Maridonne Sweet Chestnut Tree
Maridonne is a productive, late-season sweet chestnut producing large to very large brown nuts. The tree has medium vigour, develops a semi-upright shape and begins cropping reasonably quickly. Its nuts store particularly well, peel easily and are suitable for eating or cooking. The glossy, serrated leaves turn golden in autumn, giving Maridonne ornamental value as well as a useful nut crop. [1] [2] [3]
Pollination: Maridonne has low self-fertility, so one tree can produce some sweet chestnuts by itself. For a fuller and more reliable crop, plant Précoce Migoule or Bournette nearby. These are the pollination partners specifically recommended for Maridonne in the CTIFL/Invenio cultivar evaluation. [1] [3]
Planting Maridonne Sweet Chestnut Tree
Choose a warm, sunny and sheltered position with freely draining, acid-to-neutral soil. Lighter loam or sandy soils are particularly suitable. Avoid chalky, alkaline ground and places that remain waterlogged, as sweet chestnuts dislike poor drainage. [1] [4] [5]
Shelter from strong winds is useful because Maridonne’s wood can be relatively brittle and may break in exposed positions or under the weight of a heavy crop. Allow enough room for the crown to develop without crowding buildings or neighbouring trees. [2]
Dig a planting hole no deeper than the root system but considerably wider. Position the first structural roots at approximately finished soil level, backfill carefully, firm gently and water thoroughly. Keep grass and weeds away from the root area, mulch without allowing the mulch to touch the trunk and water during dry periods while the tree establishes. [6]
Other Interesting Information About Maridonne Tree
Maridonne is a French INRA hybrid produced by crossing Sardonne, a European sweet chestnut, Castanea sativa, with the Japanese chestnut selection CA04, Castanea crenata. It has medium vigour, good productivity and begins fruiting reasonably quickly in suitable conditions. [2] [3]
Maridonne is best suited to buyers wanting large chestnuts that keep well and are easy to prepare. The papery inner skin divides fewer than 5% of the kernels, so most nuts remain whole and peel cleanly. Its flavour is fairly mild, but the nuts are useful for eating, boiling, roasting and cooking. [1] [2]
