Arbor Day Foundation
Arbor Day Farm
Lied Lodge
Tree Adventure
Nature Explore
Dimensions FoundationMembers’ Hazelnuts: Now Growing
Jan 22 by Lied Lodge Blog in Arbor Day, General, Greenhouse, Hazelnuts tagged Arbor Day Farm, greenhouse, hybrid hazelnuts with 13 comments
Late last summer, the Arbor Day Farm greenhouse staff reached out to a select group of Arbor Day Foundation members – specifically those who’d signed on to further the research of the hybrid hazelnut program.
We needed their help, and they didn’t disappoint.
First, a little backstory:
Hazelnuts growing in the Greenhouse, Arbor Day Farm
These members live all across the United States and already grow hybrid hazelnuts on their properties, reporting back to us regularly on the growth, production, and general health of their plants.
This valuable data allows the Arbor Day Foundation and the Hybrid Hazelnut Consortium to continue the search for the “super hazelnut” – one that is well-adapted to a variety of climates, bears large, commercial-quality nuts, and is resistant to disease.
But this time we needed more than just their data. We needed their nuts!
In an effort to keep the gene pool flowing, we asked this select group of members to part with some of their hybrid hazelnuts when they harvested in late summer. The answer was a resounding “yes” from nearly every member we reached out to. With their approval, we mailed them a postage pre-paid box and a few simple instructions about what we needed. The first kits were back in our hands in a matter of days.
What came back to us was very interesting to see. Some hazelnuts were brown, some almost black, some reddish… some smaller, some larger… all of them healthy and key to keeping the research going.
With all the hazelnuts accounted for, the greenhouse staff then began the important work of preparing these nuts for planting: soaking in water, cold stratification, warm stratification, and finally – just last week – they’re ready for dirt.
We’re grateful to those Arbor Day Foundation members who have sent in their nuts; we hope you enjoy watching their progress in our greenhouse. We’ll check back in with the nuts in a couple weeks and show you the growth. Stay tuned!
For an illustrated look at how we’re continuing the search for genetically superior hybrid hazelnuts with Arbor Day Foundation members, check out the article in the January-February 2013 issue of Arbor Day newsletter (PDF).
Note the variations in size and color of the hybrid hazelnuts mailed in by Arbor Day Foundation members from across America. These nuts will be planted in the greenhouse at Arbor Day Farm, Nebraska City, NE, and the strongest specimens will be cross-bred to further expand the gene pool.
Jan prepares bags of hybrid hazelnuts mailed in by Arbor Day Foundation members. Each bag was documented upon arrival, assigned a number, and the nuts will be tracked as they grow in the greenhouse at Arbor Day Farm, Nebraska City, NE.
After stratification, it’s common for some hybrid hazelnuts to sprout even before being planted. This sprouted hazelnut seems to have a good start and increased chances of making it to a viable plant in the greenhouse.
Steve carefully plants hybrid hazelnuts in the greenhouse at Arbor Day Farm, Nebraska City, NE. Each row contains hazelnuts mailed in from Arbor Day Foundation members across America.
Hybrid hazelnuts, planted in trays in the Arbor Day Farm greenhouse.
The following photos were taken on February 1, 2013, in the Arbor Day Farm greenhouse — just two weeks after plant date. Note the growth so far:
Sprouting after just two weeks of growth in the Arbor Day Farm greenhouse.
Hazelnut sprouts showing two weeks of growth.
One hybrid hazelnut, just getting started.
The photos below were taken on February 2o, 2013 — just 33 days after planting. The hazelnuts are growing very quickly now!
Hybrid Hazelnuts mailed in from Arbor Day Foundation members, showing 33 days of growth.
Hybrid Hazelnuts mailed in from Arbor Day Foundation members, showing 33 days of growth.
Hybrid Hazelnuts mailed in from Arbor Day Foundation members, showing 33 days of growth. Note the markings on the leaf.
« Back to Home
13 Comments
Trackbacks and Pingbacks
-
[...] The results have been fascinating. Hazelnuts we’ve gotten back here in Nebraska have been brown, almost black, some even reddish, and of varying sizes. All are healthy and critical to our continued research. Read more about it at the Lied Lodge & Arbor Day Farm Blog. [...]
-
[...] Members' Hazelnuts: Now Growing – Lied Lodge & Arbor Day Farm … [...]
Facebook
Twitter
Youtube
Trip Advisor
Flickr
RSS
1-800-546-5433
Thanks for this look into how you are growing all
the nuts. Very interesting.
Thanks, Betty — and we’ll be posting more photos as they grow. Glad you’re enjoying it. Thanks!
Fascinating work!
I am looking forward to seeing and hearing about this fascinating process!
Hello,
I am interested in trying to cultivate hazelnuts. Right now, I just have a garden plot in Olathe, KS, but I plan to acquire a few acres probably in Miami County, KS, and would then have more space for a hazelnut grove. Anyhow, I am wondering about the cost of seedlings, and what is the best time to put them out, etc.
Thank You & Be Well,
Frank Baldwin
Thank you, Frank. We would love to have you participate in the Hazelnut program, and you can enroll in the project by visiting this link:
http://www.arborday.org/shopping/memberships/hazelnut/
The hazelnuts that we have available are 1 year old seedlings. We send out dormant plugged versions (they have some soil around the roots in a plug mostly made of peat), when planting conditions are ideal for your hardiness zone (for Miami County, that’s Zone 6). We look forward to your participation! If you need further assistance or have additional questions, please give us a call at 888-448-7337. Thank you!
This is a great story. It is great to hear and see how our Hazelnuts are doing/growing. It gives me even more excitement to continue with the Hazelnut Project. Thanks.
Thanks, Charles — and thank you for your continued participation in the hazelnut project. We look forward to showing you more photos of the progress. Thanks!
I am looking forward to eceiving my trees so I can partisapate.
thanks for the update
Cheers
We ordered 50 hazels year before last, potted them for a year, and set them out in East-Central Alabama (zone 7b)in Oct. 2012. We are so eager to see them leaf out this Spring! We’re hoping to plant about 100 more, and have a cash crop by the time we retire. Any hints?
Diane, great to hear about your hazelnuts. And your plan for a “cash crop” is a good one — or least a very tasty one. Thanks for keeping us updated.