Spanish (Sweet) Chessnut growing

Cork boy 55

Sweet Chessnut growing...

Just wondering ...

Does anyone Grow Chessnut Groves/orchards In Ireland
and if not why Not?
For harvesting of nuts
Is it a question of climate, economics or lack of market?
What Wild creatures would eat them if you did grow them?

Regards




http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castanea_sativa

edit
Just searched this forum this is only thread with chessnut in title , weird

I meant to say for harvesting the nuts primary on a year to year basis as opposed to timber plantations

Oldtree

A search for Sweet Chestnut:

here in Forestry

all of boards.ie

you may also like to have a read of this:

a DoFMA info sheet on Castanea sativa

I have seen Sweet Chestnut used for coppice stands in the UK, but not here.

Oldtree

Perhaps if you contact these people they may be able to give you more detailed information on Sweet Chestnut plantations grown for the nut harvest in Ireland.

Irish Nut Growers Association

EDIT

It is the intention of the Irish Nut Growers Association to help disseminate the knowledge and informaton gleaned from these trials so that other people interested in growing nuts in Ireland (and in other countries with similar climates) can benefit.

greysides

I 'think' the chestnuts were ground to make flour in bye-gone days. A seed grown tree in the garden, about 18 years old has its first crop of nuts this year.

Oldtree

Had the kids out the other day collecting ordinary chestnut conkers and they had a great time. Great crop this year.

Cork boy 55

greysides wrote: »

I 'think' the chestnuts were ground to make flour in bye-gone days. A seed grown tree in the garden, about 18 years old has its first crop of nuts this year.

says 4-6 yrs for first crop in link in post #3