Cobnut Tonda di Giffoni An Italian cultivar of common hazel, Corylus avellana Tonda di Giffoni is a moderately vigorous, deciduous shrub or small tree, with a branching, upright habit, reaching 10’x10’/3x3m in 10-20 years. It crops abundantly and early in the life of the tree The nuts are large and oval, covered with green husks, and have an excellent, sweet flavour. The large, slightly serrated leaves are mid-green, turning yellow in autumn. In February and March, the very long, yellow, male catkins and tiny red female flowers appear before the leaves, and can be vulnerable to frosts. The nuts can be picked from September – pick daily, or the squirrels will get them. Fruits better with a pollination partner, such as Gunslebert or Butler. Site: Sheltered, warm, sunny siteSoil: Light, well-drained, alkaline soil, not too fertilePosition: Full sun or partial shadePick: SeptemberKeep: Nuts keep until New YearHardiness: Fully hardy, but flowers may need frost protectionPollination: Partially self-fertile, but fruits better with a pollination partnerUses: Eating, roasted, oil, and hazelnut flour Learn more about how to choose and grow hazelnuts and other nuts in our advice section and on our resources page.