Harvesting and storing fresh walnuts and hazelnuts from the garden: everything you need to know

The long-awaited harvest of walnuts and hazelnuts is in full swing. How to harvest them, dry them and store them to enjoy their flavors and benefits for many months? All our advice.

The off-season is the perfect time to picking hazelnuts and harvesting walnuts in the orchard. How to proceed with their harvesting and conservation, in order to avoid the development of mold and other problems inherent to their storage? We take stock.

How to dry fresh hazelnuts?

Depending on the varieties, Hazelnuts are harvested from August to November. The early varieties, whose fruits can be enjoyed from August, are the ‘Aveline de Piémont’, the ‘Butler’ hazelnuts, the ‘Géant de Halle’ and the ‘Kentish Cob’ hazelnuts. The seasonal varieties, which are generally harvested from September to October, are the following: ‘Bergeri’, ‘Fertile de Coutard’, ‘Nottingham’ and ‘Web’s prize Cob’. Finally, the late-ripening hazelnuts, which are harvested at the end of October and during November, are the ‘Merveille de Bolwiller’ and ‘Ferwiller’ hazelnuts.

When to pick hazelnuts?

How do you know when to pick them? As soon as the hazelnuts take on their pretty brown color and begin to fall to the ground. At the end of autumn, the involucres that protect the hazelnuts dry out and shrink. This is why they end up on the ground or come off very easily, with a simple push. It is then necessary not to delay in picking them up, in order to avoid any contamination.

Can we eat fresh hazelnuts?

Hazelnuts can be eaten freshly picked or collected from the ground, as long as they are sufficiently ripe. The hazelnut, which can be enjoyed both fresh and driedwill keep much better if you follow a few storage tips.

How to store fresh hazelnuts from the garden for months: what to remember to do

To enjoy your hazelnut harvest for several months without their flavor changing, it is better not to remove them from their shell, which contributes largely to their protection. On the other hand, take care to remove the involucrewhich risks becoming moldy; mold which could then spread to the fruit.

The hazelnuts thus freed from their involucres must be stored in open crates, baskets or bins, in a cool place, in a sufficiently ventilated place and protected from rodents who love them. Ventilation is importantthis is why you should remember to stir the hazelnuts regularly. Stored in this way, the hazelnuts will dry without any problems and you will be able to enjoy their virtues and their subtle flavor for many weeks.

Remember: ventilation is essential for optimal preservation of hazelnuts, as is the removal of their involucre.

Tips to know if a hazelnut is good:

• To know if a hazelnut will be good, shake it when it is fresh. If you don’t hear anything, so much the better! In fact, if the kernel taps on the walls of the fruit shell, it means that the hazelnut is “aborted”.
• When dry, the hazelnut shell should be very shiny, have a nice brown color and be free of cracks or holes, even small ones.

Also read: Hazelnuts, treasures under the shell

How to store nuts after harvest?

Nuts are also harvested in the fall and to make the most of their delicious flavor and their very interesting nutritional benefits, there are also some tips to follow.

Knowing When Nuts Are Ripe

Depending on their varieties, but also on the regions where they are grown, Walnuts are generally harvested from September to November. How do you know when they are ripe? As soon as they start to fall to the ground. The husk then turns brown, splits and drops the fruit in its shell to the ground. Quickly pick up nuts from the groundin order to protect them from any contamination.

If you harvest fresh nuts before they are ripe, that is, when the husk is still completely closed on the fruit, consume them quickly after removing them from their shell.

Storing nuts for several months: what to do

Only so-called dry nutsthat is to say those whose husk, having turned brown, has split to allow the fruit to fall to the ground, can be kept for several months. Preferably store them in an open crate, basket or basket, again to allow air to circulate properly. Preferably choose a room that is relatively cool and sufficiently ventilated, making sure that the nuts are inaccessible to rodents who could well decimate them. Remember, just like hazelnuts, to regularly stir your stock of nuts for better aeration.

Stored in this way, you can enjoy your nuts for many months, breaking their shells to release the kernel, rich in vitamins E, B3, B5, B6, but also in potassium, magnesium, phosphorus and fiber!

Also read: Benefits of nuts: nuts, good for the heart!

In summary, to best preserve fresh walnuts and hazelnuts from the gardenprefer to store them in an open container, placed in a ventilated and cool room, protected from rodents. Also remember to stir your harvests from time to time, to benefit from their benefits until the next harvests.

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