Autumn is the time of the hazelnut harvest. Now the delicious nuts turn brown and fall to the ground by themselves as soon as they are ripe. Tips for harvesting and storing hazelnuts.
When does the harvest season start?
Harvest time begins in September or October, depending on the weather.
Hazelnuts are ripe when they have turned their typical brown color and fall to the ground by themselves. Do not pick the nuts but be patient until they are on the ground.
If you can't wait the time, shake the branches of the hazelnut tree, then the ripe nuts will fall down.
Dry after harvest
In order for the nuts to be stored well, they must be dried. Only select solid nuts in the shell. The shell must not be cracked, torn or perforated.
- Use whole shelled nuts
- rub off dirt
- dry nuts
- Store in a dry place
Consume hazelnuts with a damaged shell immediately. They taste best when the shelled nuts are roasted in the oven.
Squirrels are often faster
Squirrels and magpies love hazelnuts, even if they are not quite ripe yet. They pick the green nuts directly from the hazelnut bush.
Hazelnut trees or hazelnut hedges carrying a lot of nuts are not a problem. If only a few fruits are hanging on the tree, stretch a solid net over them.
tips and tricks
Hazelnuts can be preserved for a long time by waking them up in jars. To do this, the shelled nuts are placed in a clean mason jar. The jar, sealed airtight, goes into the oven for half an hour. The nuts will keep in it for up to a year.
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