Hazelnut Calendar

Hazelnuts flower in the cold months, long before most crops, and the fall harvest happens on the ground. Disease pressure and variety choice shape which regions can grow them.

Key points

Hazelnuts flower in winter, so cold-season weather matters.
Eastern filbert blight shapes variety choice.
Plant pollinizers that shed pollen when the main variety is receptive.
Gather nuts often and dry them promptly.
Fence or net against birds, squirrels and deer.

Why do hazelnuts flower so early?

Hazelnut catkins shed pollen in winter, and the tiny red female flowers appear at the same time. The crop depends on wind pollination and on pollen from a compatible variety, so a mild spell followed by hard cold can reduce the crop.

This unusual timing means you plan a hazelnut year around weather in the cold months. Keep records of the dates catkins release pollen.

Mild winters bring catkins out earlier and a sudden hard cold can kill them, so the pollen supply depends on the weather in a way fruit growers rarely face.

Record when catkins first shed pollen
Note hard cold after mild spells
Plan around winter weather

What is Eastern filbert blight and where does it matter?

Eastern filbert blight is a fungal disease that kills branches of susceptible European hazelnuts. It is native to eastern North America, where wild hazels carry it with little harm, and it has also reached western orchards. Resistant varieties have been developed.

Before planting, ask extension and your state department of agriculture about disease status and recommended varieties in your area. Choosing resistant material is the key tool.

Keep an eye on branches that suddenly wilt or die back in summer, and ask extension to help identify the cause before cutting or treating.

Choose varieties recommended for your region
Ask about local disease pressure first
Buy plants from reputable nurseries

What pollination arrangement do hazelnuts need?

Hazelnuts are generally not self fruitful, so growers plant pollinizer varieties among the main ones, chosen to shed pollen at the same time as the main variety receives it. Wind moves the pollen, so the arrangement and spacing matter.

Ask extension or a nursery for pairings that fit your region and bloom timing.

If your area has wild hazelnuts, ask extension whether their pollen overlaps with your cultivated trees and whether wild plants raise disease concerns. Mixed plantings of several pollinizers give a longer window of pollen across a cold or warm winter.

How do you plant and care for hazelnuts?

Plant dormant trees or shrubs in a site with good drainage and sun. Hazelnuts can be grown as a multi-stemmed bush or trained to a single trunk, and training influences harvest ease and disease management.

Young plants need regular watering and weed control. Feed by soil test and local advice, and note that nutrient management rules vary by state.

Space plants to allow air movement and light, since crowded canopies hold moisture and reduce nut quality. Mulch to hold moisture and reduce weed competition. A planting takes several years before it produces a worthwhile crop, so plan for patience.

Choose a sunny, well drained site
Space plants for air movement
Mulch young plants

When and how do you prune hazelnuts?

Prune in the dormant season, often after pollination so you do not remove catkins you need. Remove suckers, dead wood and crowded branches, and keep the center open for light and airflow.

Pruning also helps manage blight by letting you spot and remove infected branches early, according to extension guidance.

Disinfect pruning tools between plants if you are cutting out diseased wood. Dispose of cut branches so they do not spread disease.

Prune after pollination
Remove suckers and dead wood
Disinfect tools after cutting diseased wood

When are hazelnuts harvested?

Nuts mature in late summer to fall and drop to the ground when ripe, where they are gathered by hand or with machines in larger plantings. Frequent gathering protects nuts from moisture, pests and wildlife.

After harvest, dry nuts promptly and store in a cool, dry, ventilated place. Ask extension about drying and storage guidance, and follow food safety rules if you sell nuts.

A gathering schedule helps. Rake or collect nuts weekly during the drop period and sort out those with holes or discoloration.

Gather weekly during drop
Sort out damaged nuts
Dry and store cool

What other pests and issues matter?

Filbertworm, hazelnut weevil, aphids, bud mites and squirrels or birds can reduce yields, depending on region. Sanitation and monitoring help.

This guide gives no product names or rates. Follow your extension guide, apply only labeled products as directed, observe pre-harvest intervals and protect pollinators. Applicator licensing varies by state.

Birds, squirrels and deer visit hazelnut plantings, so fencing and netting are part of the plan for many growers.

When to get local help: Ask your county extension office or state agriculture department about disease status, varieties and pollinizers before planting hazelnuts.

Sources and further reading

Last reviewed: November 2026. Educational information, ranges only. Confirm timing with your county extension office.

More in Fruits, Nuts & Perennial Crop Calendars

← Pistachio Calendar Macadamia Calendar →