Latest Prices for Large Hazelnut Saplings and a Detailed Guide to Planting Methods
Hazelnut is a woody grain and woody oil tree species, also known as pingzhen, chuizi, mountain chestnut, etc. It is a deciduous shrub or small tree of the genus Corylus in the birch family, with very high comprehensive utilization value and wide uses. In northern China, sloped land, terraced fields and flat land below 750 meters in altitude with relatively gentle terrain are most suitable for hazelnut growth. Now let us take a look at the prices of large hazelnut saplings and the planting methods!
How much does a large hazelnut sapling cost?
The price of a large hazelnut sapling is about 5 to 8 yuan each, but prices vary greatly depending on the specifications, quality, place of origin and purchase quantity of the saplings. Hazelnuts are distributed in the temperate zones of Asia, Europe and North America, and have a long history of cultivation in China. At present, 22 regions across the country have plants of the genus Corylus, and the resources are very abundant. In particular, large areas of hazelnut forests are distributed in Northeast China, Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, Shandong and Henan.
Growing conditions for large hazelnuts
1. Temperature: Large hazelnuts have strong cold resistance and are suitable for an average annual temperature of 7.5 to 13°C. They can be cultivated in areas where the minimum temperature reaches minus 30°C.
2. Light: Large hazelnuts are light-loving plants and generally require an annual sunshine duration of more than 2100 hours, otherwise few flower buds form and yields are low.
3. Soil: Large hazelnuts have high soil requirements. Dry sandy soil, heavy clay soil, swamps, saline land and low-lying land are all unsuitable for establishing a hazelnut orchard.
Propagation methods for large hazelnuts
1. Seed propagation: In a hazelnut forest, select high-yielding plants with large fruits and no pests or diseases as mother trees, and choose hazelnuts with large grains, plump kernels and no pests or diseases for sowing. The seeds retain germination capacity for 1 year. Spring is the suitable sowing time, generally in mid-to-late April.
2. Division propagation: There are two methods of division propagation. One is to dig up the entire mother plant and divide it into several small clumps or individual plants, each with a root system and 1 to 2 branches. The other is to dig up root suckers around the mother plant clump and separate out several plants, while the mother plant is retained.
3. Root sucker propagation: There are two methods of root sucker propagation. One is to dig up root suckers around existing plant clumps to obtain seedlings. The other is to propagate in a dedicated mother plant orchard. Mother plants intended for propagation should be cut back in spring to promote the production of root suckers from the clump.
4. Layering propagation: Layering propagation is divided into horizontal layering and arch layering. Horizontal layering can be done in autumn or spring, but spring is the most suitable. Arch layering is further divided into hardwood layering and softwood layering. Hardwood layering is carried out in early spring, and softwood layering in early to mid-June.
Planting methods for large hazelnuts
1. Land preparation and hole digging: Before planting hazelnut trees, level the land and clear away miscellaneous trees, weeds, stones, etc. When digging holes, the topsoil and subsoil should be separated. Mix the subsoil with organic fertilizer and backfill it, then return the topsoil to the upper part of the planting hole. It is best to complete this in the autumn of the previous year.
2. Planting time: To improve the survival rate, hazelnut trees are generally planted in autumn, usually from October to December. In the Yellow River and Yangtze River basins, it is suitable from late February to early March, and no later than mid-March, but it must be completed before bud break, otherwise the survival rate decreases.
3. Planting density: The planting density of hazelnut trees is determined by species, variety, rootstock, cultivation techniques, tree form adopted, terrain, soil, climatic conditions, etc. Multiple factors must be considered to enable healthy growth of hazelnut trees.
4. Planting depth: For hazelnut trees, the root system must not be buried too deep or too shallow. After planting, the root crown should be level with the ground or slightly less than 5 cm below the ground, and the soil depth above the root system should preferably be 6 to 10 cm.
5. Reasonable watering: Build an irrigation tree basin around the hazelnut tree to facilitate watering and water storage. Water immediately after planting. After the water infiltrates, cover with soil to conserve moisture, and cover the tree basin with plastic film to retain moisture and increase temperature, promote root activity of the hazelnut tree, and improve the survival rate.
6. Weeding and loosening the soil: Under loose soil and good aeration conditions, hazelnut trees develop an extensive root system, have strong sprouting ability and grow vigorously, which is beneficial to growth and fruiting. Weeding and loosening the soil should be carried out 2 to 3 times each year, from late April to June.
7. Reasonable fertilization: After planting hazelnut trees, attention should be paid to fertilization. Usually, decomposed farmyard manure is applied in early May, and compound fertilizer is top-dressed in mid-July. In the second year after planting, fertilizer can be top-dressed outside the projection of the crown of the hazelnut tree, but it should not be applied too deep.
8. Timely pruning: Hazelnut trees generally retain one trunk, and afterwards are shaped and pruned according to their own growth and development characteristics to form a reasonable framework. There are usually 3 tree forms adopted, namely few-trunk clump form, single-trunk form and multi-trunk clump form.