Unlike other fruiting trees, the hazelnut tree blooms and pollinates in the middle of winter. Wind carries the pollen from catkins (male flowers) to small red female flowers, where pollination occurs. The flowers remain inactive until spring, when fertilisation occurs and the nuts begin to develop.
All hazelnuts require cross-pollination in order to produce nuts, so every planting requires two or more varieties. Hazelnut trees are generally in commercial production when they are about 6 years old, and
a well managed orchard can remain active for 40 years.
The nuts mature during the summer months and are harvested in late summer and early autumn when the nuts fall to the ground within a short period.
Hazelnuts require a very well-drained, slightly acidic to neutral range soil of pH 6.0 - 7.0 to thrive. Higher pH soils are required to produce truffles in the range pH 7.5 – 8.0.
Most of a hazelnut trees roots are found in the first meter of soil, but soils must be sufficiently deep to allow active root systems to penetrate 2 - 3 meters. Root penetration can
be stopped by rock, high water tables or lack of aeration.
The truffle hazelnut trees were produced in October 2008 and inoculated in December 2008. Hence the trees were 18 months of age when planted.
Truffles thrive in dewy dark forest conditions and alkaline soils. Attention must be given to trace elements such as iron, manganese, copper, boron and zinc. Slugs and snails will attack truffles that are close to the surface and may need to be baited in autumn if necessary.
Truffles ripen and are harvested during the winter months. In the southern hemisphere, this is during the months of June, July and August.
The edible part of the truffle is botanically a fruit, containing spores. It is located up to 20 cm below ground and may weigh 500 g, but can be as
heavy as 1.2 kg.
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