Filbert Kentish Cob

Actually a filbert rather than a cob, Corylus maxima Kentish Cob is a compact cultivar of the deciduous native hazel tree. The nuts have a particularly fine flavour, and the dangling yellow male catkins are a lovely sight in late winter. It’s compact for a hazel, with a bushy habit, rather slow growing and not the heaviest cropper. It’s partially self-fertile, but will crop better if grown with a different hazel cultivar, unless wild hazel is growing close by. For the best nuts, prune it to form an open goblet-shaped bush on a single stem, and remove any suckers. If squirrels are a problem, pick the nuts at once; dry them indoors on trays in a warm place for three weeks. Hazelnut Kentish Cob holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit.

Site: Sheltered or exposed
Soil: Any well-drained soil, preferably alkaline, humus-rich and not too fertile
Position: Full sun or partial shade
Pick: In autumn as soon as the husks have turned yellow
Keep: Will keep through the winter if properly dried
Hardiness: Very hardy
Pollination: Wind pollinated
Uses: Eating fresh and dried

Learn more about how to choose and grow hazelnuts and other nuts in our advice section and on our resources page.