Starting hazel nut trees, from the nut.

by Gerald Capps
(Rapid City, S. Dakota)

Does one have to score the shell?
Do you have to soak them? How long?
I live in Rapid City South Dakota, is there any special requirements I need to know?
I was going to buy the nuts at Safeway as this is nut season. Would this be a problem?

Doug says that the plant in question is probably the Common Hazel (Coryllus avellana) a native to Western Europe. The questions is whether this tree is going to be hardy in S. Dakota given that the majority of commercial production is in fairly warm areas (Oregon up to British Columbia).

It's worth a try though.

Normally nut trees are easier started with fresh nuts so they haven't dried out. Nuts from the store are usually dried out and won't germinate. You could try (just cover them in a pot of soil and keep warm/damp) because they are fairly easy to germinate if fresh. Just don't hold your breath on these store-bought nuts.

Good luck