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Henry starts with ... I am contemplating planting a chestnut tree in my garden. Browsing Daley's Chestnut page, it advises that although it is self pollinating, "Planting 2 varieties will ensure well-filled nut burrs". Question 1: Does that mean that having one tree will greatly reduce the quality and quantity? Question 2: If I have two varieties, can I plant both trees in the same hole (as I have no other available site for the second tree)? Question 3: Which two varieties are best suited for my area and are known to produce really good tasty chestnuts? Any other advice would be greatly appreciated. | About the Author Henry Blacktown 27th November 2008 4:09pm #UserID: 605 Posts: 47 View All Henry's Edible Fruit Trees |
Kath says... 1. If you plant just one tree you risk having the shells with no nut inside. 2. You could not plant 2 chestnuts in one hole, they are too big. Chestnuts can grow 20-30 m. 3. You can cross pollinate a grafted variety with a seedling, seedling chestnuts are very quick to flower and therefore make the perfect pollinating partner for a grafted selection. All of them will grow well in Blacktown Henry. | About the Author Kath Cawongla 28th November 2008 9:32am #UserID: 2 Posts: 363 View All Kath's Edible Fruit Trees |
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| About the Author Henry Blacktown 28th November 2008 2:07pm #UserID: 605 Posts: 47 View All Henry's Edible Fruit Trees |
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Phil. says... One idea you might get away with - sometimes the rootstock will send out small growths below the graft which are normally cut off. If you allowed one of them to prosper you'd have two varieties on the one tree. I have a number of chestnut trees and each year take off shoots from the rootstock while they are young. | About the Author 28th November 2008 4:50pm #UserID: 0 Posts: View All 's Edible Fruit Trees |
Kath says... Henry, what sort of tools do you have? How are you going to prune a 15m tall tree? Phils idea of letting the rootstock grow as your pollinator is a very bad idea - sorry Phil. Maybe ask the local council to plant a couple of chestnut trees in public park. They are a tree that require space to grow. | About the Author Kath Cawongla 28th November 2008 4:59pm #UserID: 2 Posts: 363 View All Kath's Edible Fruit Trees |
| About the Author 28th November 2008 5:27pm #UserID: 0 Posts: View All 's Edible Fruit Trees |
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| About the Author Henry Blacktown 29th November 2008 8:12am #UserID: 605 Posts: 47 View All Henry's Edible Fruit Trees |
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| About the Author 29th November 2008 9:19am #UserID: 0 Posts: View All 's Edible Fruit Trees |
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Phil. says... Have you considered growing the American dwarf chestnuts (known as "chinkapins")? They are only shrubs or small trees. I ate a lot of them when I stayed in Nth Carolina a few years ago, quite rich and buttery in flavour. Peter Taverna in South Australia has them in his nursery which is back in business. | About the Author 29th November 2008 9:28am #UserID: 0 Posts: View All 's Edible Fruit Trees |
| About the Author Jantina Mt. Gambier S.A. 29th November 2008 3:05pm #UserID: 1351 Posts: 1272 View All Jantina's Edible Fruit Trees |
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| About the Author 29th November 2008 3:56pm #UserID: 0 Posts: View All 's Edible Fruit Trees |
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| About the Author Jantina Mt. Gambier S.A. 29th November 2008 7:54pm #UserID: 1351 Posts: 1272 View All Jantina's Edible Fruit Trees |
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