too late for hazel?

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too late for hazel?

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camokid

Joined: 30 Sep 2013
Posts: 27
Location: coventry

Posted: Mon Oct 21, 13 6:38 am Post subject: too late for hazel?
hi all im always on the lookout for any country grub and have been looking for hazel nuts but im thinking i may be too late in the season would i be correct???.. i had a grate weekend filling a bag with chestnuts and walnuts many thanks andy

jamanda
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 22 Oct 2006
Posts: 35057
Location: Devon

Posted: Mon Oct 21, 13 6:40 am Post subject:
Hazels were over a month ago down here.

OtleyLad

Joined: 13 Jan 2007
Posts: 2737
Location: Otley, West Yorkshire

Posted: Mon Oct 21, 13 6:40 am Post subject:
Depends how far north you live and how many squirrels are in your locality! Here in Yorkshire the nuts are just ripening but of course the squirrels know this too

Green Rosie

Joined: 13 May 2007
Posts: 10498
Location: Calvados, France

Posted: Mon Oct 21, 13 7:38 am Post subject:
Plenty still on the ground here in Normandy - too many this year even for the squirrels to munch them all.

camokid

Joined: 30 Sep 2013
Posts: 27
Location: coventry

Posted: Mon Oct 21, 13 7:39 am Post subject:
i may be too late then.. i kick myself as last year i found them and didn't take note of time or place really i will learn from my mistakes... thanks

Nicky cigreen

Joined: 25 Jun 2007
Posts: 9887
Location: Devon, uk

Posted: Mon Oct 21, 13 8:22 am Post subject:
plenty still here - the main rush has been and gone but it is such a good year there are still plenty to be had - maybe not much longer with this stormy weather

camokid

Joined: 30 Sep 2013
Posts: 27
Location: coventry

Posted: Mon Oct 21, 13 8:41 am Post subject:
can anyone explain the hazel catkins??

Somewhere-by-the-river

Joined: 16 Sep 2013
Posts: 56
Location: West Wales

Posted: Mon Oct 21, 13 8:46 am Post subject:
Hazel always produces catkins at this time of year ready for the next season's crop. If I remember correctly the catkins you are seeing now are the male part and won't 'mature' till around February... Female 'flowers' are very small and rely on wind pollination. Does that help?

camokid

Joined: 30 Sep 2013
Posts: 27
Location: coventry

Posted: Mon Oct 21, 13 10:09 am Post subject:
yes that did thanks.. do they produce the nut first thne the catkins or both at the same time... im just trying to identify what i am seeing... thanks

Somewhere-by-the-river

Joined: 16 Sep 2013
Posts: 56
Location: West Wales

Posted: Mon Oct 21, 13 10:20 am Post subject:
The catkins you are seeing now will produce pollen in February which will then give nuts next season. The male catkins usually develop on the new seasons growth over the summer period, which I guess means after the nut has started to develop. Look out for the tiny red female flowers come February.

camokid

Joined: 30 Sep 2013
Posts: 27
Location: coventry

Posted: Mon Oct 21, 13 10:25 am Post subject:
oh right so im looking at trees that have already shed there nuts and the catkins are the start of next year crop..? sorry just trying to work this out

Nicky cigreen

Joined: 25 Jun 2007
Posts: 9887
Location: Devon, uk

Posted: Mon Oct 21, 13 10:36 am Post subject:
check out the ground - we gather ours from the lane floor under the hazels

Somewhere-by-the-river

Joined: 16 Sep 2013
Posts: 56
Location: West Wales

Posted: Mon Oct 21, 13 10:49 am Post subject:

I usually gather mine from the trees in September when they are still green or, preferably, when they are just starting to ripen. If you keep them in their husks in a basket so the air can circulate they will ripen in their own time (mine are almost there now) without going mouldy. I've found that once ripe, those that fall out of the husk with no assistance are usually good (though one or two will be empty, which is normal), while those that have a brown/ripe-looking shell but with husk still firmly attached are often bad.

They'll keep for quite a while too - we've just cracked the last of last years and they are still good and I've kept them for around two years before... though they don't often last that long!

...That said, we did gather most from the ground this year - due to our recent relocation and general ensuing chaos (mostly due to family thinking it would be a fab time to come for a free holiday........!

). A smaller crop this way, but still worth it!

jamanda
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 22 Oct 2006
Posts: 35057
Location: Devon

Posted: Mon Oct 21, 13 4:32 pm Post subject:

camokid wrote:

oh right so im looking at trees that have already shed there nuts and the catkins are the start of next year crop..? sorry just trying to work this out

Yes. If next year's little green catkins are there you're probably at the same stage as we are. Nuts all long gone.

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