Planting, growing and caring for hazel in the Urals

When growing hazel in the Urals, there are no problems with fruiting. There are varieties suitable for harsh climates. Knowing the peculiarities of crop development and weather, they do not allow flower buds to freeze. Beekeepers plant honey bushes near apiaries to obtain early honey.

General information about the plant

Hazelnut is a shrub, rarely a tree, with a compact ovoid crown. The shoots are covered with gray, gray-brown bark (6-15 trunks).The leaves are sinewy, rounded-pointed, 6-12 cm in size. The lower part of the plates has pubescence. The type of roots is fibrous, superficial.

Hazel is a dioecious plant. Male and female inflorescences are formed on it. The former look like a long earring (10 cm), the latter look like a bud and are located at the ends of annual shoots. Flowers bloom early. Already in April, the earrings begin to gather dust.

When weather conditions are favorable, pollination occurs. Nuts of spherical or oval shape and brown or dark chocolate color are formed. In the conditions of the Urals, a hazel bush grows and bears fruit for about 70 years. It reaches a height of 3-4 m.

For better pollination in the garden, it is recommended to plant several varieties (4-6). Hazel varieties whose male catkins bloom for a long time are considered good pollinators. A seedling grown from a seed begins to bear fruit in the 6-8th year; those obtained by vegetative propagation produce the first harvest in the 3rd-4th year.

Suitable varieties for the Urals

Hazel is a cold-resistant crop, but southern varieties will not bear fruit in the Urals. Due to the short summer, only early-ripening, frost-resistant varieties are grown there:

• Tambov early;
• Smolin;
• Moscow ruby;
• Catherine;
• Tambov late;
• Sugar;
• Memory of Yablokov;
• Pushkinsky;
• Ivanteevsky red.

Peculiarities of growing hazel in this region

It is difficult to achieve annual fruiting of common hazel in the Urals. It depends on weather conditions. Flower buds are threatened by return frosts. Male inflorescences freeze slightly in winters with little snow.

Site selection

Hazel planted in a draft will not bear fruit. The planting site is chosen taking into account the wind rose.The seedling must be protected from the north and north-west wind. In the shade of trees and buildings it grows poorly and does not bear fruit; it tolerates light partial shade.

Hazel does not like swampy and dry soil. Does not grow well if groundwater is high. Varietal varieties develop better on humus-carbonate soils. In the conditions of the Urals, it is recommended to grow hazel on the eastern and northeastern slopes.

Boarding time

In the Urals, hazel seedlings are planted in the spring before the buds open. In the fall, the site is prepared for planting. They dig planting holes. As soon as the ground thaws, seedlings are planted. After the snow melts, the soil contains a lot of moisture, which promotes rooting.

Disembarkation scheme

The crown of the shrub is compact, but in an adult plant it occupies a large area. This is taken into account when landing. Planting holes are dug according to the following schemes:

• 6 x 6 m;
• 6 x 5 m;
• 6 x 4 m;
• 5 x 4 m.

With denser planting, the feeding area and lighting level are insufficient for normal development and fruiting of hazel.

Soil preparation

When choosing a planting site in the garden, the predecessor crop does not play a role. On slopes with an inclination angle of more than 10°, terraces are formed. They dig holes measuring 1 x 1.5 m. On flat areas - 0.5 x 0.5 m.

Lime is added to acidic soil in the fall (500 g/m²). For better aeration, humus and sand are added. It is recommended to add soil taken from under wild hazel bushes into the planting holes. It contains a symbiont mushroom. It protects the bush from diseases and promotes rapid absorption of nutrients.

Planting process

Seedlings in containers take root without problems. They cost more. When purchasing hazel with an open root system, its quality is checked. Pay attention to the condition of the roots.They must be fresh, undamaged, and fibrous. Seedlings 1-1.5 m high are suitable for planting.

Before planting, the hazel is placed in water for 2-3 hours. To fill the hole, prepare a fertile substrate:

• garden soil taken from the top layer;
• superphosphate - 150 g;
• humus (compost) - 2-3 buckets;
• potassium salt - 50 g.

The mixture is poured in the form of a slide into the center of the planting hole. A hazel seedling is placed on it, the roots are covered with earth. The root collar is not buried. The shoots are shortened by 5-6 buds. 3-4 buckets of water are poured into the hole. The soil is mulched with humus.

Care Tips

Hazel is easy to grow and care is standard. In the conditions of the Urals, difficulties arise due to the weather. Male catkins often freeze in winter, which affects pollination and yield. Gardeners have learned to withstand the elements and bend down hazel for the winter.

Watering rules

The regularity of watering affects the quality of nuts. With a lack of moisture, the yield decreases by 1.5-2 times. Not all nuts form kernels. During the summer, watering is carried out depending on the weather. 4-5 buckets are poured onto the bush. Mandatory watering scheme:

• after flowering (late April);
• May - 1 time;
• June - 1 time;
• July - 2 times;
• moisture-charging (late autumn).

Fertilizer application

Fertilizers applied during planting have a prolonged effect. Mineral nutrition is enough for the first 2 years. Starting from the 3rd year, hazel is fed:

• in the spring, nitroammophoska is added according to the norm;
• after the ovaries appear, feed with urea;
• In the fall, humus mixed with ash is poured under the bush.

From May to July, the bushes are sprayed with a urea solution. Maintain a 2-week interval between treatments.

Trimming

Up to 5 years of age, they are annually engaged in sanitary and formative pruning.Starting from the age of 20, the bushes rejuvenate. In early spring, frozen and damaged branches are cut out. To form a proper crown, consisting of 8-10 strong trunks, weak and extra shoots are cut out annually. Bushes with a dense crown do not bear fruit.

Shelter for the winter

In the Urals, hazel is grown in the stlance and semi-stlate forms. In winter, the branches are bent to the ground, a load is tied to them or they are attached to supports. Young bushes are tied with covering material.

Before the onset of frost, moisture-charging irrigation is carried out. Feed with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers. The soil around the bushes is mulched with humus. In winter they throw snow on the bushes. Earrings do not freeze under the snow.

Diseases and pests

In unfavorable years, hazel suffers from fungal diseases. Bushes are affected by brown spot and powdery mildew. Outbreaks are provoked by prolonged rains, sharp fluctuations in daily temperatures, and a thick crown. For prevention purposes, in spring and autumn, hazel is sprayed with a solution of colloidal sulfur and copper sulfate. Effective drugs:

• "Skor";
• "Tiovit Jet";
• "Raek."

In winter, bushes covered with snow suffer from mice. Pests gnaw trunks and shoots. Gardeners place poisoned bait under each bush. In spring and summer, sucking insects parasitize the leaves:

• aphid colonies;
• gall midge;
• scale insects;
• nut weevil and longhorn beetle.

Before the leaves appear, the bushes are treated with Kemifos and Fufanon. In the summer, insecticides are used:

• "Inta-Vir";
• "Aktellik";
• "Spark".

Reproduction methods

Hazel can be propagated by dividing the bush, layering, root suckers, grafting or seeds. With vegetative methods, all varietal characteristics are preserved. Seed propagation does not guarantee this.Delenki are obtained from an adult bush. It is dug up, the branches are trimmed to a height of 20 cm, and divided into parts. For each division, a part of the root and a stump are left.

When propagating by layering, young shoots growing in the middle part of the crown are selected. In the spring, they are bent to the ground, pinned, and covered with earth. In autumn, roots form in the hairpin area. The baby is separated from the mother plant the following spring, transplanted to a permanent place, and covered in winter.

Root shoots form in hazel bushes after 2-3 years of life. For reproduction, 2 or 3 year old offspring are used. They are separated from the root, transplanted into a schoolhouse, where they are grown until transplanted to a permanent place. When propagated by grafting, hazel is used as a rootstock.

Growing hazel in the Urals is not difficult. It is difficult to get it to bear fruit every year. Even experienced gardeners do not always succeed. It is necessary to carry out a set of measures to protect flowering buds from freezing, and, if necessary, carry out artificial pollination.