The sweet chestnut is grown in large parts of southern and western Europe not only for its tasty fruits but also as a source of wood. In the Middle Ages, starchy chestnuts were even considered a staple food in some southern European regions.
It is roughly estimated that there are around 1000 different varieties of chestnut, each of which occurs in a regional region. They should not be confused with the horse chestnut, whose fruits are inedible to humans. Both the leaves and the fruits differ significantly from each other. You can recognize this even without too much botanical knowledge.
Are there different varieties of chestnut?
Due to various breeding methods, the cultivation of chestnuts has become considerably easier. Be it that the flowering period has been extended, which means that fertilization is more successful, or the storage life of the fruit has improved. For commercial cultivation, the respective harvest quantity per tree or resistance to diseases also play a significant role.
What should I consider when choosing a sweet chestnut?
Chestnuts like a warm and sunny location. Depending on the variety, it tolerates frost more or less well. The sweet chestnut feels quite comfortable in wine-growing regions, but in a harsh area it is grateful for a protected place, while the type of soil is less important.
When choosing a sweet chestnut, also consider the fertilization of the flowers. So it makes sense to plant at least two trees together, so you can usually expect a larger harvest.
Various diseases and pests can affect the sweet chestnut, for example the gall wasp, the chestnut bark cancer or the ink disease. If you live in an endangered region, resistant varieties of sweet chestnut are recommended.
Interesting varieties of chestnut:
- Bouche de Batizac: large fruits, easy to peel, resistant to the gall wasp
- Brunella: long flowering period, medium-sized, very aromatic fruits
- Marigoule: absolutely hardy, resistant to diseases, long-lasting fruits
- Tyrolean golden chestnut: fruits large, easy to peel, with bright yellow fruit core
- Vincent van Gogh: particularly decorative, corkscrew-like young shoots
Tip
If you are looking for a sweet chestnut for your garden, then focus primarily on the varieties that thrive in your region.
