Where is the production area of Hebei chestnuts? Introduction to the distribution of the main production areas

Hebei chestnuts are mainly produced in the Yanshan Mountain area in northern Hebei Province. They are renowned worldwide for their plump kernels, sweetness and thin skins, and are one of the local specialty products with a relatively large advantage among Hebei Province's exported agricultural and sideline products.

What is the cultivation technique for chestnut trees?

1. Land preparation

First analyze the soil's pH value and its content of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, organic matter and trace elements, and improve the soil structure as needed. 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 Dig pits. The pits should measure 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 both plant spacing and row spacing of 5-7 m, and plant 20-30 trees per mu. When planting, first place the seedling roots into the pit, spread the seedling roots evenly, hold the seedling upright, let fine soil enter the gaps between the roots, firm the soil by tamping, and then water thoroughly to settle the roots.

4. Tending and management

① Fertilization. For chestnut trees of different ages, the amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizer differ. Fertilize 3 times each year: the first time in mid-February to promote flowering, the second time from early June to early July to promote fruit development, and the third time from the end of September to October when deeply turning the soil and applying base fertilizer. 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 planting holes, and weed and cover the tree plates. These tasks are carried out every winter and can destroy overwintering sites for pests, increase the soil's organic matter content and reduce soil moisture evaporation.

③ Training and pruning. Winter pruning: in December and January of the following year, after the trees stop growing, prune the canopy shape of the chestnut trees, cutting off excessive vegetative shoots, diseased and pest-infested branches, dead and dry branches, and excess main branches. Pinching: when the seedling branches have grown to 20-30 cm long, carry out the first pinching, removing the tender tips at the ends of the shoots; carry out the second pinching in June, selecting and retaining branches with good angles and even distribution to cultivate them into scaffold branches. Bud removal: for vigorously growing trees, remove excess buds from the middle, lower and upper parts of strong branches; retain only 4-5 large buds on strong branches, and retain 13 large buds on moderate branches.

Chestnut trees differ from other fruit trees in that their fruiting cycle is long; they generally take 5-6 years to bear fruit. Therefore, everyone needs to wait patiently. After the first fruiting, the fruit yield will increase year by year thereafter.