Castanea crenata
| Castanea crenata | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 4 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-7.3 |
| Height: | 30' |
| Blooms: | Mid Summer |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Castanea crenata (common name: japanese chestnut)
Propagation: Seed - where possible sow the seed as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame or in a seed bed outdoors[1]. The seed must be protected from mice and squirrels. The seed has a short viability and must not be allowed to become dry. It can be stored in a cool place, such as the salad compartment of a fridge, for a few months if it is kept moist, but check regularly for signs of germination. The seed should germinate in late winter or early spring. If sown in an outdoor seedbed, the plants can be left in situ for 1 - 2 years before planting them out in their permanent positions. If grown in pots, the plants can be put out into their permanent positions in the summer or autumn, making sure to give them some protection from the cold in their first winter[K].
Cultivation: Prefers a good well-drained slightly acid loam but succeeds in dry soils[2][3][4]. Once established, it is very drought tolerant[2][3][4]. Very tolerant of highly acid, infertile dry sands[4]. Averse to calcareous soils but succeeds on harder limestones[3][4].
The majority of species in this genus only really thrive in areas with hot summers, though this species is better adapted to British conditions than most[4].
Cultivated for its edible seed in Japan, there are many named varieties[5][6][7]. It is often also cultivated for its seed in America because it is fairly resistant to chestnut blight[8][4]. Individual trees are very variable with regard to size of the seed, resistance to blight and astringency of the seed[7]. Some cultivars have the largest seeds of any member of this genus. Trees fruit freely when only 3 - 3.5 metres tall[3]. This species is occasionally planted as a timber tree in S. Europe[9].
An excellent soil-enriching understorey in pine forests[4].
Flowers are produced on wood of the current year's growth[10]. Plants are fairly self-sterile[4]. They hybridize freely with other members of this genus[4].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[4].
Range: E. Asia - Japan.
Habitat: Foothills[5].
Edibility: Seed - raw or cooked[2][11][12]. A good potato substitute[6][13][14][8]. A source of starch[15]. Very poor flavour[14]. Coarse and of little value. Very variable in size and quality, any astringency can be removed by boiling the seed in salty water[7].
Usage: The bark, leaves, wood and seed husks all contain tannin.
Wood - hard, strong, light, very durable. Used for furniture, construction, fence posts etc[11][12].
Pollinators: Insects
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Seed Ripens: Mid Fall
Flower Type: Monoecious
Also Known As: C. japonica.
Links
References
- ↑ Sheat, Wilfrid. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. St Martin, 1948.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.9 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Ohwi, Jisaburo. Flora of Japan. Smithsonian Institution, 1965.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Howes, Frank. Nuts. Faber, 1948.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Hill, Albert. Economic Botany. The Maple Press, 1952.
- ↑ Tutin, Tom et al.. Flora Europaea. Cambridge University Press, 1964.
- ↑ Elias, Thomas. The Complete Trees of North America. Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1980.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.
- ↑ Tanaka, Tyōzaburō. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing, 1976.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Brouk, Bohuslav. Plants Consumed by Man. Academic Press, 1975.
- ↑ Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.