I hear you! I have 30 years into growing hazelnuts. I finally think I have the theft thing figured out. Squirrels can jump 5 feet high. I put up a 6 foot grounded chicken wire fence with an electric fence at the top. No more squirrels! But the chipmunks ran through the chicken wire without breaking stride. I figured out that they preferred corn to hazelnuts. So, every morning after mid August, I scattered corn over the garden sparse enough to make them work to find it. I do set live traps as well and "relocate" 20 or so of the little critters. When I shake the tree and a few nuts fall, they are ready for harvest. Do it too early and you get tiny or empty nuts. I bought some grafted trees from Stark Bros Nursery a few years ago, I'm impressed!
@NumberOne Yes. The greatest advantage is the high cost of nursery stock makes growing stock from seeds more attractive. Also, you might stumble onto a superior performer. You could root cuttings of these to replace poor performers. I would give every plant at least 8 years to prove themselves worthy. And I do believe there are advantages to having a variety of cultivars.
i also have alot of hazelnuts planted but so far i dont have a problem with squirrels...sooner or later i probably will have...enjoying your church of permaculture videos...keep up the good work...
I have a dozen american hazelnut seedlings starting in pots to plant out, and have several mature black walnuts across the street that hopefully occupy the squirrels
I'm considering hazelnuts to draw the squirrels away from my planned food forest. They're just working the pine cones now so we enjoy having them... but I bet they'll be a problem later when there's a buffet of fruit and veggies available. 😂
It will work for a few weeks, then you'll have to serve squirrel as the main course. I actually have black walnuts which is better timing, provides for a lot more time for them to chew through the shell, and are so prolific there is also some for me. But it'll take 10-12 years to start bearing, 20+ years to overwhelm the squirrels.
Had a bumper crop of hazel nuts in 2021. Rodents ate every last one. I saved some like you did and they never ripened. I have a dog now and she's a crazy hunter. Rodents beware in 2022.
@NumberOne The advantage is it is pretty much free growing them from seed. There are several down side. The seedlings from seed are quite variable in quality. I had some that grew real well and produced nuts in 3 years. Others are skimpy and still aren't producing nuts. Even the nut quality varies from plant to plant. I like growing them from seed but have several named varieties I bought from nurseries to compare them to. For me being way north having a few known varieties that produce pollen under cold conditions is important or I will get no nuts in bitter winter years.
So did they ripen after you picked them? How long did you dry them before they were ready? The squirrels ruin mine every year so I plan to try your method Fall 2023
Some will be empty, but yes they ripened. They actually are alright unripe. I thought, like obviously if the squirrels are grabbing them they must be good.
Like when we pay attention to when the jays and squirrels start eating the hazelnuts- we know the hazelnuts are ripe- the Squirrels know: when you go fishing- it's time to Gather the hazelnuts. But this does not feel like a symbiotic relationship for some reason. I fell your pain- with almost all I grow.
Squirrels and wildlife aren't a big deal. It's the hoomans that are dangerous and the problem. Lots of hooman hunting coming to a reality near you soon.
@@unseenseer No big deal. I will die with a full stomach in defense of something real. Those who kill me for food will go back to being hungry as soon as the food is gone.
Oh my goodness. Have you caught any birds with that, or just squirrels? I lost almost my entire hazelnut harvest from my garden last Autumn. I had to go out in the woods and steal the squirrel's supply instead. The rat trap sounds such a comically bold idea, but I wouldn't want to hurt a bird.
I hear you! I have 30 years into growing hazelnuts. I finally think I have the theft thing figured out. Squirrels can jump 5 feet high. I put up a 6 foot grounded chicken wire fence with an electric fence at the top. No more squirrels! But the chipmunks ran through the chicken wire without breaking stride. I figured out that they preferred corn to hazelnuts. So, every morning after mid August, I scattered corn over the garden sparse enough to make them work to find it. I do set live traps as well and "relocate" 20 or so of the little critters. When I shake the tree and a few nuts fall, they are ready for harvest. Do it too early and you get tiny or empty nuts. I bought some grafted trees from Stark Bros Nursery a few years ago, I'm impressed!
Thanks for the ideas!
@NumberOne Yes. The greatest advantage is the high cost of nursery stock makes growing stock from seeds more attractive. Also, you might stumble onto a superior performer. You could root cuttings of these to replace poor performers. I would give every plant at least 8 years to prove themselves worthy. And I do believe there are advantages to having a variety of cultivars.
@NumberOne Depends on where and the purpose.
i also have alot of hazelnuts planted but so far i dont have a problem with squirrels...sooner or later i probably will have...enjoying your church of permaculture videos...keep up the good work...
Thank you!
I have a dozen american hazelnut seedlings starting in pots to plant out, and have several mature black walnuts across the street that hopefully occupy the squirrels
I'm considering hazelnuts to draw the squirrels away from my planned food forest. They're just working the pine cones now so we enjoy having them... but I bet they'll be a problem later when there's a buffet of fruit and veggies available. 😂
It will work for a few weeks, then you'll have to serve squirrel as the main course. I actually have black walnuts which is better timing, provides for a lot more time for them to chew through the shell, and are so prolific there is also some for me. But it'll take 10-12 years to start bearing, 20+ years to overwhelm the squirrels.
You think hanging your squirrel skeletons around might help ward them off?
What a nice comfortable idea.
Had a bumper crop of hazel nuts in 2021. Rodents ate every last one. I saved some like you did and they never ripened. I have a dog now and she's a crazy hunter. Rodents beware in 2022.
@NumberOne The advantage is it is pretty much free growing them from seed. There are several down side. The seedlings from seed are quite variable in quality. I had some that grew real well and produced nuts in 3 years. Others are skimpy and still aren't producing nuts. Even the nut quality varies from plant to plant. I like growing them from seed but have several named varieties I bought from nurseries to compare them to. For me being way north having a few known varieties that produce pollen under cold conditions is important or I will get no nuts in bitter winter years.
So did they ripen after you picked them? How long did you dry them before they were ready? The squirrels ruin mine every year so I plan to try your method Fall 2023
Some will be empty, but yes they ripened. They actually are alright unripe. I thought, like obviously if the squirrels are grabbing them they must be good.
How old are your bushes that are producing?
They started at 5 years. They are 10 now.
i eat both the squirrels and the nuts. Everything is great!
Alright! The key to harvesting more nits is to eat more squirrel!
Like when we pay attention to when the jays and squirrels start eating the hazelnuts- we know the hazelnuts are ripe-
the Squirrels know: when you go fishing- it's time to Gather the hazelnuts. But this does not feel like a symbiotic relationship for some reason.
I fell your pain- with almost all I grow.
I'm not worried about the hazelnuts necessarily, that I have them is enough. When everyone else is eating bugs I'll be eating squirrel. Hahahahaha!
when everyone is starving you better hope your land is far enough away b/c the hoomans will be coming for you
Squirrels and wildlife aren't a big deal. It's the hoomans that are dangerous and the problem. Lots of hooman hunting coming to a reality near you soon.
@@unseenseer Squirrels are a meat resource.
@@unseenseer No big deal. I will die with a full stomach in defense of something real. Those who kill me for food will go back to being hungry as soon as the food is gone.
Crows enjoy fresh squirrel meat.
Good to know!
Are you in WI? I want to plant some for deer.
Yes. Good choice.
Look at the property next door??!! Could we have been permaculture neighbors? Hahaha
The thought has occurred to me. One year I had a peach full of fruit and the day I was going to pock they were all gone.
This old trick works if nothing else has, rat trap with peanut butter stapped to the trunk, 8-9 feet up the tree.
Thank you for the idea!
Oh my goodness. Have you caught any birds with that, or just squirrels?
I lost almost my entire hazelnut harvest from my garden last Autumn. I had to go out in the woods and steal the squirrel's supply instead.
The rat trap sounds such a comically bold idea, but I wouldn't want to hurt a bird.
8:20 with some headphones, had me looking around like "What the hell??"
OOppss!
did they ripen?
Yes but a lot were blank.
But don’t squirrels bury nuts? Is seems that they may actually be helping you by planting more hazelnut bushes😊
Oh yes. I've been transplanting seedlings even. Excellent observation thanks.
I want to plant an Italian hazelnut tree
Burnt Ridge has some.
How many bushel of squirrels can you harvest? Half kidding
hahahaha!
Always wear your good shirt to (Permaculture)Church!
Ha!
Get a fake owl.
or farm cats
They're not thieves
Hmmm. No, they are just hungry I suppose. Well, they aren't that hungry any more!