and heavy loams.

Treatment of hazel from pests and diseases

Diseases do not bypass the hazel. The main problems are caused by weevils and mites. When the weevil is damaged, larvae are planted in the fruits of the nut, and the crop crumbles ahead of time.

Fight them with insecticides and acaricides. It is impossible to spray plants during the ripening of the crop. This is done in the spring, before the buds open.

If a hazelnut barbel is wound up on the shoots, the branches are cut and burned, the plant is sprayed with Karbofos.

If done right, the hazel tree will grow quickly and produce a bountiful harvest of delicious nuts.

Harvest and storage

Harvest ripens in autumn, in September or October. It is believed that the nuts are ripe when they themselves are separated from the plush. The collected hazelnuts are scattered on the floor in a well-ventilated room with a layer of 3-4 cm, stirring occasionally, dried for about 10 days at an air temperature of 15 to 20 ° C. Then the nuts are collected in cloth or paper bags.

Nuts are well stored for 3-4 years without losing their biological value and great taste. Use hazelnuts in the manufacture confectionery- sweets, cakes, halva, ice cream.

Hazel and hazelnuts, what's the difference

Hazelnuts are large-fruited varietal varieties of common hazel, large hazel and Pontian hazel. Turkey grows 75% of the world hazelnut crop. It is also cultivated in Georgia, Azerbaijan, Italy, Greece, and Russia.

The fruit of the varietal hazel is a one-seeded nut, more rounded and larger than that of the wild hazel.

The bush of wild hazel is more powerful than that of hazelnuts, it can reach 5–7 m. Tree-like, bearish or Turkish hazel grows up to 20 m in height - this is a real tree that prefers a warm climate, and freezes in the middle latitudes.

Hazel is one of the most undemanding plants. Every year it brings a harvest of delicious nuts, and can serve as a hedge on the site.