What are the latest planting conditions for hazelnut trees?
The hazelnut tree is a shrub or small tree of the genus Corylus in the birch family, one of the four major dried nuts, and has very high planting prospects. It usually grows wild in shrub thickets on shady mountain slopes at altitudes of 200-1000 m, has strong cold resistance, prefers a humid climate, and is relatively light-loving; sufficient sunlight can promote its growth, development and fruiting. Now let us take a look at the planting conditions for hazelnut trees.
Temperature conditions
Different types of hazelnut trees have different temperature requirements. The European hazel prefers a warm, humid climate. It is suitable for areas with an average temperature of 13-15°C, an absolute minimum of -10°C, and an extreme high temperature of 38°C. Ping'ou hybrid cultivars are more cold-resistant than the European hazel and are suitable for cultivation in areas with an annual average temperature of 7.5-13°C and a minimum temperature that can reach -30°C.
Light conditions
The hazelnut tree is a light-loving plant and generally requires annual sunshine hours of more than 2100 hours; otherwise, flower bud formation is reduced and yields are low.
Soil conditions
The hazelnut tree likes to grow on fertile, well-aerated sandy loam soil. Ping'ou hybrid cultivars in particular have high soil requirements; dry sandy soil, heavy clay soil, marshland, saline land and low-lying land are all unsuitable for establishing a hazelnut orchard. Ping'ou hybrid cultivars require a soil pH of 6.5-7.5, while the European hazel requires 5.5-7.
Cultivation techniques
The branches of the hazelnut tree root easily, and adventitious buds readily sprout root suckers. Therefore, layering or grafting is usually used to propagate and cultivate seedlings. For layering in early spring, use vigorous one-year-old sprouting branches; for layering in June, use tender branches of the current year as material. For grafted seedling cultivation, Pingzhen hazel seedlings are mostly used as rootstock