Hazelnut «Rimskiy» – an Italian selection of medium-ripening that was introduced into production in 1972. The bush is characterized by medium growth strength and an oval crown 3–3.5 m wide and up to 4 m high. Scaffolding branches are located compactly, and shoots are straight, grayish in color, covered with medium «lenticels» and deflected oval buds. Leaves are of medium size (8–10 cm in length, 6–8 cm in width) and have an elongated-oval shape, smooth surface with slight down on the underside, and a short, pointed tip.
Fruits are round nuts of medium size (length about 24 mm, width 22 mm), covered with two scales. At maturity, the wrapper comes off easily, while the shell, about 1.1 mm thick, remains weakly ribbed and light brown. The kernel occupies 43–47% of the total nut weight (1.2–1.3 g) and contains about 65% fat and 18% protein. Medium ripening period – the second half of August.
The variety is distinguished by high yield: up to 1.5 t/h dry nuts in shell, and up to 7 kg of fruits per bush. Hazelnut «Rimskiy» is resistant to powdery mildew and is little affected by pests (weevil, bud mite, longhorned beetle). Frost hardiness reaches –30 °C, which allows growing it in temperate climate zones. Thanks to stable fruiting and good nut quality, this variety is a preferred choice for gardeners looking for a reliable source of high-quality hazelnuts.
