A few of the many varieties of Sweet Chestnuts (Castanea Satvia) we grow – End Oct 2023

The photos below are just a few of the many varieties of Sweet Chestnuts (Castanea Satvia) we grow. These are more unusual varieties than just the standard Marigoule or ‘wild’ chestnut. Many of our trees are not particularly old , and thus the nut size can be very variable, and to not comply with the standard for that variety.

Many of the varieties are crosses of the following 3 species.

American chestnuts (Castanea dentata) :

Smallest and sweetest: American chestnuts are the smallest of the three species, but they have the sweetest and most nutty flavor.
Hairy over half their length: American chestnuts are hairy over half their length, from the pointed tip to the middle.
Sunburst hilum: American chestnuts have a sunburst pattern of vascular bundles on the hilum, or scar where the nut was attached to the bur.
Relatively easy to shell: American chestnuts are relatively easy to shell, especially when they are fresh.
Susceptible to chestnut blight: American chestnuts are susceptible to chestnut blight, a fungal disease that has decimated their population in the United States.

Japanese chestnuts (Castanea crenata) :

Largest and mildest: Japanese chestnuts are the largest of the three species, and they have a mild, sweet flavor.
Hairy only at the tip: Japanese chestnuts are hairy only at the tip, and they are smooth for the rest of their length.
Diffuse hilum: Japanese chestnuts have a diffuse pattern of vascular bundles on the hilum.
Can be difficult to shell: Japanese chestnuts can be more difficult to shell than American chestnuts, especially the larger varieties.
Resistant to chestnut blight: Japanese chestnuts are resistant to chestnut blight.

Chinese chestnuts (Castanea mollissima) :

Medium-sized and nutty: Chinese chestnuts are medium-sized, with a nutty flavor that is less sweet than American chestnuts but more nutty than Japanese chestnuts.
Hairy only at the tip: Chinese chestnuts are hairy only at the tip, and they are smooth for the rest of their length.
Diffuse hilum: Chinese chestnuts have a diffuse pattern of vascular bundles on the hilum.
Typically easy to shell: Chinese chestnuts are typically easy to shell, similar to American chestnuts.
Resistant to chestnut blight: Chinese chestnuts are resistant to chestnut blight, but they are more susceptible to other diseases, such as ink disease.

Note – Hilum in Botany terms is the scar on a nut marking the point of attachment to its seed vessel.

Most modern varieties are crosses with Common Sweet Chestnut (Castanes Satvia) and Chinese chestnuts (Castanea mollissima). With the emphasis on the processing industry, and ease of peelling for making boiled whole sweet chestnuts of grinding into flour.

The variety ‘Volu/Volou’ can be grown in less favorable conditions. It is fertile, fruits are medium large and very sweet. Variety is very reliable. Origin believed to be Slovakia.

Sweet chestnut Bojar is an early variety selected from the natural population of chestnuts by the Research Institute in Bojnice, Slovakia . It produces large, wide, dark brown, shiny fruits regularly and abundantly. The average fruit weight is 10-11 grams. They bloom late, until the end of June, so their flowers are not damaged by late spring frosts. They are well pollinated by the wind. The nuts ripen in the first half of October.The trees can withstand winter frosts down to -34 degrees Celsius.

They grow to a height of approximately 8 meters.

Studies have shown that the pollen with a size of 14-18 microns, can be transported by wind up to a distance of 100 km.

Dursun is a Turkish variety believed to be a sativa hybrid. It is grown in the İnegöl-Esenköy region. Fruits are almost round??, the shell is thin, dark and shiny. The interior is cream coloured. and it is a very productive variety.

Castanea sativa ‘Almofrei’ is a luxuriantly growing tree, with a semi-erect crown. It begins to bear fruit in the 3rd year. Its fruits are large, light-brown, suitable for cooking, baking, etc., they taste sweet. It can also be grown at high altitudes, but needs a southern orientation for the sun.

Some say Marki is a pure Japanese (Castanea crenata) sweet chestnut, others that it is Japanese x European cross. It is harvested mid-late season, producing approx 50 nuts per kilo, taste is very good.  One of the best for storage.