In our agricultural farm we have plantation of hazels, we got couple of sorts. We planted Roman 738, Istrian 297 and Halashki 54 sorts.We did that because of better fertilization. Our farm cultivates organic nuts.
Common hazel can be larger bush or smaller tree. We planted them in form of bush in rows which are 5 meters distant from another row and 4 meters in row between hazel. It is planted on 1 hectare, in 33 rows and in each row is 34 hazels. In total that would be 1122 hazels.
So, we will begin with our circle in winter, to be specific, in February. Before they start to grow leafs, we cut down branches that grows from root. We leave 4 to 6 or even up to 8 branches that have highest potential to grow, we try to leave older ones, but if there are signs of some illness like bark cancer or some other mushroom or lichen, then you should remove it and leave younger one with the best place considering where you cut the previous one. You leave branches in circle and that is what you call bush from agricultural aspect.
The branches that we cut (30 to 40 new branches every year per bush) we put on one side of bushes and form a row. After this, we use tractor with trailer and load all the branches we cut in it. Only job that is left is unloading the branches and the first job is done. In our small village we have custom of burning the branches to celebrate Eastern.
On this photo you can see this male long catkins, they appeared in autumn last year. If you look closer you can see little red female flowers. Common hazel blooms before leafing.
In this period of time we use mixture of water and copper against lichen. This is one of the few preparation that can be used in ecological agriculture. We used it one more time in May.
Leaf bud got a visit from cute ladybug. 🐞
In April we applied fertilizer eco pro NPK 5 - 10 - 10 (N -nitrogen, P - phosphorus, K - potassium)
In May and June we add supplementation on eco base.
Trough do summer and early autumn we usually mulched and milled soil between rows for couple of times. We need to do this because of weeds that takes minerals and water from soil and that affects hazelnuts.
At the end of summer and in the early autumn we can see young nuts.
In September nuts are mature and they are falling on the ground. That is the time when I call my friends to help me, so we can gather nuts faster than the squirrels and other animals.
Few more photos of hazelnuts in vegetation period.
When one of the bushes wither we replace it with another seedling.
In the end we are storing nuts in big bags and keep them in storage. When we need nuts we pull one bag out of storage and put them in this machine that calibrates and cleans nuts from shells.
After that they are ready for packing in this cute paper bags. 🌰
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Hazelnuts are very healthy, they have positive influence on cardiovascular health and reduce risk of some types of cancer. These nuts are full of vitamin E,C,K. Recommended amount is 30-70 grams/day.
You can make butter and oil from nuts,they can be roasted in oven, you can eat it raw, there are a lot of possibilities with how you going to prepare them.
All photos were taken by us. Have a nice day! 😊