BIO Hazelnut (Corylus avellana) TONDA GENTILE ROMANA

Hazelnut (Corylus avellana) 'Tonda Gentile Romana'

A high-yielding Italian variety from the Rome region, prized for yield stability, high kernel recovery, and its role as a premier pollinator.

The 'Tonda Gentile Romana' variety (also known as Roman Hazelnut) is a key pillar of Italian hazelnut production in the Lazio region. It is considered one of the most economically efficient varieties due to its exceptionally high and stable yields. Besides producing high-quality nuts with a distinct flavor, it plays an invaluable role in the orchard as a universal and powerful pollinator. Thanks to its open crown and sturdy branches, it is easy to maintain and facilitates both mechanical and manual harvesting.

Main advantages of the variety:

• Economic Efficiency: Exceptionally high and regular productivity with high kernel recovery (up to 45%).
• Premier Pollinator: An ideal partner for 'Tonda Gentile delle Langhe' and other premium cultivars.
• Resilience: Excellent health status and high resistance to common diseases and pests.
• Nut Quality: A thin but firm shell perfectly protects the spherical kernel with its intense nutty flavor.
• Low Maintenance: Naturally thinner canopy provides plenty of light for the fruit and simplifies pruning.

Origin and Distribution

• Origin: Italy (Lazio region, Rome area). It is the backbone variety of the Roman fruit-growing regions.

Variety Characteristics

Shrub and Growth

• Vigor and Habit: Medium vigor with a semi-upright, widely branched crown. Sucker formation is moderate.
• Flowering: The variety is protogynous (female flowers bloom before the male catkins).
• Pollination: Requires a pollinator for maximum yield. Ideal partners include 'Hall's Giant' or 'Cosford'.

Fruit (Nut)

• Size and Shape: Medium to large nuts, spherical to slightly oval in shape. They grow in clusters of 2 to 3.
• Shell and Kernel: The shell is thin, firm, and chestnut brown. The kernel is globular with a slightly corky texture and excellent flavor.
• Blanching: The ability to shed the skin after roasting is rated as medium to low compared to Piedmontese hazelnuts.

Resistance and Requirements

• Diseases: Characterized by naturally high resistance to common pathogens and fungal diseases.
• Soil: Prefers loose, well-drained soils rich in organic matter. Note: Avoid heavy, waterlogged soils with poor drainage.

Harvest and Yield

• Harvest Time: Ripens during September.
• Yield: Among the most productive hazelnut varieties, with stable annual crops.