When is the sweet chestnut harvest time?

Where are chestnuts harvested?

The sweet chestnut, as the sweet chestnut is also called, prefers a mild climate and a warm one Location. It is mainly native to the south of Europe. In Germany it can mostly be found in wine-growing regions, for example in the Palatinate, but also in the Black Forest, Taunus or on the Moselle, Saar and Nahe. In colder regions, the harvest volume drops significantly, even if the sweet chestnut only reacts sensitively to late frosts.

When are chestnuts ripe?

The ripening time of the chestnuts is quite limited. It is usually between the end of September and mid-October. The ripe fruits are not picked, they fall from the tree and “only” have to be picked up. But they have a lot of competition because squirrel and wild boars are also quite fond of chestnuts. By nature, chestnuts do not have a very long shelf life, but various cultivars have produced varieties that are quite storable.

How can I prepare and use chestnuts?

The preferred method of preparation for chestnuts is roasting. You can also use it to cook a very tasty soup, fill a goose with it or create sweet desserts with it. If you want to preserve a larger amount of the harvest, freezing is recommended. The fruits could also be dried.

The essentials in brief:

• Harvest mostly in late September to mid-October
• ripe fruits fall from the tree
• collect quickly
• can be stored for a relatively short time