Hazelnuts have a long history in Ireland. Also known as cobnuts or filberts, hazelnuts are the country’s only widely cultivated nut tree. While hazelnuts grow wild across Ireland, cultivating them in gardens and small farms can produce bigger, tastier nuts. With the right variety choices and care, it’s possible to successfully grow hazelnuts in many parts of the country.
A Little History
The common hazelnut (Corylus avellana) is native to Ireland Hazel trees proliferated after the last Ice Age about 8,000-11,000 years ago At one point, hazel was the dominant forest species before later being overtaken by beech trees.
Wild hazelnuts have been an important food source for humans in Ireland for thousands of years Remains of hazelnuts have been found at Mesolithic sites, indicating their consumption by some of Ireland’s earliest settlers
Beyond providing sustenance hazelnuts also feature prominently in Irish folklore mythology, and poetry. The strong cultural connection to hazelnuts in Ireland spans millennia.
Even today, foraging for wild hazelnuts in autumn remains a beloved annual tradition for many. The hazelnut’s deep roots in Ireland’s history and landscape make it a meaningful nut tree to cultivate.
Best Varieties for Ireland’s Climate
While wild hazel bushes grow abundantly across Ireland, several varieties have been selectively bred to produce larger, tastier nuts. The following are top recommended hazelnut varieties for Ireland’s climate:
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Cosford Cob – Thin-shelled nuts with sweet flavor. Heavy yielding and an excellent pollinator.
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Webb’s Prize Cob – Renowned for large, sweet nuts. Compact tree great for small gardens.
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Hall’s Giant – Medium-sized, flavorful nuts that produce well even in difficult conditions.
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Kentish Cob – Exceptional nut flavor but light cropping. Prized ornamental catkins.
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Red Filbert – Grown for beauty. Reddish fruit and purple foliage.
Growing Conditions
Here are the ideal conditions for hazelnuts to thrive:
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Soil – Light, well-drained and moisture retentive. Neutral to alkaline pH.
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Sun – Full sun exposure to maximize fruiting.
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Weather – Sheltered location away from wind and frost.
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Pollination – Plant two types near each other for cross-pollination.
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Care – Occasional fertilizing and watering during dry periods.
Hazelnuts can grow as bushes or on short trunks depending on the variety. Provide the right conditions and you can experience the joy of growing your own hazelnuts.
Harvesting and Enjoying Homegrown Hazelnuts
Nuts mature in early autumn when husks turn yellow and start dropping from branches. Harvest promptly before squirrels steal them all!
Allow fresh hazelnuts to dry for about 3 weeks before storing in a cool, mouse-proof place. Properly dried nuts will keep for months.
The rich, sweet flavor of fresh hazelnuts can then be enjoyed all winter long. Roast or toast them to bring out their warmth and complex nuttiness. Hazelnuts also make nutritious and delicious additions to salads, baked goods, candies, and meals.
An Ideal Tree for Gardens and Beyond
With its ancient connection to Ireland, graceful form, and culinary usefulness, the hazelnut tree makes a nostalgic addition to any garden. Hazels also provide excellent wildlife habitat and can be coppiced for traditional crafts. For nut-lovers seeking to produce their own food sustainably, hazelnuts are Ireland’s top nut tree.
Frequently Asked Questions About Growing Hazelnuts in Ireland
Here are answers to some common questions about cultivating hazelnuts:
Are hazelnuts native to Ireland?
Yes, the common hazel is native and grew abundantly after the last Ice Age. Hazelnuts are one of Ireland’s most ancient foods.
What other nut trees grow in Ireland?
The common walnut and sweet chestnut can grow but hazelnut is the best suited nut tree for most of Ireland.
Where are the main hazelnut producing countries?
The top producers globally are Turkey, Italy, Spain, the USA and Greece.
How are hazelnuts harvested and used?
Nuts are hand-picked when ripe in autumn. Fresh hazelnuts can be enjoyed right away or dried and stored. Popular uses include roasting, baking, confections, salads and entrees.
Why grow hazelnuts in Ireland?
Hazelnuts connect to Ireland’s heritage. Homegrown nuts are incredibly fresh and flavorful. The trees also provide beauty and habitat for wildlife.
Conclusion
For generations, wild hazelnuts have flourished across Ireland’s landscapes. With cultivated varieties, gardens and small farms can also produce bountiful hazelnut harvests. By choosing suited cultivars and providing ideal growing conditions, it’s possible for many Irish growers to succeed with hazelnuts. In addition to yielding delicious nuts, hazel trees link to Ireland’s past while bringing beauty and nature to spaces. For all these reasons, hazelnuts deserve more attention as a crop that can enhance gardens, farms, cuisine, and culture across Ireland.
ABOUT
A native species with many uses and an ancient history. Hazel nuts are one of the foods associated with the very earliest human settlements in Ireland of Mesolithic man, who also used hazel as the strong flexible timber for his huts. Hazel bushes may be coppiced i.e. cut right back to a stump, and will re-grow. The slender timber poles that result from coppicing were used in the construction of wattle and daub, and fences. Hazel is also a traditional material in the construction of eel and lobster traps. Hazel grows as an under storey in oak and ash woodlands or as pure hazel woods. Hazel scrub woodland covers extensive areas of limestone, particularly on the Burren plateaus of north Clare and soils derived from limestone in the Glens of Antrim. It is often associated with a rich ground flora of woodland flowers. Hazel is well known for its yellow ‘lambs tail’ catkins in spring, but the nuts grow from small bud-like structures with a tuft of red – the stigma of the female flowers.
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