[Womble]

Went for a walk in the woods yesterday, and spotted a hazel tree, complete with nuts. They were still green of course, but it got me wondering when's the right time to harvest them, and what's the right way to treat / dry them or whatever?

Any wisdom folks?

[aparker155]

They are ready when they are loose within the outer casing (don't know what it's called but basically the cup bit that holds them) when you can loosen them enough to pop out easily they are ready (the shell will also be mostly brown). Looking at the ones here they should be ready in a few weeks I think.

My dad likes them 'green' and so has already been picking them and if there are only a few you may want to do this too before they are taken by squirrel?

If you are likely to eat them quickly then just put them out in a single layer in the sun (?) to dry for a few days. If you want to keep them for more than a month or so then you need to roast them.

[hexhammeasure]

can you pick them green and 'sun' them to ripen? we have several hedgerows round here on public footpaths so they tend to disappear quick...

[kevkev57]

I picked a hazel bush this morning. I was astonished as to the size,quality and amount of them. Best year ever for us. We have twenty+ trees down on the edge of our bottom field, so we will take a look there today.

Ours are ready, turning brown and started to fall.

Kevin

[welshboy]

Same here ripe now and tasty.

[shetlandpaul]

do you need to chill the nuts if planning to grow some. i don't want to pay £2 for a year old plant as i want lots for wind breaks.

[scattybiker1972]

http://www.hedging.co.uk/ try these,very reasonable prices
 

[shetlandpaul]

good site. but i have the nuts. would the check from bucks to shetland be to much.