How to Harvest Wild Hazelnuts
Hickory nuts, particularly those from the Shagbark and Shellbark tree varieties, are prized for their flavor and aromatic quality in baking. While they are very popular, hickory nuts are rarely available commercially and aficionados often must forage for hickory nuts in the wild. Harvesting is a very easy task, suitable for anyone with a taste for wild hickory nuts. You can harvest nuts in the fall, generally in September and October in much of the United States. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Harvest wild hickory nuts as soon they begin to fall from the tree. Nuts, unlike fruit, are not harmed or bruised by falling; the thick shell protects the meat inside.
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Pick hickory nuts up off the ground and put in a bag, sack or bucket for easy transporting.
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Shake the hickory tree lightly to encourage more nuts to drop.
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Use a long pole or stick to shake limbs that are out of reach. This will also encourage nuts that are ready to drop to fall.
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Use the pole or stick to dig around in leaves piled on the ground to uncover buried hickory nuts.
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Tips & Warnings
Hickory nuts are a favorite of squirrels, so don't delay starting your harvest as soon as the nuts begin to fall from trees.
Hulls from hickory nuts can be recycled as mulch for your garden.
