A Detailed Guide to Chestnut Planting Methods and Planting Time

Chestnut is one of the earliest famous nuts eaten in our country, and its annual output ranks first in the world. It has excellent quality and is rich in nutrients, making it the crown of chestnuts worldwide. After being roasted, its flesh is fine and dense, sweet and palatable, and it is very popular. So, what are the planting methods and time for chestnut?

1. Land preparation

First analyze the soil pH and the content of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, organic matter and trace elements, and improve the soil structure as needed. It is advisable to choose loose sandy loam with good drainage, then rake the soil level and harrow it fine, and remove residual stones, shrub roots, weeds and other debris from the soil.

2. Raising seedlings

① Digging pits. The specification of the pits is 40 cm × 40 cm × 30 cm. After digging the pits, apply 2 kg of calcium magnesium phosphate fertilizer or 5 kg of farmyard manure as base fertilizer.

② Sowing. From early November to February of the following year, select mature, plump seeds for sowing. Before sowing, first disinfect the seeds, then treat them with 500 mg/kg gibberellin for 1 hour to promote germination. Then dig a 10 cm deep planting hole in the center of the pit, sow 15 seeds per hole, cover with soil and cover with weeds.

3. Field planting

Dig holes 40 cm × 40 cm in size, with a spacing of 5-7 m between plants and rows, and plant 20-30 plants per mu. When planting, first place the seedling roots into the pit, spread the seedling roots evenly, straighten the seedling, allow fine soil to enter the root gaps, fill and compact the soil, then water to settle the roots.

4. Field management

① Fertilization. For chestnut trees of different ages, the amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers differ. Fertilize 3 times each year: the first time in mid-February apply flower-promoting fertilizer, the second time from early June to early July apply fruit-promoting fertilizer, and the third time from the end of September to October apply base fertilizer during deep plowing. Each tree can be given 0.5 kg each of oil cake or superphosphate, and after application, hoe weeds and cover with soil.

② Loosen the soil, expand the holes, and weed and cover the tree. Wait, this should be translated as:

② Loosen the soil, expand the holes, and weed and cover the tree tray. These tasks are carried out every winter and can destroy overwintering sites for pests, increase soil organic matter content, and reduce soil moisture evaporation.

③ Shaping and pruning. Winter pruning: in December and January of the following year, after the trees stop growing, prune the canopy shape of chestnut trees, cutting off excessive vigorous branches, diseased and pest-infested branches, dead and dry branches, and too many main branches. Pinching: when the seedling branches grow to 20-30 cm long, carry out the first pinching, removing the tender young part at the tip of the branch. By June, carry out the second pinching, selecting and retaining branches with good angles and even distribution to cultivate into scaffold branches. Bud removal: for vigorously growing trees, remove excess buds from the middle, lower and upper parts of strong branches. For strong branches, retain only 4-5 large buds, and for moderate branches retain 13 large buds.

Chestnut trees generally take 5-6 years to bear fruit. After the first fruiting, the fruit will increase year by year thereafter.