A Detailed Guide to the Key Points of American Hazelnut Cultivation Techniques

The American hazelnut actually originated in China, and was only later introduced to the United States, where, under the local climate type, both the yield and the size of the nuts are greater and larger, hence the name. The hazelnut looks like the chestnut we eat, tastes very sweet and fragrant, and generally ripens in autumn. Let us take a look below at an introduction to the key points of American hazelnut cultivation techniques.

I. Market prospects for American hazelnut cultivation

At present, the large hazelnuts sold in our country are mainly imported, and their flavor is not as fragrant as that of the Ping'ou large hazelnut. Affected by the trade war, import prices will also rise, which is also good news for the sales of Ping'ou large hazelnuts.

Developing the cultivation of Ping'ou large-fruited hazelnuts has excellent uses and economic value. Not only do they taste especially fragrant and delicious as a snack, but hazelnuts have also been authoritatively affirmed by many well-known experts and scholars in terms of medicinal use, food use and health care. It is believed that, like walnuts, they will soon be made into processed foods and enter our lives.

Planting large hazelnuts involves a growth cycle: generally they bear fruit in the 3rd year, show returns in the 4th year, and gradually enter the full fruiting period after 5 years. At the present stage, our country's hazelnut industry has already transitioned from the initial stage to a stage of rapid development, but most of it consists of young orchards, nursery orchards, or mixed dual-purpose orchards mainly for nursery stock, and total output is not large. Therefore, our country's hazelnut industry is in fact still a nursery stock industry. It is still not too late to enter now. It is very suitable for large-scale planting by cooperatives, poverty alleviation projects and the like.

II. Key points of American hazelnut cultivation techniques

1. Preparation of the planting site

The establishment of a hazelnut orchard is an important piece of basic construction and must be planned in advance. Water sources, power electricity, and facilities such as drip irrigation are among the many comprehensive supporting techniques that a hazelnut orchard needs to consider. This not only relates to the significant benefits in the later period, but is also an effective way to address the current rural aging population and labour shortage. Where mechanized operations are possible, mechanized operations should be provided, which can both improve work efficiency and reduce labour pressure.

After determining the planting plot, the orchard land should be rotary tilled and loosened to a depth of 30 cm, and miscellaneous trees, weeds, stones and other debris should be cleared away. On plots with poor drainage, low raised beds should be built. If it is mountainous land with a large slope, terraces should first be built, paying attention to the row spacing for planting. Gentle slopes can have contour trenches built, whose function is to intercept rainwater and the soil washed down from above.

At 110 seedlings per mu, dig planting holes with a plant spacing of 2 m and a row spacing of 3 m. The planting holes are generally 60 cm in diameter and 40-60 cm deep. When planting, add soil manure or do not add soil manure; the depth of the hole can be judged on your own.

2. Variety arrangement

Plant according to the proportion of the number of seedlings of each variety. After planting two rows of Dawei, switch to planting two rows of new variety No. 2; then plant two rows of Dawei and switch to planting two rows of new variety No. 3. Then plant two rows of Dawei and switch to planting two rows of Thin-shell Red, and so on. This is conducive to mutual pollination. If one variety has been fully planted, replace it with another variety (just mark them yourself).

3. Planting depth

It is enough for the uppermost layer of roots to be buried 6-10 cm into the soil; when planting, it is better to plant shallow than deep. After planting, make a water-holding basin and irrigate, irrigating thoroughly in one go; each plant needs 15-20 kg of irrigation water. Once the water has seeped down, the trunk can be headed back, with the heading height at 40-60 cm. Seal the cut with lead paint or thin plastic film.

4. Points to note

Although the large hazelnut tree is drought-tolerant, that is only after the 2nd year. Newly planted seedlings have a seedling-establishment period within two months; after the seedling roots have established well, they still need to grow, so the water supply in the first year must be guaranteed. In July, a little compound fertilizer can be applied to the seedlings; 2 liang per tree is enough.

There is another point that everyone should be reminded of: when intercropping, or when pesticides are sprayed on farmland around the hazelnut orchard, atomization drift will occur, causing hazelnut leaves to turn yellow and affecting seedling growth, so prevention is needed.

After planting, loosen the soil and weed in time to enhance soil permeability, promote new root growth, and prevent and control pests and diseases. Before winter, irrigate once with antifreeze water.