How to grow Hazelnut in Australia
A cool-climate nut for Tasmania, the Victorian ranges and tablelands. Plant at least two different varieties for pollination; they crop as a bush or small tree.
At a glance
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Sun: Full sun
- Water: 15 litres a week, watered every 4 days
- Spacing: 400 cm
- Time to harvest: 1095 days (about 3 years)
- Time to germinate: 1 days
- Soil pH: 6 to 7
- Frost tolerance: Frost hardy
When to sow by region
| Region | When to sow | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| South East Queensland | Not suited | Not viable in SEQ. Needs long cold winters and mild summers. |
| Northern Rivers NSW | Not suited | Not viable. Hazelnuts need long cold winters and mild summers. Too warm and humid here. |
| Sydney & Coastal NSW | Not suited | Not reliable on the coast. Needs cold winters and mild summers; the upper Blue Mountains is the nearest district that suits it. |
| Melbourne & Victoria | June to August | |
| Adelaide & SA | June to August | |
| Perth & WA | Not suited | Not reliable on the coastal plain. Too little chill and too much summer heat. Only the cooler south west suits it. |
| Tasmania | June to August | |
| Canberra & ACT | June to August | |
| North Queensland | Not suited | Not viable. Hazelnuts need long cold winters. Impossible in the tropics. |
| Darwin & Top End | Not suited | Not viable. Hazelnuts need long cold winters. Impossible in the Top End. |
Harvest and storage
Storage
Dry in shell, keeps for months.