When to plant hazelnut trees in Hood River, OR

Plant hazelnut trees in Hood River Mar 20 – May 15.

Easy Plant bare-root or potted trees

Difficulty: Easy
Sun: Full sun
Spacing: 15 to 20 feet apart
Planting depth: Same depth as in the nursery
Frost: Hardy perennial; comes back every year
First harvest: First nuts in three to five years

Why these dates

Hood River's typical last spring frost is April 20. As a hardy perennial, this crop doesn't need to wait for that date. In the Columbia Basin and low eastern valleys, though, the soil usually isn't ready to work until about March 20.

Columbia Basin and low eastern valleys. Hot, dry summers and quick spring warm-up. Warm crops go in earlier than west of the Cascades, and irrigation matters more than rain.

How to grow hazelnut trees in Hood River

Pick a sunny spot with soil that drains well, and mix in an inch or two of compost.
Plant hazelnut trees Mar 20 – May 15, 15 to 20 feet apart. Same depth as in the nursery.
Plant at least two compatible varieties for pollination. Water through the first two summers, and pull suckers from the base each year if you want a tree rather than a bush.
Harvest: Nuts drop on their own from late August to October. Rake them up every few days, before squirrels and jays do, and dry them for a couple of weeks.

Key numbers

3–5Years to nuts
Two compatible typesPollination
Midwinter, by windBloom time
Eastern filbert blightBiggest risk

Growing notes

What makes the difference in Northwest gardens, in plain language.

Pollination and variety choice

Hazelnuts bloom in midwinter, long before most plants wake up. The long, dangling catkins are the male flowers, and the female flowers are tiny red tufts on the buds. Pollen moves by wind, not bees, and a tree can't pollinate itself, so you need at least two compatible varieties within about 50 feet.

Jefferson, Yamhill and McDonald resist eastern filbert blight, the disease that wiped out many older Northwest orchards. Theta is often planted as a pollinizer alongside them. Ask the nursery which varieties pair well, since compatibility depends on the specific types.

Eastern filbert blight

This fungus spreads by spores in wet spring weather and causes rows of black, football-shaped bumps along branches. Over a few years it girdles and kills limbs, and eventually whole trees. Older varieties like Barcelona are very susceptible, which is why blight-resistant varieties are the only sensible choice for new plantings.

If you see cankers on an older tree, cut the branch off in dry weather several feet below the visible damage and burn or bag it.

Bush or tree, and harvest

Hazelnuts naturally grow as multi-stemmed bushes. If you want a single-trunk tree that's easier to rake under, pull suckers from the base every year. The Northwest also has a native beaked hazelnut, which grows wild in woods west of the Cascades and makes a good wildlife shrub.

Nuts drop from late August to October. Rake them up every few days before squirrels and jays get them, then spread them in a single layer somewhere dry and airy for a couple of weeks, until the kernels snap cleanly.

Common questions

When is the last frost in Hood River, OR?

Typically April 20. In 9 years out of 10, frost is over by May 9. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for Hood River.

Is it too late to plant hazelnut trees in Hood River?

The spring planting window runs through May 15. Potted plants can still go in later if you water them faithfully through their first summer.

How long until I can pick hazelnut trees?

First nuts in three to five years. Nuts drop on their own from late August to October. Rake them up every few days, before squirrels and jays do, and dry them for a couple of weeks.

Do I need two hazelnut trees?

Yes. Hazelnuts can't pollinate themselves, so plant at least two compatible varieties, such as Jefferson with Yamhill or Theta. They should be within about 50 feet of each other.

Are filberts and hazelnuts the same thing?

Yes. Filbert is the older name used by many Northwest growers, and hazelnut is the common name elsewhere. They're the same nut.

How do I keep squirrels from taking my hazelnuts?

Pick up fallen nuts every few days during harvest so squirrels and jays don't get to them first. Spreading a tarp under the tree makes gathering faster.

Also plant in Hood River around the same time

Planting dates for hazelnut trees in nearby areas

Baker City, OR Apr 20 – Jun 15
Pendleton, OR Mar 20 – May 15
The Dalles, OR Mar 20 – May 15
Hermiston, OR Mar 20 – May 15
Ontario, OR Mar 20 – May 15
La Grande, OR Apr 1 – May 27

Full planting calendar for Hood River · Hazelnut trees in every city