2019

This Year is a Year of Nuts

While in the woods, pay attention to the common hazel (Corylus avellana). Why? Because this year, like no other year, there will probably be a plenty of hazel nuts. Generously, since hazel trees, both old and young, are full of nuts even in shady and unpleasant places.

It seems that wherever there were the pink female inflorescence stigmas to be seen in the spring, there are now nuts enclosed by thistle leaves - there are hardly any siftings yet.

Hazelnuts are recognized as high-quality, energy-rich products for human consumption, because they contain more than 60% nut oil rich in various fatty acids, relatively high in protein, carbohydrates, various minerals, vitamins (groups E and B, and vitamins A, C, PP), as well as fibres.

Who knows when we will get the next rich hazelnut harvest?! It will not take place until at least three years later. And it is unlikely that the next good crop of nuts will be as plentiful as this year...

In August and September, people who do not question the nutritional value of nuts will probably spend most of their time in hazel tree stands. Here is a tip for nut-pickers: do not forget to leave some nuts for seed and animals!

However, the widespread insect, the hazelnut weevil, will have already eaten its share of nut harvest. Each female beetle of this species every year in late June - July, when the nuts are still "unripe" cuts through the hazelnut shell and puts one egg into the nut, from which later a weevil larvae, known as the "nut worm" hatches. At the end of summer, when the kernel of the nut is eaten and the eater has grown big, it gnaws through the nut shell, falls to the ground, and worms its way into the ground cover or soil.

This year's generous nut harvest will certainly delight the hard-working nut-pickers, such as jays, nutcrackers and, of course, squirrels, who also make their food supplies for winter. As a result, they have indirectly become the main hazelnut spreaders.