22nd January 2016

Department: Fruit

Went over soft fruits again. Did some tying back of outdoor vines and pruned cobnut and filbert trees. Again see last year's masterclass about soft fruits etc. Post has been renewed with this years notes added to it.

Cobnuts and filberts both Corylus/ Hazel - the difference is the husk (papery casing) of the former is short and the note is still exposed, whilst the husk of filberts are long and covers the nut completely - it is of course confusing that C. maxima 'Kentish Cob' is actually a filbert!

Photo 1: Lightly pruning Corylus maxima 'Kentish Cob'

They don't need to be so openly pruned. They are part understorey plant so can tolerate some shade. Like sweetcorn you have to plant them in blocks to enable pollination. A Corylus allowed to grow to a tree can get very quite big.

Photo 2: Seed pod of a more ornamental hazel - the Turkish Corylus columa.