How to Grow Comtess Hazelnut
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Comtess Hazelnut
Corylus avellana 'Comtess'
shrubComtess is a hybrid hazelnut cultivar developed for improved nut production and disease resistance. It produces abundant, large hazelnuts with excellent flavor and is more compact than some traditional varieties. This deciduous shrub is valued both for its culinary nuts and ornamental qualities.
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Example Comtess Hazelnut timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Comtess Hazelnut
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
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Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
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Harvest Comtess Hazelnut
Late summer into fallBefore the first fall frost (≈ Nov 8)
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Comtess Hazelnut dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 4-8, with best performance in zones 5-7
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Get my Comtess Hazelnut timeline →Growth Stages
Establishment
Year 1-2Young shrub focuses on root development and framework growth with minimal flowering
Water regularly, apply 3-4 inch mulch layer, prune to establish open center structure, avoid fertilizer excess which promotes vegetative growth over flowering
Vegetative Growth
Year 2-4Vigorous shoot growth with increasingly dense branching; catkins begin forming toward end of stage
Thin overcrowded branches, remove crossing or inward-growing canes, maintain open center form, reduce nitrogen fertilization
Flowering & Pollination
Late winter to early springMale catkins (yellow, pendulous) elongate in late winter/early spring; female flowers (red, small) appear at branch tips
Ensure cross-pollination by planting compatible pollinizer variety nearby (e.g., 'Barcelona', 'Ennis', or other European cultivars); catkins develop in fall but open in early spring before leaf break
Nut Development & Maturation
Spring through late summer (4-5 months)Small green fruits develop in clusters within leafy husks; nuts enlarge through summer, husks turn brown and papery
Maintain consistent moisture; thin excessive clusters if desired for larger individual nuts; monitor for pests and disease
Harvest & Dormancy
Fall to winterNuts mature and drop in late fall; shrub becomes dormant over winter with bare branches
Harvest nuts promptly after dropping to prevent mold and rodent damage; clean nuts and dry thoroughly; minimal pruning needed except removing dead wood
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Remove dropped husks promptly; apply spinosad or carbaryl in late spring; resistant varieties like Comtess offer some resistance
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Collect and destroy fallen nuts with exit holes; apply botanical insecticides in summer; maintain sanitation
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Choose resistant cultivars like Comtess; prune out infected cankers 12 inches below visible damage; sterilize tools; avoid overhead irrigation
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Select resistant varieties; provide good air circulation; remove severely affected branches
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and
Harvest nuts promptly; use hardware cloth cages around base; remove alternate food sources if necessary
Uses
Table nuts and hazelnut products
CulinaryComtess hazelnuts are prized for eating fresh, roasting, and processing into hazelnut butter, oil, and chocolate spreads. The nuts have rich, sweet flavor with full kernel development. [source]
Baking and pastry applications
CulinaryThe distinctive flavor makes Comtess hazelnuts ideal for baked goods, pralines, tortes, and confections where hazelnut is a key ingredient. [source]
Nutritional and heart-health benefits
MedicinalHazelnuts are rich in monounsaturated fats, vitamin E, and antioxidants; consumption is associated with improved cardiovascular health and cholesterol profiles. [source]
Oil production and skincare
HouseholdCold-pressed hazelnut oil is used in cosmetics, skincare products, and culinary finishing applications due to its light texture and anti-inflammatory properties. [source]
Ornamental and hedging
CraftComtess hazelnuts serve as attractive landscape shrubs with interesting catkin displays in winter and productive edible harvests, making them dual-purpose for homeowners. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
Hazelnuts mature in late September through October in most regions. Nuts naturally drop when fully mature; collect daily to minimize rodent and mold damage. Nuts are ready when husks turn brown and papery. Shell should be hard and kernel inside should be tan-colored. Spread harvested nuts in single layer in warm, dry location for 2-3 weeks; nuts dry properly when kernel rattles inside shell. Store dried nuts in cool, dry conditions or shell immediately for culinary use.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Hazelnuts are among the world's oldest cultivated trees, with evidence of cultivation dating back over 8,000 years; they appear in ancient Germanic and Celtic mythology as symbols of wisdom and protection.
- 🌱 A single mature hazelnut shrub can produce 50-100 pounds of nuts annually once established, making them one of the most productive home nut crops per square foot of space.
- 🌱 The catkins of hazelnuts are among the earliest signs of spring in many temperate regions, often elongating and shedding pollen while snow still covers the ground; this unusual timing allows pollination before deciduous trees leaf out.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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