Hazelnuts in the South

[Maryc]

Hi!! I live in Arkansas where the weather is pretty hot in the summer.

We also have a high content of clay in our soil and we have a hig water table. From what I have read these conditions are hard on growin Hazelnut bushes. Does anyone in here grown Hazelnuts in the south?? I need advice on ho I can grow them here. I have planted them and they just up and died This year I planted 5 of them and only 2 sprouted. Any ideas?

-- Maryc

[Rogerx]

Hi Maryc! Yes, hazelnuts will grow great in Arkansas, or at least in Johnson County, AR.

As a young boy I living in rural AR, I walked to catch the school bus and there was a fence that ran beside the road. There were dozens of hazelnut bushes along one stretch, I remember what a treat it was in the fall, when the shuck of the hazelnut would turn brown and open.

I don't know where they came from, if they were native, or someone planted them there, I do not recall anyone bringing up the subject.

I don't know about hazelnuts but many seeds require a cold period before they will sprout. Try putting some in the freezer for about a month, then try sprouting them

Sorry I could not be of more help- -Rogerx

[Maryc]

Thanks so much for the information. It gives me hope. I did find

supplier > > -

-- Maryc

[zxcvbob]

Where I grew up in East Texas, there were a few small wild nut trees; I'm not sure if they were small hazelnuts or a type of chestnut -- I think they were called chinquapins.

Bob

[Rogerx]

Hi Bob, Your are right about the chinquapins, they were North American Chestnuts. Unlike the hazelnut, their shuck had spines. During the time period I was talking about (60+) years ago, Chinquapins thrived in Arkansas too, however, a disease killed all of the known trees in this part of Arkansas and I understand it also destroyed most of the trees in the south and southwest.

Have a good day, Rogerx

[Maryc]

I also have Chestnut trees in my yard but they are the variety that ar

not affected by the diseases. We have already harvested a few of them My Husband loves them and he roasts them in the microwave in a towe because they blow up and make a powder if they are not in the towel :)

Rogerx Wrote:

-- Maryc

[joyce.sewell]

[e-mail]. hi Mary C. I wish you well with the growing of your Hazelnuts. cheers joyce.

[Maryc]

Thanks Joyce!!

I have two of them that are growing. I am going to order more for thi next spring brom Baggersett. They are the ones that do the research o Hazelnuts and Chestnuts. I think I may have more luck with their plant so I'm going to try

-- Maryc

[Johnf]

I've got about 120 plants ranging from 2-10'. The small ones are just 2 years old and the others are 4 years old. Most are growing very vigorously in clay soil with about 12" of decent top soil. I've not seen any nuts yet

[songbird]

:)

when would they normally start to go nutty?

songbird

[hubops]

Perhaps they are all too closely related ?

John T.