Sweet chestnut

Chestnut is a large tree growing to a height of 30-35 m with a trunk diameter of 1.5-2 m at the base.

Short description of the species

Botanical name

Sweet chestnut

Latin name

Castanea sativa

Family

Fagaceae

Origin

comes from central and southern Europe (northern Iberian Peninsula, southern France, central and northern Italy, southern Balkan Peninsula) and Asia Minor (western and northern Turkey, Caucasus)

Crop classification

shell fruit

Growing shape

quarter to highstem

Spacing

8 x 4m and then 8 x 7m

Soil type

it requires soils with a slightly acidic reaction, well supplied with nutrients

Soil pH

6.0 - 8.0

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Interesting

The oldest known chestnut tree in the world grows on Etna in Sicily and has a circumference of 58m and is said to be 2000 to 4000 years old. It consists of three different trunks growing from a single base. They measure 13, 20 and 22 m in circumference and share the same roots.

accessibility

Usage

Fruits are highly desirable and widely consumed throughout the world and generally have several beneficial nutritional properties. Chestnuts contain a high amount of carbohydrates and a significant amount of fiber, but a low amount of protein and, unlike typical nuts (walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts), also low levels of fat.

Suitable growing locations 

It requires soils with a slightly acidic reaction, well supplied with nutrients, to ensure more thorough pollination, it is recommended to plant more varieties, it can be grown not only in warm areas, but also in protected habitats at higher altitudes. It requires light to medium-heavy soils, well aerated, with a good supply of nutrients, with a slightly acidic soil reaction. It can be grown not only in warm areas, but also in higher positions in protected habitats. They are characterized by very good frost resistance. It grows best in areas with warm summers and cold winters. They overcome summer droughts very well.  

Cultivation technology

Tall trunk with free-growing crown, cut only to establish skeletal branches in the 1st to 2nd year after planting. Sometimes it is possible to make a clearing cut, when we remove dead, cross-growing and overgrown branches on an adult tree. With seedlings grown from seed, trees begin to bear fruit around the age of 15, grafted already in the year of planting, but reach full fertility around the 5th to 7th year. It blooms at the end of May, the flowers do not freeze, therefore the fertility is annual. The planting clip is 8x4m, with the fact that after connecting the trees in a row, every other one is removed, which gives us a subsequent clip of 8x7m. This action is usually done around the seventh to eighth year, by which time the trees will bear fruit and the soil between the trees will be used.

Suitable varieties

Bouche de Betizac, Rapada, Doree de Lyon, Bojar

Diseases and pests

diseases: chestnut bark cancer, phytophthora root rot

pests: chestnut weevil