The lush inhabitant of the city alleys — the chestnut — is a recognized tree-healer, but no one has canceled its edible properties. True, we are talking about two different types of wood: the healthy we are used to is horse chestnut and the edible species is called sowing and in urban plantings to meet him is extremely difficult, but you can grow.
- Sowing campaign chestnut
- Where to plant a tree?
- Sun or shade?
- Soil requirements
- Growing from seed
- The most important process (stratification)
- Soil mixture
- Spring and autumn planting
- How to care for a plant
- Soil care and watering
- Fertilizer
- Pruning
- The use of chestnut in cooking
Chestnut seed
Edible or noble chestnuts - type trees Chestnut. Grow preferably in a subtropical climate with high humidity, where a large amount of precipitation falls during the year. The height of the tree reaches 35 meters. Trees can form whole forests on the mountain slopes. 
Where to plant a tree?
Before planting a chestnut plant, please note that in the future, the spreading crown of the tree will shade a very large area on your site, so give the future giant a place at least 4 m in diameter.
Sun or shade?
The fruits of the tree are quite large for ripening. require a lot of sunlight and heat, so choose an open, sunny place, even a very blown one: a plant steadily before winds and frosts.
Soil requirements
Ideal for growing an edible tree species is black soil. The tree can also bear fruit in the sandy lands, but in this case the ripening of the fruit and the development of the plant itself is much slower. Does not tolerate calcareous soils. The main requirement for the soil chosen for planting is its sufficient moisture.
Growing from seed
Planting plant seeds will not be difficult,as the nuts germinate well in the open field. The preparatory stage of the seed before planting is only one, but necessary for germination, process. 
The most important process (stratification)
Before planting the nuts directly into the ground, it is necessary to carry out a stratification. This is the process of keeping the seeds in the cold to accelerate their germination and increase germination. To do this, put chestnut seeds in a box of sand and send it to the basement or cellar with a temperature of about + 5 ° С. This process is long and takes about six months, after which the seeds can be planted.
Soil mixture
Sprouted nuts for shoot need to prepare substrate consisting of humus and forest land. Also in the substrate where the nuts will be stored, you need to add materials that retain moisture well. Vermiculite and sand are perfect for this. Each nut is desirable to plant in a separate pot, and in May, plant in the ground. 
Spring and autumn planting
The seeds collected in the fall before planting should be soaked in warm water to soften the crust for at least five days: this will speed up the germination process.Seed up stands at a depth of about 10 cm, and cover the leaves for the winter. In the spring, almost all nuts will germinate. If you plant sprouted seeds in the spring, then next year you can get a tree up to half a meter high.
How to care for a plant
The main thing when planting edible chestnut you have already done - correctly picked up the site with suitable soil. Now it's up to the small: to support the tree during its development. 
Soil care and watering
Chestnut is a light tree in both planting and care. All that is required is loosening of the soil 2-3 times per season, mulching with fallen leaves and timely watering, which depends on the dryness of the near-root area.
Fertilizer
Fertilize the plant should be in the spring. On the basis of 15 liters of water, prepare the following solution:
- ammonium nitrate - 20 g;
- mullein - 1 kg;
- urea - 15 g;
- ready fertilizer based on nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus - 20 g.
Pruning
Provide the growing giant with a magnificent crown: shorten all the upper branches of the plant by a quarter length. This should be done in early spring, in the first years of the life of the tree, further trimming will be formative character.
The use of chestnut in cooking
The taste of chestnut fruit resembles a nut, so it is not strange that it was just the fried edible fruits that are great for snacking on beer and wine that got their popularity. Also, baked goods are baked from fruit flour, used to make soups, side dishes, and even prepare desserts.
A giant tree planted on a plot can not only delight with its annual flowering, but also the fruits that you can discover as an original delicacy.
