Horse Chestnut Planting Methods and Cultivation Techniques Explained in Detail (with pictures)

The horse chestnut is also known as the buckeye tree, buckeye nut, Tianshi chestnut, pistachio, monkey chestnut, etc. It is a deciduous tree of the genus Aesculus in the family Sapindaceae. Its seeds are edible, but eating them directly tastes bitter and astringent; they must be boiled in alkaline water before eating, after which they taste like chestnuts. Starch can also be extracted from them, the fine, dense wood can be used to make various utensils, the seeds can be used medicinally, and the oil pressed from them can be used to make soap. Now let us take a look at horse chestnut cultivation techniques together!

Horse Chestnut Growth Habits

The horse chestnut is cultivated throughout the Yellow River basin and the eastern provinces of China, with wild populations found only in the Qinling Mountains. It occurs naturally in mountainous areas below 700 m in elevation, and in the Yellow River basin this species is an excellent street tree and garden tree. It is light-loving and slightly shade-tolerant, prefers a warm climate but can also tolerate cold, and likes deep, fertile, moist, well-drained soil. It has a deep root system and strong sprouting ability, grows at a moderate to slow rate, and is long-lived. In hot summers its leaves are prone to sunscald.

Horse Chestnut Propagation by Seed

1. Seed collection: In mid-autumn, when the outer skin of the horse chestnut fruit turns from green to brownish-yellow and a few fruits have split open, they can be collected. After collection, the fruits are dried in the shade, and once they have split open naturally the outer skin is peeled off. Finally, select seeds that are large, plump, glossy, free of pests and diseases, and free of mechanical damage. Mix the selected clean seeds with damp sand at a ratio of 1:3, then store them using the moist stratification method in a moist, well-drained soil pit, leaving ventilation holes.

2. Nursery site preparation: Choose neutral or slightly acidic sandy loam with deep, fertile soil and good drainage as the seedling bed. Two to three months before sowing, deep plowing should be carried out to remove impurities and allow the soil to dry. Before sowing, carry out careful land preparation to make the surface level and the soil particles uniform in size. Apply rotted and fermented cow or horse manure as a base fertilizer at a rate of 2500 kg per mu, then disinfect the soil with quintozene.

3. Sowing method: Spring sowing is generally used, carried out in late March, using strip sowing in holes, with a plant and row spacing of 20 cm × 25 cm and a depth of 3 cm to 4 cm. When sowing, the hilum should face downward, cover with 4 cm of soil, level with the bed surface, and press lightly with the foot. The sowing rate is 150 kg per mu.

4. Post-sowing management: Keep the soil moist before the seeds germinate; they emerge after one month. Weed promptly to ensure there are no weeds in the seedling bed. Once the seedlings reach 25 cm in height, loosen the soil and weed, and thin the seedlings on rainy days. During the seedling growth period, the nursery site should also be kept constantly moist. From seedling emergence to early June is the height growth period of the horse chestnut, so the amount of watering should be increased. July to August is the lignification period of horse chestnut seedlings, so watering should be reduced to promote stem growth and lignification of the seedlings.

Horse Chestnut Cultivation Techniques

1. Planting pit: The horse chestnut has a deep main root and few lateral roots, making it a tree species that does not tolerate transplanting, so a soil ball must be kept when transplanting, with the diameter of the soil ball being 6 to 8 times the diameter at breast height of the tree. Horse chestnuts should be planted in early spring before bud break or in late autumn after all the leaves have fallen. To improve the survival rate of planting, the planting pit should be dug as large as possible before planting, as this is beneficial to the growth of the plant. When planting, be careful not to plant too deep, as this can easily cause the plant to suffocate its buds. Generally, the planting depth can be slightly higher than the upper surface of the soil ball by 3 cm to 5 cm. When planting, the backfilled soil should be firmed in layers.

2. Watering: Immediately after planting, water thoroughly for the first time; water a second time after one week, and a third time after about another 10 days. After the third watering, watering can be done according to soil moisture conditions; generally, a thorough watering can be given once a month. July and August are periods of abundant rainfall, so watering can be reduced or omitted. In September and October, a thorough watering can be given each month. In late November or early December, water thoroughly and generously for the winter freeze. In early March of the following year, water thoroughly and generously for the thaw. April and May are dry spring months, with long-lasting spring monsoons and strong winds, and the plants transpire heavily, so the watering frequency can be increased to once every 15 days, after which a thorough watering can be given once a month.

3. Fertilizing: The horse chestnut likes fertilizer, so sufficient base fertilizer should be applied before planting. Farmyard manure such as cow and horse manure and leaf mold is suitable as base fertilizer; although these fertilizers have low nutrient content, they are mild and also help improve soil looseness. The base fertilizer should be thoroughly mixed with the planting soil. Sufficient fertilizer can accelerate its growth rate and improve the plant's resistance to pests and diseases. In addition to applying base fertilizer at planting, fertilizer should also be applied throughout the growing period, including for large-sized street trees.

4. Pruning: Shaping and pruning of the horse chestnut should be carried out after leaf fall each winter or before bud break the following spring. Because the horse chestnut has a naturally rounded crown, it is best to maintain its original crown shape. Shaping and pruning are mainly based on the principles of keeping the crown attractive and ensuring ventilation and light penetration. Remove overly dense branches and shorten overly long branches so that the branches are evenly distributed and grow robustly. Also cut off dead branches, diseased and pest-infested branches, inner canopy branches, slender branches, and poorly growing branches, which helps concentrate nutrient supply and form a good crown.

Horse Chestnut Propagation Methods and Cultivation Management

The horse chestnut, also known as the buckeye tree, has graceful leaf shapes and a tall, majestic form. When it blooms, the huge inflorescences stand upright among the clusters of leaves, creating a magnificent sight. It is a world-famous ornamental tree.

1. Propagation methods

First, choose flat land and then apply sufficient base fertilizer. The base fertilizer used can be farmyard manure or chicken manure (farmyard manure at 3000-5000 kg per mu, chicken manure at 2-5 cubic meters per mu). Spread it evenly and then deep plow. Then prepare beds and ridges with a width of 1.6-1.8 m, rake them level, and they are ready for sowing. (The bed surface width is 1.3-1.5 m.) Because horse chestnut seedlings are shade-tolerant and prone to sunscald damage, it is best to plant some large seedlings of other tree species along the bed ridges to provide side shade.

Mainly propagated by seed. The vitality of horse chestnut seeds is very difficult to maintain. Because the seeds have a high water content, if the fruit skin is removed and they are stored dry, they lose their germination ability in less than 1 month. Therefore, after harvesting in early September they should be sown immediately. The seedlings have weak emergence ability, so the soil covering should not be too deep. They germinate 25-30 days after sowing, and appropriate shading is needed during the seedling stage. Before sowing, the seeds should also undergo simple treatment. The method is to soak the seeds in a mixture of carbendazim and phoxim. To prepare the mixture, add water to 50% carbendazim at a ratio of 1:500 and add water to 50% phoxim at a ratio of 1:300-500, then mix the two to make a disinfectant solution. The soaking time is 3-5 minutes, which can kill viruses and prevent underground pests.

In a semi-closed state, stored in peat for half a year, they still maintain 100% viability. Pile the collected seeds in a cool, ventilated place to promote after-ripening and coloring, and to help rot away the outer seed coat. The pile height should not exceed 20 cm, and turn and inspect once a day to prevent mold. After 3 to 4 days of piling, rub off the outer seed coat, grade them, and discard inferior, low-grade seeds.

2. Storage methods

Indoor sand storage is generally used. Sand storage is divided into mixed sand storage and layered sand storage. Sometimes layered sand storage becomes mixed sand storage due to turning and inspection, so only the mixed sand storage method is introduced here. First, choose fine sand with a moisture content controlled at 2% to 4%, maintain indoor air humidity at 85% to 90%, and use about twice as much sand as seeds. After mixing the sand and seeds evenly, store them on the ground. Note that they must never be piled on cement floors or floors with poor air permeability. If placed in a poorly ventilated place, the seeds are very prone to "self-moistening" or "self-heating," which further promotes respiration and ultimately causes the seeds to die from alcohol poisoning. Spread a 10 cm thick layer of fine sand on the ground, then spread the mixed seeds evenly. After all have been piled, cover with another 4 to 6 cm thick layer of sand. During seed storage, check regularly, ventilate and exchange air, and keep the indoor temperature suitable. If the sand becomes somewhat dry, spray a small amount of water to maintain humidity. After sand storage, horse chestnut seeds germinate more easily, and after sowing the seedlings emerge uniformly with strong stress resistance.

When sowing, dig four sowing furrows in each bed, with a furrow depth of 5 cm. When sowing, be sure to note that the hilum of the seed must face downward, which is beneficial for root and sprout development. For hole sowing, a plant spacing of 20 cm is more suitable. The next step is covering with soil to a depth of 5 cm. After covering, water thoroughly once. When the ground has dried enough to stand on, cover with 10 cm of mulch to keep warm and moist, which is very necessary for seed growth and the safe overwintering of seedlings. From late autumn to the following spring, the seeds will gradually take root and sprout. In mid-February the mulch can be removed; at this time, be careful of the small seedlings that have already emerged from the ground and do not break the sprouts. Because horse chestnut seedlings have weak soil-penetrating ability, after removing the mulch keep the soil moist to help the seedlings emerge. Under ordinary management, the seedlings can reach 50 cm in height in the same year. The following spring they are transplanted and grown on, then transplanted once every other year thereafter, and after 5-6 years of cultivation they can be used for landscaping. Transplanting is carried out from late autumn after leaf fall to the following spring before bud break, and a soil ball must be kept. After planting, the trunk must be wrapped with straw rope to prevent the bark from cracking from sunscald.

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Horse Chestnut Cultivation Techniques

    The horse chestnut is a deciduous tree of the family Sapindaceae, also known as the sal tree. Its trunk is straight and its crown is broad, and its palmate compound leaves are oddly beautiful in form. The crimson new leaves in early spring are very delicate and lovely, and in autumn the leaves turn a brilliant, beautiful red. The horse chestnut is one of the world's four famous street trees (the other three are plane tree, elm, and linden), and is widely planted in cities in Western Europe, Japan, and elsewhere. In China it is often planted as a specimen tree or in front of buildings and among sparse woods. Its seeds have the effect of regulating qi and easing the middle. This tree species has important ornamental and medicinal value. China has a relatively large number of tree species in the family Sapindaceae and they are widely distributed, but most species are still at a stage where they have not been properly managed and utilized. In the Funiu Mountain area, horse chestnuts are mostly found scattered in the wild. In recent years, Xixia County has established horse chestnut cultivation experimental gardens in Shimeng Village and Yangtian Village in the hinterland of Funiu Mountain in Miping Town, conducting cultivation observation trials on this tree species and achieving certain results, thereby providing a basis for horse chestnut cultivation in the Funiu Mountain area. The horse chestnut cultivation techniques are summarized below.

    1 Botanical Characteristics and Biological Characteristics

1.1 Botanical characteristics:The horse chestnut is a deciduous tree, with a tree height of up to 26 m and a diameter at breast height of up to 140 cm. Its crown is massive and round-spherical. The palmate compound leaves are opposite, with a petiole of 6-10 cm and 5-7 leaflets; on mature large trees, 7 leaflets predominate. The leaflets are long oblanceolate or oblong, 9-16 cm long and 3-55 cm wide, with an acuminate apex, cuneate base, and finely serrate margins. The leaf surface is bright green, the petiolules are about 0.5 cm long, and the underside of the leaf base has sparse soft hairs when young. The panicle is borne at the top of the branch, 17-25 cm long including the peduncle. Bisexual flowers are usually borne at the base of the inflorescence and can set fruit; the flowers are white, the calyx has 4-5 toothed lobes, the petals number 4-5 and are 8-10 mm long, and the stamens number 5-9; the ovary is superior and 3-locular. The capsule is spherical, flat-topped and slightly sunken at the apex, 3-4 cm in diameter, brownish-yellow, with a dry husk 5 mm thick. The seed is nearly spherical, 2-3 cm in diameter, with a broad and obvious hilum accounting for about 1/3 of the spherical surface area of the seed, and its shape and color resemble a chestnut.

    1.2 Biological characteristics:The horse chestnut is a deep-rooted tree species. It is light-loving, slightly shade-tolerant, and afraid of direct sunlight. It prefers a mild winter and a cool, moist summer climate, is cold-tolerant, and likes fertile, moist, well-drained soil. Its adaptability is relatively weak; it grows poorly on barren and waterlogged land, and is prone to sunscald damage under intense summer sun. It is not tolerant of dry heat and is slightly tolerant of waterlogging. In areas with suitable conditions it grows relatively quickly, but young plants grow slowly; generally, 4-6 year old sown seedlings are about 3 m tall. Trees 6-8 years old grow faster, trees 25-30 years old grow slowly, and some plants develop dead tops. There is an ancient horse chestnut tree in Shimeng Village, Miping Town, about 500 years old, about 30 m tall, with a diameter at breast height of 135 cm.

    2 Orchard Establishment 2.1 Site selection:Two experimental bases and six experimental gardens were established in Yangtian Village and Shimeng Village, Miping Town, Xixia County. Plots were selected at an elevation of about 800 m, with a slope of 250 or less, and good drainage, with a soil layer more than 40 cm thick and loose, moist, fertile sandy loam or humus soil. There are no pollution sources nearby, meeting the environmental condition requirements for horse chestnut cultivation.

    2.2 Sowing:Select local 15-30 year old horse chestnut trees that are robust, free of pests and diseases, and have high and stable fruit yields as mother trees. Harvest when the fruit ripens in late September, dry in the shade, remove the fruit shell, and store in sand in a cool place, checking frequently to prevent mold. The seed yield rate is 50%-60%, the thousand-seed weight is 12000-16000 g, and each kilogram contains 60-80 seeds. The germination rate is 50%-70%. Sow in holes in February to March of the following year. The plant and row spacing is 12×13 cm. When sowing, the hilum should face downward, and cover with 3-4 cm of soil. Do not irrigate before emergence to avoid surface soil crusting. The seedbed should be covered with mulch to retain moisture. From late autumn to the following spring they germinate and emerge successively; at this time, heat preservation and cold protection measures should be taken for the seedlings. The seedling survival rate from sowing is about 50%. Generally, spring-sown seedlings emerge in early April and grow very rapidly in the initial stage, with the height growth in April accounting for 70% of the annual growth. After May, height growth drops sharply, and height growth stops in July, while radial growth can continue until late August to early September. The annual height growth period of the seedlings is about 100 days, and the radial growth period is 140 days. Seedlings like moisture and are afraid of direct sunlight. Management in the early seedling stage should be strengthened, and appropriate shading and irrigation should be provided during hot, dry periods. Generally, the current-year seedlings can reach 35-55 cm in height and 8-12 cm in root diameter and can be transplanted out of the nursery. During the growing period, loosen the soil, weed, and apply topdressing, and prune thin, weak branches and water sprouts; during the deciduous dormant period, apply rotted compost and deep plow the garden. After the seedlings are transplanted, moved, and cultivated, they grow into large trees for landscaping and beautification use.

    2.3 Planting

2.3.1 Land preparation:Use level terrace land preparation: suitable for hillside land with thicker soil and a slope of 6-25°. The belt spacing is determined by the mountain terrain, generally 3-4 m, and the terrace width is 1-1.5 m, higher on the outside and lower on the inside, with a drainage ditch on the inner side and an earth ridge on the outer side; the length is unlimited, and it is built along the contour lines. On the terrace, turn the soil over completely to a depth of 30 cm, and dig planting holes at a plant and row spacing of 2×4 m, each 60-80 cm long, wide, and deep. Mix the topsoil with farmyard manure and fill it into the bottom of the hole, and use the subsoil to fill the surface layer of the hole and build the earth ridge.

    2.3.2 Seedling planting:The plant and row spacing is 2×4 m, with 84 plants per mu (667 square meters). Apply sufficient base fertilizer when planting. Plant when the soil is moist in winter or early spring. The planting depth should be such that the root collar of the seedling is level with the ground, and the soil should be mounded 4-6 cm above the ground. Within 2 years after planting, loosen the soil and weed frequently, and in April dig a ring ditch around the root zone and apply topdressing once. Pay attention to irrigation during drought. Crops such as peanuts and soybeans can also be interplanted, using cultivation in place of tending.

    3 Soil, Fertilizer, and Water Management3.1 Soil management:Soil is the foundation for tree growth. With good soil, seedlings grow vigorously; poor soil can also be improved to reach high-quality standards. Looking at the 2 experimental forests, applying more organic fertilizer in the planting holes at the time of planting is the key measure for obtaining high yield and quality. It can improve the soil, absorb water and retain fertilizer, increase air permeability, and make the tree root system grow vigorously. Every year, the forest land should be deep plowed regularly, which can mature the soil, eliminate pests, and turn under weeds.

    3.2 Fertilizing

    When planting seedlings, apply more organic fertilizer, such as straw, barnyard manure, green manure, etc.; during the growing period, fertilizer should be applied no fewer than 2 times, namely during the fast-growth period and the growth cessation period of the trees. Fertilizing during the fast-growth period is mainly based on nitrogen fertilizer, while during the growth cessation period it is mainly based on phosphorus and potassium fertilizers, which can increase tree growth by 23%-28%.

    During the fast-growth period, the nitrogen requirement is greater than that for phosphorus and potassium fertilizers; during the cessation period, more phosphorus and potassium fertilizers are needed. After the tree stops growing, the degree of lignification is high, and it will not suffer freeze damage in winter. Applying too much nitrogen fertilizer can delay the cessation period by 9-15 days, and the tender shoots are susceptible to freeze damage during overwintering.

    3.3 Irrigation and drainage3.3.1 Irrigation:The horse chestnut must be irrigated at least 3 times a year: once during the fast-growth period, and once each during the growth cessation period and the bud break period. During drought, the number of irrigations can be increased. Furrow irrigation or sprinkler irrigation can be used, and drip irrigation can be used where conditions permit.

    3.3.2 Drainage:The horse chestnut likes water and grows quickly when moisture is sufficient, but too much water will block root respiration and cause poor growth. The roots of a 4-year-old horse chestnut cannot remain fully submerged in water for more than 30 days; long-term soaking will cause the entire plant to die from suffocation. Therefore, horse chestnut planting sites must not accumulate water, and any standing water should be drained promptly. Drainage ditches should be built well within the forest, and waterlogging drainage should be done well during the rainy season.

    4 Shaping and Pruning

    The horse chestnut generally does not need pruning or shaping during growth; it is done when necessary. The principle of shaping and pruning is to distribute the branches evenly, grow robustly, and form a good crown. The main task is to shorten branches so that the plant forms a perfect crown; dead branches, inner canopy branches, slender branches, diseased and pest-infested branches, and poorly growing branches should be cut off.

    5 Pest and Disease Control

    5.1 The main horse chestnut diseases are early defoliation disease, root rot, and anthracnose. Control methods for early defoliation disease: strengthen water and fertilizer management to make the trees strong and disease-resistant; sweep up fallen diseased leaves and burn them in a concentrated manner to eliminate the source of disease; about 10 days before the disease occurs, spray once with a double-strength 200-240 times Bordeaux mixture, and during continuous spring rains spray once every half month. Control methods for root rot: dig ditches for drainage, scrape away soil in the rainy season to expose the roots, mix lime with soil and spread it around the roots for soil disinfection, then cover with soil; anthracnose can be controlled by spraying with 70% thiophanate-methyl wettable powder at 1000 times dilution.

    5.2 The main pests are the slug moth and the scarab beetle, and light trapping is effective for killing them. In addition, gold-tail moth, branch longhorn beetle, pear eye longhorn beetle, and mulberry longhorn beetle also occur and should be controlled early. The larvae feed on leaves; spraying 90% trichlorfon at 800-1000 times dilution or 15% deltamethrin at 4000-5000 times dilution promptly in the early stage of pest occurrence can achieve good control results.