Kent Cob Hazelnut Tree

Kent Cob Hazelnut Tree

Kent Cob, also known as Kentish Cob, is one of the best-known^[2] traditional cobnut trees grown in the UK. It has the RHS Award of Garden Merit, is considered reliable with good flavour, relatively hardy, good for domestic use, and has a compact tree shape compared to other hazels. It has also been described as productive, relatively low in vigour and semi-erect^{[8] [4] [12]} with medium-large, oval-shaped nuts with a crunchy texture and mildly sweet. ^{[1] [3]} The nuts have also been described as large, long and flattened, with a thin shell that is easily cracked, and the kernels are free of fibre. ^[12]

It has broad green leaves, pale yellow ornamental pendulous catkins ^[2][4] and Kent Cob is moderately resistant to big bud mites. ^[12]

Expect a mature height and spread of around 2.5 - 4m x 2.5 - 4m^[13]

The green cobnuts nuts can be eaten fresh between August to October, then brown and dry for the rest of the year ^[3] but some biennial cropping may occur so don't celebrate a bumper harvest until you have taken in the next one. They are also good to cook with.

If you want to store fresh cobnuts, Kentish Cobnuts Association recommends keeping them in the salad drawer of the fridge, making sure they do not sweat. Remove loose husks, but leave any green husks still firmly attached. Adding a little salt can help preserve them, and they can keep until Christmas and beyond. If you plan to chop cobnuts, do it shortly before eating, because they do not keep well once cut. ^[6]

Cobnuts and hazels are largely not self-fertile, which means they will unlikely produce fruit if planted by themselves ^[6] unless you have wild hazel planted nearby which is very common in countryside hedges.

That is why a compatible pollination partner matters. RHS lists Gunslebert, Cosford and Halle Giant, also known as Hall’s Giant or Merveille de Bollwiller, as pollination partners for Kentish Cob. If there are wild hazels nearby they may help, but named compatible varieties are the safer choice when planting specifically for nuts. ^{[1] [6]}

Kent Cob is not the right choice if you want a tiny patio plant. Kentish Cob is a large deciduous shrub, so it is better treated as a productive garden shrub or small nut tree with room to develop properly. ^[2]

RHS says cobnuts and filberts usually begin producing nuts after three or four years. Harvest when the husks begin to yellow, usually around late September, then dry ripe nuts in shallow layers or net bags in a dry, airy place, turning them regularly. ^[1]

Planting a Kent Cob Hazelnut Tree

Plant Kent Cob in sun or partial shade, ideally in fertile, well-drained soil. A sheltered position is useful because hazelnuts crop best where the nuts have enough warmth and shelter to ripen well. ^[1]

Before planting, water the pot well. Dig a generous planting hole, loosen the surrounding soil, and plant the tree at the same depth it was growing in the pot. Firm the soil gently around the roots and water thoroughly after planting.

Keep the tree watered during dry spells while it establishes, especially in the first growing season. Once established, hazels are generally straightforward, but young plants crop better if they are not left struggling in dry soil.

Other Interesting Information About Kent Cob Hazelnut Trees

Kent Cob has a slightly confusing naming history, which is normal for old fruit and nut varieties. It is known as Kentish Cob, Lambert’s Filbert, Grote Lambertsnoot, Longue d’Espagne. ^{[1] [5]} and DuChilly^[9]

Despite the cobnut name, Kentish Cob is technically a filbert. Slow Food Foundation explains that a filbert has a longer husk that encloses the nut, while the names cobnut, filbert and hazelnut are often used more loosely in everyday buying and selling. ^[7]

The Suffolk Traditional Orchard Group records Kent Cob as introduced in 1830, perhaps present earlier. ^[11]

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See What Our Customers Are Saying About Our Kentish Cob Hazelnut Trees

Hi Alan, Thanks for contacting me. Yes everything is ok, the two hazel nut trees look great. I also thought your email was great as well :) All the best. Toby 0114

Dear Alan, Our hazelnut trees arrived on the day you said and in beautiful condition. The courier man was very friendly and helpful. I will definitely order from you next time we want some trees. (We still have an outstanding order for November, which I am very much looking forward to receiving.) Sorry for the delay in replying; I now have some pictures to send to you. I hope you can see the trees for the wood!! (Or rather foliage, but it doesn’t make such a good joke….!) Regards Clare Auty 1013