I'm looking for advice on the best way to grow hazel nuts from seed.

Do I nick the side of the seed, or crack the shells, rub with
sandpaper, or leave as they are and wait for nature and the mice ???

On Sat, 15 Jan 2005 16:01:17 GMT, gray wrote:

I'm looking for advice on the best way to grow hazel nuts from seed.

Do I nick the side of the seed, or crack the shells, rub with
sandpaper, or leave as they are and wait for nature and the mice ???

I find that with nuts in general, it helps to abrade the shell with a
file or coarse sandpaper until you make a hole through into the
inside, but no more (i.e. don't damage the bit inside). I assume that
making a hole in this way allows moisture to get in and trigger
germination. I probably simulates the nibbling by rodents etc.


--
Chris

E-mail: christopher[dot]hogg[at]virgin[dot]net

Yes - but how would you get on with say 100 seeds ??

I have thought about holding each one with a pair of pliers and just
grinding a bit off on my bench grinder.

On Sat, 15 Jan 2005 16:01:17 GMT, gray wrote:

I'm looking for advice on the best way to grow hazel nuts from seed.

Do I nick the side of the seed, or crack the shells, rub with
sandpaper, or leave as they are and wait for nature and the mice ???

I find that with nuts in general, it helps to abrade the shell with a
file or coarse sandpaper until you make a hole through into the
inside, but no more (i.e. don't damage the bit inside). I assume that
making a hole in this way allows moisture to get in and trigger
germination. I probably simulates the nibbling by rodents etc.

On Sun, 16 Jan 2005 17:33:37 GMT, gray wrote:

Yes - but how would you get on with say 100 seeds ??

I have thought about holding each one with a pair of pliers and just
grinding a bit off on my bench grinder.

Sounds ideal!


--
Chris

E-mail: christopher[dot]hogg[at]virgin[dot]net

On Sun, 16 Jan 2005 17:33:37 GMT, gray wrote:

Yes - but how would you get on with say 100 seeds ??

I have thought about holding each one with a pair of pliers and just
grinding a bit off on my bench grinder.

Been there, done that -got the raw fingers to show for it.
This link is to the old Thompson and Morgan seed germination database.

http://www.backyardgardener.com/tm.html

Tends to err in the direction of making things grow rather than
letting them grow, but it's OK when you've got less than fresh seed
that's been kept in sub-optimal conditions - then some of the tricks
for breaking complex dormancy conditions are quite useful. However for
fresh seeds, just sowing some in autumn and some in spring; protected
from rodents should give you as much germination as you need for a
very wide range of subjects. Try to find out about the plant's natural
habitat and give it a close approximation of those conditions



=================================================

Rod

Weed my email address to reply.
http://website.lineone.net/~rodcraddock/index.html

Rod wrote:
On Sun, 16 Jan 2005 17:33:37 GMT, gray wrote:

Yes - but how would you get on with say 100 seeds ??

I have thought about holding each one with a pair of pliers and
just
grinding a bit off on my bench grinder.

Been there, done that -got the raw fingers to show for it.
This link is to the old Thompson and Morgan seed germination
database.

http://www.backyardgardener.com/tm.html

Tends to err in the direction of making things grow rather than
letting them grow, but it's OK when you've got less than fresh seed
that's been kept in sub-optimal conditions - then some of the
tricks
for breaking complex dormancy conditions are quite useful. However
for
fresh seeds, just sowing some in autumn and some in spring;
protected
from rodents should give you as much germination as you need for a
very wide range of subjects. Try to find out about the plant's
natural
habitat and give it a close approximation of those conditions

But aren't the nice plump hazel nuts you buy the result of selective
breeding, like any other fruit crop? Shouldn't this mean that
propagation from seed will be unreliable in terms of quality of the
produce? If I'm right, it would be better to buy a few young trees as
foundation stock to propagate from cuttings. I note that my wild
hazels never produced a serious crop, and fear that the usual
fruit-tree rules on varieties will always apply.

Mike.

On 1/15/05 8:01 AM, in article ,
"gray" wrote:

I'm looking for advice on the best way to grow hazel nuts from seed.

Do I nick the side of the seed, or crack the shells, rub with
sandpaper, or leave as they are and wait for nature and the mice ???
To get a hazel nut to grow you must give them to the squirrels...they don't
have sand paper or any other tools that I am aware of. They take them and
with no prior training get them to grow in places that no one would want
one.
So plant them in the ground with some moisture and anywhere you don't want a
hazel nut tree. Like under trees and in shady areas...no sun.
Think like a squirrel...where would a squirrel hide a nut? The answer: Where
no one, especially the crows, will find it.
You will, of course, have to remember where you planted it...the squirrels
don't always and that is why they grow.
Keep it simple-just stick 'em in the ground in a shady spot...and then try
and remember where....! The ones you forget will remind you when they start
to grow.
Or...find someone who has a hazel nut tree...he/she will probably be willing
to give you some little trees already growing...planted by? The squirrels!
Gary

In article , Gary
writes
On 1/15/05 8:01 AM, in article ,
"gray" wrote:

I'm looking for advice on the best way to grow hazel nuts from seed.

Do I nick the side of the seed, or crack the shells, rub with
sandpaper, or leave as they are and wait for nature and the mice ???
To get a hazel nut to grow you must give them to the squirrels...they don't
have sand paper or any other tools that I am aware of.

Apart from chisel sharp and very strong teeth ...

--
Kay
"Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river"