How to reproduce chestnut

The chestnut , whose scientific name is Castanea sativa , is a deciduous tree that can be found in Asia Minor and in Europe, in fact, in the Iberian Peninsula, especially in the north, they grow very comfortably; although unfortunately there are many chestnut trees that have been lost due to a fungus: the Phytophtora, which fortunately can be prevented if we eliminate the remains of leaves, branches, and flowers that fall around our tree.

Would you like to have one in your garden or orchard? Its fruits, the chestnuts, are delicious, but how are they planted? Let ‘s see how to reproduce chestnut.

flowering chestnut

The chestnut tree is a tree that reproduces only by seeds . Of course, you can try cuttings from soft wood in autumn, but it is very difficult: you have to keep the environment humid, but not too much, otherwise the fungi could proliferate and spoil it; In addition, the soil must have very good drainage, so if you dare, I recommend using vermiculite or similar substrates.

Thus, the most effective method is by seeds. Chestnuts ripen in autumn, but for them to germinate they have to be a bit cold. Bearing this in mind, if we live in an area where there is frost and/or snowfall, we can plant them directly in a pot with a universal cultivation substrate, but if not, we will have to stratify them in the fridge for 3 months , putting them in a tupperware with vermiculite slightly moistened with water.

chestnut seeds

So that problems do not arise, it is very important that we treat them with a fungicide, regardless of whether we plant them in a pot or if we stratify them. The seeds need the substrate to be at least slightly moist in order to sprout, the same as mushrooms. For this reason, we will sprinkle them with sulfur or copper, or we will treat them with systemic fungicides sold in nurseries. In this way, the chestnuts will be able to germinate without problems.

How to reproduce chestnut

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