Chestnuts or chestnuts are not only delicious in the run-up to Christmas. Only a few people have such a tree in their garden. In most cases, however, it is permitted to harvest from so-called "abandoned trees" for one's own use.

Chestnuts are only available a few weeks a year

Can I collect chestnuts anywhere?

Before you harvest fruit from someone else's trees, you should make sure that they really are "abandoned" trees, otherwise you will commit a robbery. You are unlikely to find anything in northern Germany, because sweet chestnuts prefer a location in the mild climate of a wine-growing region. You will therefore find most chestnuts in the Palatinate or on the Moselle, Saar and Nahe.

How do I recognize sweet chestnuts?

In contrast to the edible or sweet chestnut, the horse chestnut bears inedible fruit that can cause stomach pains. Therefore, you should be careful when collecting. However, distinguishing between these trees is not too difficult and can be done both by the leaves and by the fruit itself.

The typical hand-like shape of the horse chestnut leaves is probably already familiar to most children. In contrast, the sweet chestnut has single narrow leaves with a jagged edge. The fruit capsules of both plants are prickly. While the shell of the horse chestnut has only a few short thorns, the capsule of the chestnut has numerous thin and longer thorns.

The fruits themselves are also quite different. On the one hand, the shell of the horse chestnut usually contains only one fruit, while that of the chestnut contains up to three fruits at the same time. On the other hand, the shape of the chestnut has to be considered. Horse chestnuts are quite regular in shape, round or oval. Sweet chestnuts, however, are clearly flattened and tapered. They are slightly hairy at the top.

When do I harvest chestnuts?

From around the end of September you can harvest chestnuts, usually only for a few weeks. Some cultivars have a different or longer harvest time. The harvest itself is not particularly difficult, because the ripe chestnuts fall from the tree and only have to be picked up. But they didn't want to wait too long with that, otherwise the squirrels will snatch your harvest away from you.

What do I do with the collected chestnuts?

Since chestnuts do not keep very long, you should use the fruit quickly. A delicious snack are roasted chestnuts, which you can easily prepare in the oven. Baked or boiled chestnuts can also be used to create delicious desserts or cook tasty soups. If the harvest is very plentiful, simply freeze the excess chestnuts.

The essentials in brief:

  • Harvesting of abandoned trees mostly allowed
  • Do not confuse chestnuts with horse chestnuts!
  • Indication of sweet chestnuts: several flattened fruits per shell
  • Fruits do not keep very long
  • to use many times

tips

Collect the chestnuts regularly, their shelf life is limited and competition from wild animals is high.

Category:

Trees