The hazelnut bears sweet-flavored nuts on easily maintained. relatively small trees that are 5 to 20 feet tall. The roundish tan nuts, which range about 1/2 to 3/4 inch in diameter, ripen in the early fall.

The flowers are followed by 2- to 3- inch prickly seed husks that open in the fall, each releasing two or three shiny brown 1-inch nuts. Recommended varieties are Abundance, rich brown nuts; Crane, dark red, long-lasting nuts; Kuling, dark brown nuts; Meiling, tan nuts; and Nanking, dark tan nuts. All produce large nuts and, though not widely available, are worth seeking out.

Hazelnuts live about 20 years, and when mature each tree will produce about 4 to 6 quarts of nuts annually. A moist well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0 to 6.5 is ideal. For nuts within three years, buy trees 4 to 5 feet tall. Since the flowers, which open very early in the spring, are susceptible to injury by cold and wind, plant the trees where they will be protected yet will not begin growth too early, such as on the northern slope of a hill. In Zones 4 and 5, plant hazelnuts in very early spring as soon as the ground can be worked; in Zones 6-8, plant them in the fall or winter. After new growth is well advanced during the first spring, scatter 1 pound of 10-10-10 fertilizer in a wide circle around each tree. In subsequent years gradually increase the amount by 1 pound; trees that are 15 to 20 feet tall should receive about 5 pounds of fertilizer annually.

Chinese chestnuts grow in Zones 4-8 and do best in gravelly soil with a pH of 5.5 to 6.5. For nuts within two years, buy trees 4 to 5 feet tall. Trees should be set out in the spring. Cut off all but three or four of the strongest, best-placed branches to form the skeleton of the tree; they should be spaced 6 to 12 inches apart, spread in different directions and form angles greater than 45 degrees with the trunk. Prune these branches to a length of 6 to 8 inches. In the subsequent two or three years, remove any other branches that compete with these main ones; thereafter, pruning is usually unnecessary. Chinese chestnuts do best if weeds and grass are kept away from the trunks for the first three or four years.

For a tree shape, cut off all but three or four main branches; these should be 6 to 12 inches apart, spread in different directions and form angles greater than 45 degrees with the trunk. Cut the branches back to 6 to 8 inches.

Nuts should be gathered in fall as soon as possible after they drop to the ground, before the squirrels can harvest them; sometimes it may be necessary to knock or shake the nuts from the trees. Store them in a cool, rodent-proof place until used. If shelled and then stored in an airtight container in a freezer, pecans keep for as long as two years.