Large-fruited hazelnut is a nut variety developed through hybrid breeding, with large nuts, thin shells and good cold hardiness

The large-fruited hazelnut is a cultivated type within the hazelnuts, generally referring to the Ping'ou hybrid hazelnut bred by crossing the native Ping hazel (Corylus heterophylla) of our country with the European hazel (Corylus avellana). It retains the cold hardiness and strong adaptability of the Ping hazel while also inheriting the advantages of the European hazel, such as large nuts, thin shells and a high kernel yield, and it is currently one of the main choices in northern hazelnut cultivation.

Compared with wild small hazelnuts, the large-fruited hazelnut's nuts are clearly larger and plumper, with thick, plump kernels and a crisp, fragrant taste, giving the nuts better market quality. The plant has fairly strong cold resistance and can be grown in the open in many areas such as Northeast China and North China, giving it a wider growing range than the pure European hazel.

For planting large-fruited hazelnuts, plots with deep soil, good drainage and ample sunlight should be chosen, and low-lying, waterlogged ground should be avoided. Hazelnuts mostly rely on cross-pollination, so pollinizer trees need to be reasonably arranged when establishing an orchard to increase the fruit-setting rate. In routine management, good shaping and pruning, hoeing and weeding, and water and fertilizer supply should be carried out; a few years after planting, the trees will gradually bear fruit, and once they enter the full-production stage, with proper management they can maintain fairly stable returns.

Large-fruited hazelnuts can be eaten fresh and are also suitable for roasting and processing into snack foods or for pressing oil; the nuts keep and transport well and have relatively high economic value. The hazel tree has a well-developed root system and also plays a certain role in conserving soil and water, so it can be developed as a tree species serving both as an economic forest and an ecological forest. Before planting, it is advisable to first understand the local climate and soil conditions and choose suitable varieties, so as to lay a good foundation for later high yields.