Chestnuts, as the fruits of the chestnut are also called, are delicious, and harvesting them in your own garden is quite a challenge. Neither the planting nor the subsequent care are particularly difficult to manage.

The sweet chestnut likes it light and warm

The ideal location

The sweet chestnut prefers a warm, bright location and a mild climate, even if it is actually frost-tolerant. Some varieties are quite sensitive to late frosts. If you live in a harsh region, give the sweet chestnut a sheltered place in your garden, preferably in the sun.

The best floor

The sweet chestnut does not make particularly high demands on the soil. However, it tolerates neither long periods of drought nor constant waterlogging. A humus-rich, well-drained soil is recommended. The sweet chestnut doesn’t particularly like lime either, so the soil can be slightly acidic.

Plant correctly

To plant a chestnut you have to work properly. The larger the young tree, the more you are allowed to dig. The ideal planting hole is at least twice as big as the root ball of your sweet chestnut. The depth of the hole is approximately equal to the height of the bale. So the chestnut later sits just as deep in the ground as before.

Don't forget to loosen the soil well, place the sweet chestnut in the planting hole and fill it up. A little horn shavings (32.93€) as fertilizer and some bark mulch, which keeps the moisture in the soil, can't hurt. Be sure to water the chestnut thoroughly.

Water and fertilize the chestnut

A well-established sweet chestnut hardly needs any additional water, it has a strong root system that can draw enough water from the soil. Due to their high potassium requirement, however, regular fertilization is recommended. Good garden compost is quite sufficient.

Why should I better plant several chestnut trees?

Although the sweet chestnut bears both male and female flowers, these do not always bloom at the same time. However, this would be necessary for successful fertilization. If you have planted several chestnut trees, there will always be enough flowers of both sexes available. It is irrelevant which chestnut species the “companion trees” are. Ideally, however, they have slightly different flowering times.

diseases and pests

The sweet chestnut can also suffer from diseases such as ink sickness or chestnut bark canker. Unfortunately, trees can also infect each other. Therefore, do not plant your chestnuts near trees that are already infested.

The essentials in brief:

  • warm bright location
  • best suited: wine-growing region
  • plant sheltered in harsh climates
  • Soil neutral to slightly acidic, well drained and humic
  • Planting hole diameter = twice the ball diameter
  • Plant the chestnut as deep as it was before

tips

If you have enough space in your garden, plant at least two sweet chestnuts, preferably even different varieties. This is how you can increase your crop yield.

Category:

Trees