Chinese Chestnut

Description

Chinese Chestnut (Castanea mollissima) trees are highly productive, very blight resistant, and have reliable yearly crops of starchy sweet nuts. Chestnuts can be eaten raw (refreshing sweat and crunchy) or roasted. Chestnuts make a great wildlife tree or food plot tree that deer love because of its high carbohydrate content and low tannins found in acorns.

These Chinese chestnut seedlings are from named cultivars such as Qing, Peach, Kohr, Gideon, Perry, Payne, Sleeping Giant, Hong Kong, AU-Homestead, Kintzel, Szego, Ace, Mossbarger, and Luvall’s Monster.

Characteristics

Pollination: Chestnuts are primarily wind pollinated so at least two varieties are seedlings should be planted within 50 ft of each other.
Size: 30-40′ x 30-40′
Disease: Resistant to Chestnut blight.
Ripening Date: Nuts will ripen from September to October depending on climate. Some nuts will fall free of the burr and some will require a little encouragement with the heel of your shoe.
Years to Bear 4-7
Taste: Sweet Mild

Growing Conditions

USDA Zone: 4,5,6,7,8,9
Spacing: 40′
Soil Type: Acidic well drained soil. If planted on flat wet ground consider planting on a mound.
Soil PH: 5.5-6.5