What is the price of hazelnut saplings? Detailed introduction to planting methods

Wild hazelnuts are recognized as the “king of nuts” and have a long history of cultivation in China. Planting areas are mostly distributed across Northeast, North China, East China, Northwest and Southwest China. So what is the price of hazelnut saplings? How do you plant and manage them?

1. What is the price of hazelnut saplings?

Prices for hazelnut saplings vary by variety. They usually range from 0.6-8 yuan per plant. Generally, the price of hazelnut saplings is fairly stable, but special market conditions can occur, and sometimes prices rise or fall sharply.

When buying hazelnut saplings, choose plants of pure variety to ensure consistent fruit shape, size, color and quality, which is better for future yield and sales.

2. How are hazelnuts planted?

1. Soil selection

The hazelnut is a perennial sun-loving tree species that is not tolerant of waterlogging. It can be planted on sandy land, black soil, loess, slopes, barren hills, flat land, and around houses, as long as the site is not waterlogged. The planting site should be chosen in a spot with ample sunlight, fertile soil, high organic matter, good aeration, a soil layer more than 40 cm thick, and good drainage, in slightly acidic sandy loam. Avoid heavy clay soil, low-lying waterlogged areas, and heavily saline-alkaline soil. Soil conditions can also be improved artificially by applying base fertilizer in autumn and winter, either by broadcasting the fertilizer and then shallowly turning the topsoil, or by applying fertilizer in ring-shaped shallow trenches or shallow trenches on both sides. Large amounts of humus and trace elements such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium can mellow the soil, build up soil fertility, improve the soil's water retention, nutrient retention and aeration, and enhance its ability to regulate soil temperature.

2. Planting density

Planting density should be determined according to the variety's form. Upright tree habits are suitable for dense planting, while semi-spreading or spreading tree habits are suitable for wider planting. Also consider soil fertility: on flat, fertile land, the spacing between plants and rows should be slightly wider, while on slopes with poorer fertility, the spacing should be slightly smaller.

When planting, before the hazelnut buds break, choose saplings with smooth trunks, plump buds, well-developed root systems and no pests or diseases, keep root length at 10-15 cm and seedling height at 80 cm, and soak the roots in water for 30 min before planting. Use the "three tramplings, two burials, one lift" method of planting. Be sure to water thoroughly immediately after planting and cover with plastic film to retain moisture.

3. Training and pruning

For hazel trees with an upright crown, keep side branches to open up the angle; for those with an excessively open crown, keep upward upright branches to reduce the opening angle. In short, keep the crown's opening angle appropriate.

For small branches inside the crown, except for thin and weak branches, diseased and pest-damaged branches, and drooping branches that need to be cut off, all other short branches should not be pruned and should be kept as fruit-bearing mother branches. To increase the number of flower buds and raise yield, do not prune medium and short branches; only lightly cut back the extension branches of each main and side branch. Conversely, to promote strong branch growth and restore tree vigor, heavily prune the vegetative branches and cut back some moderate branches to reduce the number of flowers.

Warm tip: Hazelnuts are light-loving, drought-tolerant and poor-soil-tolerant, and have strong adaptability to soil. They can grow in karst mountainous areas, hills, gullies and by riversides, so most mountainous areas can be used for planting them!