There are roughly 1000 different varieties of the sweet chestnut, each of which is regionally limited. They should not be confused with the horse chestnut, the fruits of which are inedible for humans. Both the leaves and the fruits are very different from each other. You can recognize this even without too much botanical knowledge.
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Are there also different breeds of the sweet chestnut?
The cultivation of the sweet chestnut has been considerably simplified through various breeds. Be it that the flowering time has been extended, which means that fertilization is more successful, or that the shelf life of the fruit is improved. For commercial cultivation, the respective harvest volume per tree or the resistance to diseases also play a not insignificant 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 chestnuts feel quite comfortable in wine-growing regions, in a rough area they are grateful for a protected place, while the soil type is less important.
When choosing a sweet chestnut, pay attention to 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 crustacean or the ink disease. If you live in an endangered region, resistant varieties of the sweet chestnut are recommended.
Interesting varieties of the sweet chestnut:
- Bouche de Batizac: large fruits, easy to peel, resistant to gall wasp
- Brunella: long flowering period, medium-sized, very aromatic fruits
- Marigoule: absolutely hardy, disease-resistant, long-lasting fruits
- Tyrolean golden chestnut: fruits large, easy to peel, with a bright yellow fruit core
- Vincent van Gogh: particularly decorative, corkscrew-like young shoots
Tips
If you are looking for a sweet chestnut for your garden, then concentrate primarily on the varieties that are comfortable in your region.
