We create a hazel at a summer cottage

Landing

Do you love hazelnuts the way I love them? Hazel in the country is not to say that it is completely exotic, but still not the most common plant. It seems that it is easier to go to the forest and pick up nuts, especially since the harvest is often much better there than on the "domesticated" bushes. But if you make some effort and do everything right, then in your area, over time, you will collect a bag of nuts. Moreover, the hazel grows quickly, the first harvest gives already in the fourth year and is distinguished by longevity (80 years or more).
Hazel propagation occurs by seeds (nuts), cuttings, layering and dividing the bush (the simplest and most reliable way).
Hazel is planted in the fall, in the first half of October, then before winter it will have time to take root and in spring it will begin to grow actively. The plant has no special requirements for soil, but swampy, acidic soil or sand will not work. It is recommended to arrange the plants at a distance of 4-5 meters from each other. There are a lot of hazel in the forest and the bushes are pollinated. So, ideally, you need to plant several bushes and the more different varieties there are, the richer the harvest in the end.
It is better to choose a sunny place for a hazel, although partial shade is also suitable. Usually hazel is planted around the perimeter of the site or near outbuildings. Prepare pits with a depth and diameter of half a meter, expanded clay or broken brick can be poured on the bottom, add humus and mineral fertilizers, water well. After planting the hazel, trim the bushes 30 cm above the soil surface.

Care

Care for hazel consists in watering (the plant loves moisture very much), loosening, feeding and timely pruning. It is necessary to loosen shallowly, since the roots of the hazel are close to the surface. In the fall, wood ash must be added to the trunk circles, this will increase the yield. I also fertilize with organic matter, ammonium nitrate and superphosphate. For the winter, the first 2-3 years, the hazel must be insulated. This can be done using lutrasil covering material, or gently bend the branches to the ground and cover with spruce branches.
Formative pruning is very important. Since hazel loves light, the bushes should not be allowed to thicken. In the process of pruning, it is necessary to remove excess shoots in the middle of the bushes, and tilt the side trunks to the side and secure.
Hazel shrubs are usually harvested in early September. Nuts are laid out in a thin layer and dried in the sun for two weeks, or in the oven at a temperature of 60-70C.

Hazel is distinguished by quite good health, but still there is a chance of encountering diseases and pests. Powdery mildew, nut weevil and aphids can cause troubles. In the fall, you need to collect and burn the fallen leaves, and dig up the ground under the bushes (carefully, the roots are close!). This can help eradicate powdery mildew infections that hibernate on fallen leaves. And at the same time the weevil larvae, which take refuge in the ground for the winter.
Today there are more than 100 varieties of hazel. The most popular is "Panahesskiy", it has a pleasant taste and a high fat content (about 65%). This variety does not need pollination and bears fruit annually. For central Russia, the following varieties are best suited: "Tambovsky Early", "Antey", "Komsomolets", "Pushkinskiy Red"

Application

The fruits of the hazel bush are excellent at satisfying hunger, it is recognized that they are more nutritious than soy or pork. Have a positive effect on attention and memory. In the confectionery industry, nuts are used for cakes, sweets and other sweets.Oil is made - it tastes like almond, and surpasses it in terms of benefits and quality. And the cake remaining after pressing the oil is the raw material for the production of halva.
In scientific medicine, hazel is not used, but in folk medicine it is widely used. Not only fruits are involved, but also bark, hazel leaves and roots. Once upon a time, decoction from the roots was the main remedy for malaria. Hazel bark is an antipyretic and antiseptic agent. Hazel is used to treat skin diseases, anemia, liver disease and rheumatism. Hazelnut oil is used in cosmetology - for the treatment of acne and vascular pattern.