Germinating a Hazelnut

When out for a walk last autumn I picked up a hazelnut. Thought I'd try and germinate it. Did some research then placed it in some moist compost inside a plastic bag, popped it into the fridge and left it over winter.

Took it out of the fridge a few weeks ago (but it was still in a cold shed), checked it a few days ago and a 1mm shoot had appeared.

I then placed it into a pot with moist compost, placed that into a sealed plastic bag and put that into the airing cupboard about five days ago.

Today it put up a decent shoot. I'm impressed.

My question is - what next? I've now removed it from the airing cupboard as it of course now needs light.

I've popped it into a bright window in my house (direct sunlight blocked with a piece of white card) and there is a radiator under the window ledge which is on twice a day.

Is there anything else that I should do besides water it when the compost starts to dry out? Or should I place it into a water filled dish instead?

Also, should I leave it sealed in the plastic bag or remove that?

Do I need to provide any extra (or less) heat?

Thanks

 

Its a hardy tree/shrub.
Best grown outside, once hardened off.

 

Thanks.

 

Me too!!! Very well done on your success

 

Now it has germinated I would remove it from the area of the radiator as the heat will make it grow to quickly. An ordinary bright window sill will be fine.

Remove the plastic back, and water when the soil looks to be drying out. When the roots start to fill the pot re-plant into a larger one and continue until it is large enough to plant in the garden. When the time comes to plant out make sure the weather is frost free so that it establishes itself without being damaged.

 

Thanks "M" and Sheal.

In fact, I now have two! I had forgotten about one which I had outside in a pot - the seed compost had dried up in the recent dry weather and I sadly forgot about it. So I dug it up and found the tiny start of a shoot. Put that into a larger pot yesterday in moist compost and the shoot is now noticeably growing.

I'll put that and the other onto a bright but unheated window sill.

BTW, when they are larger and planted outside do I need to protect them from any particular pests?

 

I don't think there's any particular pests that affect Hazels until they're of fruit bearing age, then squirrels will find them very attractive if you have them in your area.

 

That's good news - I do believe there may be some squirrels around though.

 

the hazel is a tree particularly dear to me because it is a frequents sight in the woods in the part of Italy where I come from, not to mention being used for some renowned local cocoa products etc.

I can tell you by sure that I have never seen one in full sunshine and that the ground has to be quite loose.

Below I have translated an article the maybe of use to you:
The hazelnut particularly suffers too compact soil and water stagnation that
cause asphyxiation and root rot. In autumn it is advisable to use ripper
or scarifiers which have the purpose of moving the soil, now compacted by
countless passages of the tractors, to restore its permeability so as to
safeguard it from washing out by optimizing the ventilation.
The scarifiers in particular are equipped with anchors with an innovative structure
allowing them to cut and lift the "sole" of the land without compromising
drastically the production schedule.
The further passage of the rear roller, in addition to maintaining the required depth,
optimizes leveling the ground. With these tools can be made
Also the burying of manure.
On the core, for avoiding the phenomena of chlorosis, the scale value
Active soil should not exceed 8%.
A significant drop in temperature during the months of January-February, with
excessive moisture, may hinder pollination and help reduce
the production significantly.
particularly harmful for
the completion of the act
insemination and evolution
of the fruit, are returns
spring cold so
as frost and frost.
Excess heat in
During July and August, accompanied
by persistent
drought, can cause
an anticipated fall
leaves and a decrease
the yield of nuts to
shelling. A plant of
hazel grown so
rational starts producing at
5th - 6th year, reaching
full production after the 8th -
9th year. There are hazel
that with proper pruning
continue to produce even
after 30-35 years.

PS yes expect squirrels to take an interest in your tree, although the guy in the picture (from the ICE AGE movie) is holding an acorn.

 

Scrat is not welcome here.

miraflores - thanks very much for all that useful information, I appreciate it.

 

very welcome

 

A slight thread bump .............. the Hazel is growing very well indeed, it's about 5 inches tall now. Sadly the other one didn't make it - it started to germinate a little then stopped for no apparent reason and now appears to be dead.

I also have two horse chestnuts, one is growing at a phenomenal rate (must be 9 inches tall), the other about 4 inches tall (it germinated a little later).

They are all in suitable pots in a window and naturally bend towards the light. Every day or two I turn the pots roughly 180 degrees to force them to bend in the opposite direction. Is that the right thing to do?

Also, seeing as Spring is here, is it a good idea to put them outside during the day and bring them in at night? I'm figuring that a bit of a breeze will for them to flex and so strengthen the growing trunks. Ot should I not do that for a month or two?

 

I also have a baby conker tree! Since yesterday. Do you think it is necessary to bring them in at night? In nature they are out in the cold. I would turn the pot 90 degrees every day rather than 180 every few days.

 

Personally, I would harden them off, as any indoor grown plant, even if it is fully hardy when established. So out in the day, then building up to out for a mild night (not neighbour's, as auto-suggest suggested!) etc. I would also be rotating 90 degrees every day (though this will be less necessary once outside).

I don't know if there are different varieties of hazelnut within Europe, but I have hazel trees here in the garden that are growing in full sun, so maybe a different type to the ones that @miraflores was describing? It was my understanding that they are one of the copse-founding trees, ie they will grow in open ground, and start the process of introducing a tree canopy, allowing slower growing trees to have the shelter to get established? Or am I getting befuddled in my old age?