Hazelnut Barcelona

The 'Barcelona' hazelnut variety is a vigorous shrub with a pyramidal, moderately dense crown, reaching up to 5.5 meters in height and 4.5 meters in diameter. Branches are compactly arranged, emerging from the trunk at a sharp angle, and the bark has a grayish hue. Leaves are large, 10-12 cm long and 8-10 cm wide, elongated-oval in shape with a smooth surface and slightly hairy undersides. Flowering begins in January-February in warmer climatic zones and later in colder ones; female flowers are clustered in inflorescences of 6-8 flowers with bright burgundy stigmas, while male flowers form grayish-yellow cylindrical catkins up to 10 cm long after pollination.

The 'Barcelona' variety's fruits are large, round, measuring approximately 27 mm in length and 25 mm in width, borne in clusters of 2-6 fruits. The husk is green, composed of two lobes, slightly longer than the nut, and easily separates upon ripening. The shell is of medium thickness (about 1.3 mm), light-brown, and slightly ribbed. The kernel is dense, weighing 1.3-1.5 g, accounting for about 48% of the nut's total weight, containing up to 68% fat and 18% protein. The nuts have a juicy, sweet flavor and are rich in nutrients, including carbohydrates, fats, calcium, iron, phosphorus, and potassium. Harvesting occurs at the end of August to the beginning of September, and the fruits can be stored for up to three years without loss of quality.

The 'Barcelona' variety is distinguished by high yield and early fruiting, producing up to 1-1.1 tons of shelled dry nuts per hectare. It is resistant to frost, drought, and pests such as the hazelnut weevil, bud mite, and sawfly. For successful fruiting, cross-pollination is recommended by planting at least two different varieties nearby. This variety is popular due to its large, flavorful nuts and stable fruiting, and it thrives well on soils with adequate moisture.