What was it all about?

The process to produce a high quality chestnut starts before the trees are planted. At this stage a grower must assess their site and the attributes of their soil, make appropriate adjustments, and choose the variety of chestnut best suited to their needs and area. Good management practices must continue throughout the establishment and growing phase of the chestnut orchard. During and after harvest the adoption of best practice becomes paramount as poorly managed chestnuts can quickly deteriorate.

This project involved the production of the Australian Chestnut Growers’ Handbook. The handbook includes a history of the Australian chestnut industry, agronomy, species and varietal choice, orchard establishment, tree nutrition, chestnut harvesting, post‐harvest storage of chestnuts, environmental assurance, production economics and market opportunities.

The handbook was launched in February 2014 to help people interested in growing chestnuts commercially to make well informed decisions. It is available in hard copy and on a CD.

ACT NOW

Copies of the Australian Chestnut Growers’ Handbook can be ordered (fee applies) from Chestnuts Australia: www.chestnutsaustraliainc.com.au/publications