Tips
Roasting
I was reading on the Internet that if you roast hazelnuts in the oven for 5 or so minutes it will enhance their taste. Another Internet article suggested roasting them for 20 - 30 minutes at 275 degrees F. or 8-10 minutes at 350 degree F. or microwave for 3-4 minutes at full power. I then found a scientific investigation that concluded “that roasting for 15 minutes at 135 °C was ideal for maintaining the desired nutritional value of hazelnuts.” I will have to try that and report back.
Fatma, Gülay Kirbalar1 and Güner Erkmen1 (2003). Investigation of the effect of roasting temperature on the nutritive value of hazelnuts. Plant Foods for Human Nutrition, Volume 58, Number 3 / September, 2003, pp. 1-10.
Growing hazelnuts from seeds:
I found this interesting piece of information on the Internet:
“Take the nuts and start them in late November, put the nuts in the fridge until then. In late November, soak the nuts for four days in water. Then, get some vermiculite, get it wet and put it in a plastic sandwich bag. Put the nuts in the vermiculite and seal the bag. Put the bag in the refrigerator and leave it for three months. Check it periodically to make sure the vermiculite stays moist. After 3 mos. take the seeds out of the fridge and place the bag on a heat mat if you have one. Or on top of the fridge. They have to be kept warm for about 5 days. Take the ones you see are starting to germinate and plant them in some good soil in a pot or a flat. Leave the others to continue to stratify. “
Here is more information on planting seeds:
Nut Production
An interesting article (see the link below) suggests that a late spring will actually produce more nuts because the pollination has to happen before the leaves start. If there is an early spring then the leaves come early and reduce the pollination. An interesting theory.
Hazel - Corylus Avellan
I was reading on the Internet that if you roast hazelnuts in the oven for 5 or so minutes it will enhance their taste. Another Internet article suggested roasting them for 20 - 30 minutes at 275 degrees F. or 8-10 minutes at 350 degree F. or microwave for 3-4 minutes at full power. I then found a scientific investigation that concluded “that roasting for 15 minutes at 135 °C was ideal for maintaining the desired nutritional value of hazelnuts.” I will have to try that and report back.
Fatma, Gülay Kirbalar1 and Güner Erkmen1 (2003). Investigation of the effect of roasting temperature on the nutritive value of hazelnuts. Plant Foods for Human Nutrition, Volume 58, Number 3 / September, 2003, pp. 1-10.
Growing hazelnuts from seeds:
I found this interesting piece of information on the Internet:
“Take the nuts and start them in late November, put the nuts in the fridge until then. In late November, soak the nuts for four days in water. Then, get some vermiculite, get it wet and put it in a plastic sandwich bag. Put the nuts in the vermiculite and seal the bag. Put the bag in the refrigerator and leave it for three months. Check it periodically to make sure the vermiculite stays moist. After 3 mos. take the seeds out of the fridge and place the bag on a heat mat if you have one. Or on top of the fridge. They have to be kept warm for about 5 days. Take the ones you see are starting to germinate and plant them in some good soil in a pot or a flat. Leave the others to continue to stratify. “
Here is more information on planting seeds:
Nut Production
An interesting article (see the link below) suggests that a late spring will actually produce more nuts because the pollination has to happen before the leaves start. If there is an early spring then the leaves come early and reduce the pollination. An interesting theory.
Hazel - Corylus Avellan