Sweet chestnut tree

Sweet chestnut tree: Canopy width 800 cm (315 in). Full sun, 6–8 hours a day.

Key facts

Canopy width	800 cm (315 in)
Sun	Full sun, 6–8 hours a day
Root depth	40 cm (16 in)
Height when grown	720 cm (283 in)
Crop rotation group	Herbs, flowers and perennials
Support	None needed

Planting

How it is started	From a bought plant
When to plant	Outdoors before the last frost; soil at least 8 °C

Care

Takes transplanting	Only with care, keep the root ball
Life cycle	Perennial
Cold tolerance	Takes a light frost → hardy, takes hard frost
Soil	Light, sandy, free draining, pH 5–6.5
In a pot	—
Watering	Water when the soil is dry two fingers down; while fruit sets, in dry spells
Feeding	Moderate; in spring
Support and training	A stake; prune, tie in as it grows

Harvest and planning

Days to first harvest	5–8 years, from planting
Ready when	The husk opens and the nuts drop
Harvest window	All at once, 2–4 weeks
Typical yield	20–80 kg per plant
Botanical family	Fagaceae
Watch out for	Chestnut weevil, canker
First crop after	5–8 years
Pollination	Needs another variety nearby

Good neighbours

◐ good with a condition · Why, with the sources →

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Open the free planner, drop Sweet chestnut tree onto a bed and see how many plants fit.

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Sowing and harvest

Plant out	Oct–Nov
Harvest	Sep–Oct

My dates for this crop

My country Last spring frost where I live

Give the date once and this page, the sowing calendar and the planner all follow it.

Months for a temperate climate: about a month later in the north and a month earlier in the south. Give your own last frost date for exact dates.

What to plant next to Sweet chestnut tree →

Grown much the same way

Crops that need about the same room and care, from another family.

Sources

The values on this page marked as checked come from these sources: spacing, sowing depth, germination, soil, timing and safety notes, each against the source named here.

Chestnut Orchard Design — Michigan State University Extension for: between rows, spacing in the row; checked 2026-10-31

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