Food Plants International

353
Names
English: European Chestnut Scientific name: Castanea sativa Mill.
Tok pisin: Synonyms:
Tok ples: Plant family: Fagaceae
Description: A large deciduous tree up to 30-40 m
high. It spreads to 6-15 m across. The stem is erect
and stout. It has spreading branches and a wide
rounded crown. The bark is grey-brown. The bark is
ridged in a right handed spiral. The large leaves have
toothed edges. The leaves are oblong to sword shaped
and have prominent veins. The leaves can be 20 cm
long. Leaves turn yellow to brown in autumn. Male
and female flowers are separate. The male flowers are
brownish and hang down like a cat's tail. They are 20
cm long. The female flowers are joined together into a
distinctive little tube. Normally male flowers are lower
in the current season's shoots while the female (or both
sexes) flowers are nearer the end of the shoot. The
pollen can have an unpleasant smell. The brown nuts
are inside green, spiny coverings. These burrs open to
reveal the nut. The outer shell is shiny light brown. It
needs to be cut off with a sharp knife. A softer layer
appears inside surrounding the nut.
Distribution: A Mediterranean climate plant. It can withstand frost. Trees do produce in the
highlands of South India so may produce in the highlands of PNG. It requires light to medium,
well drained soils. It is drought tender. It is slightly hardier than a peach and has less chilling
requirement than a walnut. It is not suited to heat or humidity. It suits hardiness zones 5-9.
Cultivation: Trees are mostly grown from seeds, but it is better to use grafted trees onto chestnut
seedlings. Trees can be grown from cuttings. They can also be grown by layering. Seeds
should be from cross pollinated trees and should be stored in a refrigerator at just below freezing
for several months to break the dormancy, before planting. Some trees need to be cross
pollinated, but some kinds will self between male and female flowers on the one tree.
Pollination is by wind so trees should be near each other. Normally trees are trained to have a
single trunk with at least 1.5 m to the lowest branch.
Production: This is the fastest growing of the chestnuts. Trees can live for centuries. Seedling
trees can bear after 3-10 years. Up to 100 kg of nuts can be produced per year. There is little
seasonal fluctuation in nut production. The nuts fall naturally. The nuts need to be partly dried
to improve the taste and stop rots. The nuts can be stored in closed boxes, with newspaper to
absorb the moisture. If kept cool they will store for 6 months. Kernels can be kept for much
longer if cooked and frozen. To do this the nut is placed in boiling water for 2 minutes then
peeled and cooled and frozen.
Use: The kernel of the nuts is eaten boiled or roasted.
They are also slowly dried then ground and made into porridge.
Food Value: Per 100 g edible portion
Edible Moisture Energy Protein Calcium Iron proVit A proVit C
part % KJ g mg mg µg mg
Nut 51.7 720 2.0 0.9 0 27
Insects: Diseases: Pests:
Importance: Seeds have been introduced into Papua New Guinea for growing trials only
Zinc
mg