Hazelnuts in the garden: planting, harvesting, storing
The hazel is a native shrub that flowers so early that it provides bees with pollen at the very start of the year. In autumn it provides nuts – provided you beat the squirrels to them.
Planting
- Location: Sunny to semi-shaded, on soil that is not too dry; as a hedge, single shrub or standard tree
- Pollination: Hazels usually rely on cross-pollination – two different varieties nearby give a better yield
- Varieties: Besides the wild hazel there are cultivated varieties with larger nuts; the filbert, for example, can be recognised by its long husk
Care and pruning
Hazels produce many shoots from the base. Cutting out older shoots close to the ground regularly keeps the shrub young and productive.
Harvest
Ripe nuts fall by themselves. Gather them regularly before animals or moisture spoil them. Sort out empty nuts or nuts with holes (nut weevil).
Storing
Spread the nuts out to finish drying in an airy place. Once dried, they keep for several months in a cool, dark and dry place (BZfE (German Federal Centre for Nutrition), "Richtig lagern" (as of 20 Feb 2025)). Do not eat mouldy nuts.
Good to know
Hazelnuts are tree nuts and therefore one of the 14 major allergens that must be labelled on food (EU Food Information Regulation No 1169/2011, according to the German Federal Ministry of Agriculture).
Sources
- German Federal Centre for Nutrition (BZfE): Richtig lagern, as of 20 Feb 2025, accessed 5 Oct 2026
- German Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity (BMLEH): Allergenkennzeichnung ist Pflicht, as of 1 Oct 2025, accessed 5 Oct 2026
The sources support individual statements in this article. The organisations named have neither reviewed nor endorsed it.