Chestnuts (forum)

Henry starts with ...
I am contemplating planting a chestnut tree in my garden. Browsing Daley's Chestnut page, it advises that although it is self pollinating, "Planting 2 varieties will ensure well-filled nut burrs". Question 1: Does that mean that having one tree will greatly reduce the quality and quantity? Question 2: If I have two varieties, can I plant both trees in the same hole (as I have no other available site for the second tree)? Question 3: Which two varieties are best suited for my area and are known to produce really good tasty chestnuts? Any other advice would be greatly appreciated.

Time: 27th November 2008 4:09pm

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About the Author Henry
Blacktown
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Kath says...
1. If you plant just one tree you risk having the shells with no nut inside.
2. You could not plant 2 chestnuts in one hole, they are too big. Chestnuts can grow 20-30 m.
3. You can cross pollinate a grafted variety with a seedling, seedling chestnuts are very quick to flower and therefore make the perfect pollinating partner for a grafted selection.
All of them will grow well in Blacktown Henry.

Time: 28th November 2008 9:32am

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About the Author Kath
Cawongla
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Henry says...
Thank you for your elucidations, Kath, much appreciated. With planting 2 chestnuts in the one hole, couldn't I prune and trim both trees so that they won't outgrow one another and grow beyond 15m?

Time: 28th November 2008 2:07pm

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About the Author Henry
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Phil. says...
One idea you might get away with - sometimes the rootstock will send out small growths below the graft which are normally cut off. If you allowed one of them to prosper you'd have two varieties on the one tree. I have a number of chestnut trees and each year take off shoots from the rootstock while they are young.

Time: 28th November 2008 4:50pm

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Kath says...
Henry, what sort of tools do you have? How are you going to prune a 15m tall tree? Phils idea of letting the rootstock grow as your pollinator is a very bad idea - sorry Phil. Maybe ask the local council to plant a couple of chestnut trees in public park. They are a tree that require space to grow.

Time: 28th November 2008 4:59pm

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About the Author Kath
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Tran says...
We have two tree on one plant, work good from under graft, very strohng and lot of nut too

Time: 28th November 2008 5:27pm

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Henry says...
Thank you all. Re pruning, I could start when they are 2.5m, and continue pruning them not allowing them to grow above 3m. I have a golden ash tree which is 22 years old. I have been pruning it and managed to keep it to a manageable height of 3 m.

Time: 29th November 2008 8:12am

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Anonymous says...
Only thing is that chestnuts only bear on the current seasons' growth, so I wouldn't prune it in winter otherwise you'd lose your crop for the year.

Time: 29th November 2008 9:19am

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Phil. says...
Have you considered growing the American dwarf chestnuts (known as "chinkapins")? They are only shrubs or small trees. I ate a lot of them when I stayed in Nth Carolina a few years ago, quite rich and buttery in flavour. Peter Taverna in South Australia has them in his nursery which is back in business.

Time: 29th November 2008 9:28am

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Jantina says...
Hi Phil, do you have a contact no. for Peter Taverna that is current? Alas he has moved from the no. in Louis Glowinskis book and I have not been able to track him down.Thanks Jantina.

Time: 29th November 2008 3:05pm

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About the Author Jantina
Mt. Gambier S.A.
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Phil. says...
I thought he was still at his old address. His sister in law lives in my town in Victoria. There is a P. Taverna listed for 9 Jessie Ave Seaton, 5023. I wonder if that's him.

Time: 29th November 2008 3:56pm

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Jantina says...
Thanks Phil, I will try that address.

Time: 29th November 2008 7:54pm

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About the Author Jantina
Mt. Gambier S.A.
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