Chestnut (Castanea) Maraval 12L

Maraval is a French hybrid sweet chestnut, prized for cropping far sooner than traditional chestnuts, often within three to four years of planting. In September it produces generous crops of large, glossy, mahogany-brown nuts with sweet, floury flesh. They peel easily and are perfect for roasting, stuffings, soups and purées. Creamy catkins in early summer are rich in nectar and popular with bees. It also has good resistance to ink disease and leaf rust, two of the chestnut's main problems.

Maraval forms an upright tree of moderate vigour and a more compact size than traditional sweet chestnuts, which makes it a good choice for larger gardens, paddocks and smallholdings. Plant in full sun in deep, well-drained soil. Chestnuts dislike chalky ground and thrive on the neutral to acidic soils found across much of the South West. Although Maraval may produce some nuts alone, chestnuts crop far more reliably with a different variety planted nearby for cross-pollination. It comes into leaf early, so avoid frost pockets where late frosts could damage the new growth. Fully hardy once established. The nut husks are covered in sharp spines, so wear gloves when gathering the crop.

Supplied in a 12-litre pot.

Each tree is hand-selected before dispatch.

Available from Pengelly Garden Centre.