Hazelnuts

Timing for Growing Hazels from Seed

To stratify - how long should the stratification period be? Right now, the nuts are still moist. How much time do we have before they start drying out? Right now, they are in the plastic bags. The main question is timing - depending on when we begin the stratification process, we will need to plant the nuts X days from time of stratification? The key here is that we are ready with supplies for the planting. And we plan on visiting you Feb. 15 for a seeding lesson.

Disclaimer: These are NOT to be shared publicly, because it will incite scorn from the clueless:

1. don't dry seed, at all, if possible.
2. remember they MUST have oxygen; they're alive
3. no amount of wet will hurt them; they would make good fish; if there is oxygen in the water
4. I prefer, GREATLY, to put all seed to soak - until it all sinks - before placing into cool-wet stratification. Helps make germination uniform, corrects any accidental drying as much as possible. Change water in the soaking tank twice a day, at least - be sure it is totally drained, or pockets of undrained seed may drift anaerobic - and rot. Once a lot is mostly sinking, or after a week if it is one of the variants that will never sink due to airspace in the hybrid nut assemblage- it can be put into stratification.
5. Stratify: between 34 and 42 ° F - very strictly; no drying allowed in stratificaion. Hours spent outside those limits will delay seed germination. Oxygen necessary. Refrigerators are lousy for this. 120% Mouse-proof conditions - no kidding.
6. Timing - a few nuts will actually germinate during the soak, pre- stratification. If I had the ability, I'd grow those out for genetics. Big problem - they need artificial light in order to survive winter; germinating in October means they grow into decreasing light - and shut down- and die. If you've got growing lights, put them into at least 14 hrs of light daily, and they should make it.

Stratifying

Proposal:

For stratification, I am thinking of a 55 gallon drum with tight lid, 1/2" holes on the bottom, with 1/4" metal mesh for mouse proofing. Put some compost medium in there. Put the nuts in plastic bags, and leave the bags open. Cover with more compost. Point is to retain moisture, track nuts by ID# with baggie, and buffer from freezing. If kept outside, put heavy straw around so it doesn't go below zero in the drum.

Suggestion:

Not too bad, but it will need more air than it can get through the bottom. Yes, it's a problem, but needs addressing. Bags - don't leave them open, make about 25 DIAGONAL slashes in each baggie by perforating with a paring knife; so about 1 to 1.5" long. We stab about 6 at a time, into a stryofoam board, for complete penetration.