Chestnut - a tree that is one of the most beautiful in the whole world. It is able to decorate any area. Feature is its flowering. Chestnut flowers will decorate any cottage. The following article describes how to plant a chestnut.
What does a garden chestnut look like?
The sight is truly amazing. In the description of the chestnut tree, it is said that it is a deciduous decorative specimen from the Beech family. There are many species, for example, red chestnut. It is able to reproduce with the help of nuts. The height can exceed 50 m. The trunk in diameter can be up to 2 m. The length of the leaf plates is about 20 cm and its flowers are up to 15 cm. The wood is painted in dark brown. The leaves themselves are oval. Like many trees, in the summer they are green, and by autumn they turn yellow.
When the Chestnut Blossoms
What strikes the chestnut is its flowers. They are collected in inflorescences of ears. These are stamen flowers. Pistillaria are located only at the base of the inflorescence. The chestnut begins to bear fruit only 15 years after its planting, but cultivated does it 10 for years. In the first 5 years, the tree grows rather slowly, but after this period of time the process accelerates. Fruits fully ripen every 2-3 years. This is September and October.
Where grows
Although it is quite resistant to frost, it loves all the same warmth. It prefers more the climate of the Middle Strip, as well as moist soil (and slightly acidic). But it does not tolerate extreme heat.
Chestnut grows in different places: American on the Atlantic coast of the United States, the Balkans, the Mediterranean coast, East Asia, Russia (in the Crimea and Transcaucasia). In Europe, a fetus can grow to the size of a whole mandarin. But in Azerbaijan or Armenia, they often reach a small size, no more than a walnut. And how fast the chestnut grows will be said below.
Root system
The root system has its own characteristics. The first is that the size of the crown does not fully appreciate the picture. It becomes unclear where the roots themselves end. And this is very important if the tree sits next door to other plants. The crown projection may even be smaller than the size of the root system itself. In short, next to it other plants will not be sweet. Powerful and long roots stretch along the large perimeter of the earth. They draw out all the water and other beneficial substances.
The system itself consists of several parts:
- taproot,
- horizontal,
- first order
- second order
- vertical with branches;
- stalk.
Note! Such a simple system of interconnected roots allows the tree to be very wind-resistant. Strong roots hold the trunk well. They go deep under the ground and stay there perfectly.
Only the adult tree has such a root system. The young seedling has fragile roots. Its core root reaches only 40 cm in width, and the length is 2-3 times higher than the ground shoot.
Root system
How to grow chestnut at home
Probably everyone knows how chestnut blossoms. It is really beautiful and unusual. To observe this in the yard, you can easily grow a tree and houses.
Note! There are a couple of nuances that must be observed so that the chestnut can fully grow and develop.
Chestnut Seedlings
First you need to solve a few questions:
- where to get the necessary seed composition;
- how to properly prepare seeds for stratification;
- what needs to be done before germination.
So, how do you get the right seed composition, that is, nuts? So that the chestnut tree can grow, you must choose the fruit that is healthy and ready to sprout. There are several criteria for selecting nuts:
- collect only those nuts that have already fallen from the tree, since those that are still growing can be immature, therefore infertile;
- the surface of the nut should correspond to two postulates: smooth with a smooth structure and dark brown. Without this, he can be susceptible to various kinds of diseases;
- you need to collect more nuts than you thought to plant, since their germination is poor.
How to properly prepare seeds for stratification
After collecting the nuts, they must be prepared for future planting. To achieve the best possible result, several manipulations on the seeds will help:
- The first step is to keep the nuts in moist soil. This will help them cleanse themselves of various fungi, bacteria and other infections. A month before this, the soil should be thermally processed in the oven.
- The earth must be kept in some kind of cold room, this will stimulate the growth of seeds. The main thing is not to keep nuts in too cold a cold. This will not only prevent the seeds from growing, but simply destroy all the processes occurring in the earth.
- Next is the preparation of a special mixture. You need to mix forest soil and humus in a ratio of 1: 1. Soak the nuts in this mixture for at least 4 months.
- Shell softening. Without this, it will be difficult for the nut to germinate. To do this, put the future seeds in warm water and change it daily. When the top layer of the shell is sufficiently malleable and soft, then the chestnut can be considered ready for planting.
What you need to do before planting a chestnut from walnut
The right place to grow the tree also plays an important role. You need to figure out how to plant chestnut, because adverse conditions tend to create unnecessary problems for crops. There are several rules on how to germinate a chestnut:
- keeping seeds in a cold room for several weeks;
- planting in moist soil to avoid various diseases;
- you need to plant at least 5-6 nuts, which are located in the dug holes of the earth, as not all will be accepted. The depth of walnut planting is about 5 cm, and the distance between them is 15-20 cm;
- the pits are sprinkled with the same earth, but with the addition of a small amount of river sand.
Note! Further they will grow by themselves. They will be covered with snow for the winter and will be put into a state of some kind of "hibernation".
Winter option
Care for young seedlings
Chestnut is very difficult to grow, even an experienced gardener does not always cope with this. The main thing here is to strictly adhere to the rules:
- immediately after planting the chestnut, it is worth wrapping it with wire or some kind of tape around the entire perimeter of the pot, because in the early stages it is very fragile. The slightest awkward movement could be his last;
- sometimes it is necessary to tie the sprouts of a chestnut;
- plentiful watering is necessary in any case. Chestnut adores moist soil;
- the main thing is not to overdo it. Excess moisture can only harm the plant;
- timely pruning. Chestnut is a leisurely plant, so it will grow for a long time. It is only necessary sometimes to cut off damaged or dried branches.
On what soil does it grow
Chestnut, as it became known, loves well-moistened soil. There you need to grow it. But moisture is not the only criterion.
Note! Chestnut grows well in loose soils of loamy type, therefore, but only in this clay soil you need to add various components and horse manure.
Temperature mode
Chestnut is very resistant to frost. Its deep root system allows you to tolerate temperature in almost any harsh climate. Therefore, excessive heat is not well tolerated by the culture. This tree is able to withstand temperatures up to 25 ⁰C, no more.
For a growing period, a young chestnut is suitable for a warm room, not too hot. And it must also meet some criteria:
- too low temperature will not bloom. Reproduction will also be impossible;
- although it can withstand low temperatures, even a light cold breeze can greatly harm it;
- chestnut, like other plants, does not tolerate gas contamination. Only clean air is favorable for him.
Watering mode
Chestnut loves moisture and water, and its watering should be regular. To do this, suitable water at room temperature is suitable. It will give the root system more substances for growth. Watering should be carried out every day in the evenings after sunset.
How to transplant chestnut in the open ground
Transplanting any plant or tree (especially chestnut) is a very complex and time-consuming process that requires some knowledge to reduce the damage that can be caused to the chestnut. Why is that? The chestnut has a very strong trunk with powerful roots, which also makes it difficult to move. It is easiest to do this with young trees, because an unformed specimen will tolerate a change of place quite well.
Rules for replanting seedlings and watering
This is best done during the spring or fall, given some of the nuances:
- temperature difference;
- sudden freezing of the soil;
- warm weather without sharp jumps of 20-25 ° С.
All this allows the tree to easily transfer the entire transplant process. Step-by-step instruction of the process itself:
- Dig a small hole.
- Extract the chestnut along with the roots.
- Checking the roots for damage or disease.
- Ash treatment.
- Planting a chestnut in a new place.
Important! What follows is only regular watering so that the plant quickly takes root in a new place. Fertilizing is not necessary.
Chestnut transplantation is a very responsible action, with consequences. If the gardener is not confident in his abilities, then it is worth entrusting it to another professional. And besides, the transplant will affect the chestnut. He will need time to recover. And this is a rather long process. It is worth considering the above rules, otherwise flowering will have to wait up to 10 years.
How to care
Growing chestnut is a complex process. It is worth adhering to certain rules, strictly following them. The main thing is to take into account that the tree will grow for a long time, and the first flowering can be seen only after 10 years at best. But if this is not an obstacle for the gardener, then he definitely needs to re-read the article again, since the slightest mistake in leaving can ruin all the long-term efforts in growing a flowering handsome man.
