I planted two hazelnut trees in my orchard about 12 years ago. They never bear any nuts. One tree has a few catkins and the other has none. I believe I have a female and a male. Can anyone tell me how I can get these trees to produce nuts?
Hazels are monoecious, with both male and female catkins on the same plant, but they are also largely self-incompatible and need as Ron says to cross-pollinate with another genetically distinct individual. If your two plants are of the same named cultivar, they are of course genetically identical, and can't pollinate each other. If so, then look out for some different cultivars to plant. Other potential problems include immaturity (your plants may not be old enough to be flowering well yet), frost damage at pollination, and insects, squirrels, birds, etc., destroying the nuts before they are mature.
