Nuts· Corylus avellana

Hazelnut Growing Guide

Deciduous shrub or small tree widely cultivated in temperate regions for confectionery-grade nuts. Turkey produces over 70% of the world supply. Key ingredient in chocolate products.

How Long Does Hazelnut Take to Grow?

Hazelnut typically reaches its first harvest about 4 years after planting.

1460

Days to Harvest

1,000

kg in-shell/hectare

moderate

Water Needs

full sun

Sun Needs

FAO. 2025. FAOSTAT: Production: Crops and livestock products. Accessed on 13 October 2026. https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QCL Licence: CC-BY-4.0.

Growing Conditions

Temperature

12-25°C optimal

Rainfall

600-1200 mm/year

Frost Tolerance

high

Drought Tolerance

moderate

Humidity

moderate tolerance

Heat Tolerance

low

Soil Requirements

Soil Type & pH

Best soil types: loam, silt loam, well-drained

pH range: 6 - 6.5 (optimal: 6.3)

Drainage: good

Nutrient Needs (N-P-K)

Nitrogen (N)moderate

Phosphorus (P)moderate

Potassium (K)moderate

Planting Guide

Planting Methods

layering, grafted seedlings

Planting Depth

10 cm

Plant Spacing

500 cm apart, 600 cm rows

Planting Season

fall, winter

Yield & Economics

Yield Range

250 - 3,000 kg in-shell/ha

Market Demand

growing

Profitability

high

Common Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

filbert worm
hazelnut weevil
big bud mite

Common Diseases

eastern filbert blight
bacterial blight
powdery mildew

Use AI crop disease detection to identify issues early and prevent crop losses.

Growing Tips

Hazelnuts bloom in mid-winter (January-February) on bare branches; cold but frost-free winters are ideal for pollination success.

Plant multiple pollinizer varieties — hazelnuts have a unique incompatibility system and specific varieties must be matched for successful pollination.

Manage suckers aggressively; hazelnuts naturally grow as multi-stemmed shrubs, but commercial orchards train to single-trunk tree form for mechanized harvest.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does Hazelnut take to grow?

Hazelnut typically takes about 4 years from planting to first harvest. Seeds germinate in about 90 days. The best planting season is fall, winter.

What soil does Hazelnut need?

Hazelnut grows best in loam, silt loam, well-drained soil with a pH of 6-6.5. Good drainage is required.

What temperature does Hazelnut need?

Hazelnut grows best at 12-25°C. Frost tolerance: high. Heat tolerance: low.

What is the expected yield for Hazelnut?

Across 33 countries with grounded data, reported national yields for Hazelnut range from 250 to 3,000 kg in-shell/hectare, with a median of 1,000. These are national statistics, not a best-case figure — an individual farm's yield depends on variety, climate, soil and management.