londoneye Posted July 21, 2006 Share Posted July 21, 2006 I am informed that i have a hazel nut tree in my garden (anyone who has read my previous postings about trees in my garden will know that i am woefully ignorant about them, so am trusting my 'source' on this one!). Does anyone know anything i can do with them at all ? I have visions of hazelnuts at christmas - looking something similar to those wonderful packs i used to buy from M&S (in the days when i could a. find one, and b. afford them!) would be grateful for any thoughts - assume they won't be 'ready' (not sure if ripe is right word for nuts?) until september or so ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saddie Posted July 21, 2006 Share Posted July 21, 2006 We have two hazels with reddish leaves in our garden.The nuts won't be ripe until September. However, the squirrels like their nuts a bit underripe and are currently sitting in the trees chomping away. They left us non at all last year ditto the walnuts! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
londoneye Posted July 21, 2006 Author Share Posted July 21, 2006 oh no - i am about to race down the field now to see how mine are doing as i havent looked for a couple of weeks!ideas still welcome in case i save any! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cassis Posted July 21, 2006 Share Posted July 21, 2006 If you've got a big squirrel population the only way to beat them is to pick them before they get to them.We've got two red hazelnuts and three green - one's a whopping 10 metres high and almost the same across. Because we don't have a big squirrel problem we can wait for them to drop naturally (our squirrels stay in the forest where they belong). They're very nice but I hate having to crack them. Can you get a machine to do it better than nutcrackers? Same goes for walnuts - only problem being half drop in the mayor's car park as the tree is about 15-20 metres high and the same across and is on the boundary. But come harvest time Jude goes out every other morning and beats the tree with a long pole to make them drop so she can at least pick the lowest branches before others get to them. Again, because they are fully ripe they drop without the soft outer coat (hulm?) on ours. But if you have to peel that coat off the nut case, beware - it turns your hands purple-black. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
londoneye Posted July 21, 2006 Author Share Posted July 21, 2006 ok -phew been down the field and all nuts seem to be intact, therefore deduce no large squirrel population here (probably scared off by neighbours - heh heh). Not sure what kind of hazelnut it is - being very naive (again!) leaves are green and hazelnuts are green at moment. I had a hazy idea i should be stuffing them in the oven (perhaps i am thinking conkers here!) but gather this is not the case. so i just pick up off floor what squirrels dont want and go for it ? Is that right? Or beat them down alternatively (!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cassis Posted July 21, 2006 Share Posted July 21, 2006 We wait until they start to fall of their own accord, pick them off the ground and they are ready to shell. We also pick the rest of the bush about the same time if they come away easily. If not we wait a few days and revisit. Don't put in the oven to dry, but if they are a bit 'green' leave them to dry in the sun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
londoneye Posted July 21, 2006 Author Share Posted July 21, 2006 thank you - i will try to wrap them to make them look like M&S packets for christmas also!much appreciated Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony F Dordogne Posted July 22, 2006 Share Posted July 22, 2006 If you want to do something creative with them and as they will be ready about the same time as walnuts, shell them, put the kernels into a jar (hazelnut and undried walnuts while they are still creamy) and top the jar up with acacia honey.Great with cheese and as smart Xmas pressies - if you shop around you can get large tubs of honey from your local apiarist at much cheaper prices and can undercut the local posh food places prices substantially - nuts in honey round here are 8/9 euros a jar! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
londoneye Posted July 22, 2006 Author Share Posted July 22, 2006 that sounds good - i will try - unfortunately lost walnut tree in a storm so no walnuts to be expected but i am sure my neighbours have plenty - i shall start to mention my love of walnuts soon so they recall in good time! (Dont worry i am not being nasty, i shall ensure i return favour with other things) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chauffour Posted July 23, 2006 Share Posted July 23, 2006 we pick them up end of September, get them out of the shell, roast a bit in a frying pan (no oil) put tem in jar with honey and a bit of cognac or wisky... an the same with roasted chestnuts, fantastico! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cassis Posted July 23, 2006 Share Posted July 23, 2006 What do you use them for after that, Chauffour? are they a sticky fingered apero? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chauffour Posted July 24, 2006 Share Posted July 24, 2006 ...as an after dinner treat, or in top of my homemade gelato.. just before my homemade limoncello... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cassis Posted July 24, 2006 Share Posted July 24, 2006 I like the sound of them on ice cream, especially in this weather. Must try it. Have you seen the other thread where someone (Cathy, actually!) has stained their fingers walnut black? What a coincidence (see earlier post here)! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miggimeggi Posted July 25, 2006 Share Posted July 25, 2006 I thought that you may find some ideas on this link. http://oregonhazelnuts.org/recipes.htm Hazelnuts must be one of my favourite nuts - I used to collect them wild when I was a kid on the Isle of Man too many years ago.RegardsAnne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chocolate Posted July 26, 2006 Share Posted July 26, 2006 We too have hazelnut bushes/trees. They are purple-leaved and very bushy. About 4 meters high. they were planted a long time ago by previous owners and have not been pruned or cut from day one we think. The problem is that last year we were told to leave the nuts until September but by then they had all dropped, full of worms, or had been eaten by squirrels by late August.They look very ready now with brittle papery dark brown/black frilly covers and well-formed nuts. Is this due to the scorching weather? Do I trust all will be well? Or do I pick as many as seem adult and dry them(not really needed at the moment!) in the sun. I can see a repeat of last year coming up with no harvest at all.They stand as individual plants in open spaces on cut/mown grassland, very exposed to the sun. Advice needed please. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cassis Posted July 26, 2006 Share Posted July 26, 2006 If the nuts are formed, hard and turning brown and the leafy bit around the top of the cluster is dry, you can pick them and leave them to finish drying in the sun. They are fully ripe when they part easily from the leafy bit around the top of the cluster of nuts. What is the name of that bit, anyone? I used to know but I've forgotten. Is it the haulm? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pads Posted July 26, 2006 Share Posted July 26, 2006 Re the name of the husk isnt it a involucre? a haulm is the top bit of peas and beans isnt it? I may be wrong but i think im right[8-)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
londoneye Posted July 26, 2006 Author Share Posted July 26, 2006 many thank i will look at this site. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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