Hazel nuts

[antlercarver]

Big crop of wild hazel nuts this year. Most years by August 15 the squirrels, chipmunks and mice will have the bushes all cleaned off, some years I pick a
5 gallon pail full.

[Red Bullets]

The squirrels and chipmunks are quick. If they get the nuts first a person can go and raid one of the critter's stashes. Don't take all of the stash even though the critters will forget about some of them.

Yummy.

[EZM]

That's pretty cool. Had no idea hazel nuts would be a viable crop here (assuming you are in Alberta).

[Red Bullets]

Originally Posted by EZM

That's pretty cool. Had no idea hazel nuts would be a viable crop here (assuming you are in Alberta).

There are places in central Alberta along the rivers that are loaded with hazelnuts. Many lakes have loads around them too.

I considered farming them and discovered an acre of 400 hazelnut trees will produce about 800 lbs.. Hazelnuts sell for $13.00 a pound. And hazelnut bushes sell for 175 bucks at tree nurseries.

[TrapperMike]

How do you prepare them for eating?

[calgarychef]

Originally Posted by TrapperMike

How do you prepare them for eating?

You can’t! The squirrels will beat you every time

[Red Bullets]

Originally Posted by TrapperMike

How do you prepare them for eating?

single layer in the oven at 350F for 15 to 20 minutes. Turn every 5 minutes, until husks darken and split. Husks will come off if you then rub the nuts in a towel. Try a few. You can then roast in the shell for another 3 to 5 minutes if you like.

[YYC338]

Originally Posted by Red Bullets

Husks will come off if you then rub the nuts in a towel. Try a few.

Yup, lots of stuff will come off when you rub them in a towel.

[saddleup]

Originally Posted by Red Bullets

single layer in the oven at 350F for 15 to 20 minutes. Turn every 5 minutes, until husks darken and split. Husks will come off if you then rub the nuts in a towel. Try a few. You can then roast in the shell for another 3 to 5 minutes if you like.

[Osky]

Same nuts or variation of that you get in certain cocktails.
In this country a black bear will leave the most choice pickings imaginable and go a long ways to sit and eat hazelnuts. No fall food do they prefer more.
Burr oak acorns are a close second.

Osky

[Lornce]

Grew Filbert Hazelnuts in BC when I lived there. Usually dried them on old window screens in the sun to dry them. Should really see if I can grow them here.

[WayneChristie]

I planted a tree maybe 9-10 years ago, it grows but I get a lot of pests on it and only had hazelnuts a couple times, maybe this year will be better? . believe I got it from T and T seeds.

[TrapperMike]

Are these close to being ready to pick. First time at trying them

[Red Bullets]

Originally Posted by TrapperMike

Are these close to being ready to pick. First time at trying them

Pick the hazelnuts when the nut's hard shells have turned brown even if the involucres (fuzzy husks) are still green. Try opening up a couple husks and then crack a nut to see inside. Wear gloves taking the husks off. Or the fuzzy barbs will get your fingertips.

By the time the husk turns brown the nuts will be falling on the ground if the squirrels didn't already get hem. I pick them when the 'beak'/tail is drying out and turning brown.

[ronkaren]

Originally Posted by TrapperMike

Are these close to being ready to pick. First time at trying them

no not even close. The brown shell will show, then fall to the ground. We had these in BC, i don't remember, picking them from the trees, just the ground.

[KinAlberta]

Originally Posted by calgarychef

You can’t! The squirrels will beat you every time

We literally have acres of them mixed into the bush. Never see them lasting long enough for us to pick them. Interestingly we have acres of Saskatoon bushes taking over a couple old fields. Birds don’t get to them any faster than the humans do (friends and neighbours).

[Trochu]

Originally Posted by Red Bullets

There are places in central Alberta along the rivers that are loaded with hazelnuts. Many lakes have loads around them too.

I considered farming them and discovered an acre of 400 hazelnut trees will produce about 800 lbs.. Hazelnuts sell for $13.00 a pound. And hazelnut bushes sell for 175 bucks at tree nurseries.

2 lbs per tree seems awfully low. Do they normally just produce a couple dozen nuts?

[Mie Scattering]

Same here. Acres of the things, picked clean by the squirrels long before I get them.

I wonder if there is a way I can hire them to work for me by making inverse feeders. Figure out what makes an irresistible lager site for them, install a couple of dozen near the bushes, let them do the detail work and then come by and “harvest” half their stash.

Maybe replace it with something cheap, like dried corn, so they don’t starve.

[calgarychef]

Originally Posted by Mie Scattering

Same here. Acres of the things, picked clean by the squirrels long before I get them.

I wonder if there is a way I can hire them to work for me by making inverse feeders. Figure out what makes an irresistible lager site for them, install a couple of dozen near the bushes, let them do the detail work and then come by and “harvest” half their stash.

Maybe replace it with something cheap, like dried corn, so they don’t starve.

That’s actually not a bad idea. I know if I leave my rubber boots on the back step they’ll be full of pine cones in not time flat.