How to Start Contorted Filberts From Seed

Collect filberts from the parent plant before they turn completely brown. The nuts typically mature around August. Ripened nuts fall off the plant and are usually grabbed quickly by hungry wildlife. Drop the nuts into a basin or pail of water. Remove any that float as these contain seeds that are most likely not viable. Place the seeds in a plastic, zip-lock bag and store them in the refrigerator until November.

Take the seeds out of the zip-lock bag in November and put them in a basin or pail of water to soak for four days. This helps soften the husks so the germinating plants can break through.

Soak peat moss in water and wring out as much moisture as possible. If you are using vermiculite, moisten the vermiculite but do not drench it with water. Place a layer of peat moss or vermiculite in the plastic zip-lock bag. Add the seeds in a single layer then finish filling the bag with peat moss or vermiculite.

Place the plastic bag in the refrigerator for three to four months. This is called cold stratification, which is necessary to force the seeds to emerge from their natural dormancy and germinate. Keep the vermiculite or peat moss moist but not wet during this time.

Remove the seeds from the refrigerator after the stratification period is over and check for germination. If any seeds have germinated, plant them in individual pots or seed flats. Plant ungerminated seeds in a seed flat and place the flat on a warming pad suitable for garden use. Let the seeds warm for five days.

Discard any seeds that do not germinate. Keep seedlings moist but not wet until they are several inches tall. Transplant the contorted filbert seedlings to a spot in the garden that receives full to partial sun daily and has well-drained soil.