The chestnut season begins with autumn. Children collect them for handicrafts, others are interested in their healing and cosmetic properties. Unfortunately, the fruit quickly becomes moldy. Drying the chestnuts helps here.

Horse chestnuts can be used in many ways

Dried chestnuts for crafts

Horse chestnuts are a popular handicraft material for children and adults or a pretty decorative item for the fall season. Unfortunately, the brown fruits tend to go moldy quickly. If you want to keep them longer, it is advisable to dry them.

  1. If necessary, remove the green skins.
  2. Place the chestnuts on suitable trays, trays or plates. Cardboard is not suitable as a base. It absorbs the escaping moisture, forming a damp base that prevents the chestnuts from drying too quickly.
  3. Don't put the chestnuts on top of each other. They dry better if they don't touch each other.
  4. Place your chestnuts in a warm, dry room. A boiler room or a place in front of a warm heater is ideal.
  5. Turn the chestnuts regularly.

The chestnuts dry for about a week and can then be used for handicrafts. Applying clear nail polish gives them a nice shine again.

Preserve the active ingredients of the horse chestnut

If you want to use the active ingredients of horse chestnuts over a longer period of time, you should keep them dry.

Use of the horse chestnut

The chestnut contains saponins, which are important for detergents and shampoos. One can use their healing powers in tinctures or ointments. The good effects on vein diseases, heavy legs or calf cramps are well known.
Since the chestnut harvest time is very short, it is advisable for those who make their own preparations to dry the whole or chopped chestnuts to preserve them.

  1. Collect chestnuts and clean them in baking soda water (1 tablespoon soda to 1 liter of water).
  2. Chop the chestnuts with a knife or in a food processor.
  3. Let the crumbs dry in a warm, dry place, turning them often. The crumbs must be so dry that they can be easily pulverized in a mortar.
  4. Fill crumbs or powder into glasses and keep in a dark place.

You can now prepare the chestnut powder in portions in various ways, for example making creams, tinctures or washing powder, etc.

The garden journal freshness ABC

How can fruit and vegetables be stored correctly so that they stay fresh for as long as possible?

The garden journal freshness ABC as a poster:

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Trees