New hazelnut variety
Lara, due to its size and early fruit ripening, is a good variety for the fresh hazelnut market. Its size is also very interesting for the market where hazelnuts are sold in dry shells. Thanks to lateral branching and high yield, this variety is very interesting if planted in orchards as espalier.
FRUIT
Large nut, 75% of nuts have a diameter greater than 34 mm, spherical shape with a relatively flat base. Shell is thin but strong, regularly ridged and somewhat warty. Kernel is usually white, but less light than the Franket kernel. The fruit represents on average 45% — 50% of the total nut weight, however it is sensitive to annual fluctuations. Lara kernel has a weak aroma and delicate flavor.
PRODUCTION
Due to fruit formation on lateral branches, fruiting occurs quickly — 4 — 5 years. Production potential is high and averages 4.5 tons/ha of dry nuts.
Lara Pierrel — TREE
Energy: medium in maturity
Habit: semi-raised to raised
Fruit type III: on lateral branches, fruits are arranged along the branches. Flowering period — relatively early: first fifteen days of April or 10 days before Franket.
Protet, a variety with male flowering in late April and female flowering in early-mid May.
PLANTING DISTANCE
Lara is well adapted to the espalier system for fruit trees, 8 meters between rows and 3.5 — 4 meters within rows. This structure appears as a solid row wall.
This method allows rationalizing branch pruning operations, which, in turn, are mechanical using knives. Kernel pollination is anemophilous, it is necessary to use pollinating varieties such as Ferret, Franket and Rond de Montignac at a rate of 2-3 trees/ha.
PRUNING
This variety is well adapted to trunk axis formation. It ensures distribution of fruiting on secondary lateral branches along the trunk. For trunk axis formation, shoots are pruned depending on energy. Regarding lateral branches, according to experiments, it is also possible to bend fruit trees in the first years in order to accelerate fruiting on lateral branches and development of the axis.
PRUNING FOR TREE MAINTENANCE
This pruning is necessary to maintain good production quality, primarily for nut size. Thanks to pruning, light reaches the inner part of the tree, which is necessary for induction of flowering for production the next year. For Lara, it begins at 5 — 7 years or annually manually by removing inner branches, unnecessary branches or branches located too low, or mechanically using angled pruning every 3-4 years.
HARVESTING
Harvesting is the main stage for obtaining quality product. For fresh nuts with 20% moisture content, nuts must be harvested in September at optimal ripeness, cleaned from husks and washed with water. Nuts intended for sale in dried form must not be left on the ground and should be dried immediately after harvest.
STORAGE
Fresh nuts can be stored at temperatures below 4°C and humidity 90%. Dried nuts must be stored at temperatures below 10°C and humidity 70%.
