· Peak hazelnuttreepollination occurs from January through February, depending upon weather conditions. During pollination of hazelnuts, the female is a brilliant red feathery tuft of stigmatic styles poking out from the bud scales. There are a number of issues that must line up to make a good match for pollinizinghazelnuts. Timing of the pollen shed to coordinate with the timing of the bloom is vital. Compatible alleles between varieties is the other very important aspect of pollinization. Hazelnut trees are wind pollinated, and there must be a compatible pollinizer variety for effective pollination. Additionally, the time of bloom for male and female flowers is important because receptivity of the female flowers must overlap with the time of pollen shed. · Peak hazelnut tree pollination occurs from January through February, depending on the weather. During pollination, pollen from the male catkins is carried by the wind to the female flowers. Once the pollen reaches the stigma of the female flower, it germinates and grows a pollen tube down the style. · While hazelnut trees are technically self-pollinating, they are only partially self-fertile. This implies that while one tree can pollinate itself to some extent, the quantity and quality of the nuts will be far higher if cross-pollination occurs. · Hazelnut trees rely on wind pollination (anemophily), and most varieties are self-incompatible, requiring cross-pollination from different varieties to set fruit. The female flowers are unique as they do not have a fully developed ovary at the time of pollination. · This guide will walk you through everything you need to know, from the fascinating science behind hazelnutpollination to practical steps for choosing the right pollinator partner.
