Chestnut is native to China and has a long history of cultivation. There are more than 300 varieties. They are distributed in a wide area, covering the north and south of the Yangtze River, and inside and outside the Great Wall, forming two main species groups. The northern species group is dominated by North China local varieties, while the southern species is dominated by a group composed of local species in the Yangtze River Basin. The fruit of the chestnut is a nut that can be eaten raw, cooked and fried, and can also be made into cakes and candies. The wood is hard and is also the best material for boat building, flooring and furniture. Chestnuts grow quickly, have strong adaptability, and are highly resistant to barren, barren mountains and wastelands, wild slopes and riverbanks. They all grow very well and can obtain high and stable yields, and the fruiting period can last for more than a hundred years. This is an excellent fruit tree variety.

Chestnuts are mainly grown in Shandong. Common varieties include Huafeng, Huaguang, Hongli No. 1, Shifeng, Hongguang pear and many other varieties. From the perspective of chestnut characteristics and long-term cultivation practices, soil, light, temperature and rainfall are the main environmental conditions that affect chestnut growth and fruit quality.

1. Soil conditions: Chestnut is suitable for growing in deep soil, high humus content, loose soil, good ventilation, good drainage, slightly acidic to neutral gravel, and sandy loam. If the chestnut is planted in a soil with weak soil, low fertility, poor drainage and air permeability, the chestnut root system will be shallow, drought-tolerant, and the tree vitality will be poor. If the soil is alkaline, the effect will be very small, and the chestnut will not grow.

2. Light conditions: Chestnut is a very typical camptotheca tree species. With sufficient light, the better the chestnut grows, the higher the yield and the better the quality. Therefore, it is best to choose flat land for planting, sunny and semi-sunny slopes. If you want to grow chestnuts in the valley, you must meet two conditions. One condition is that the terrain must be open, and the other condition is that the sun must reach more than 7 hours. Years of experience have proven that on any shady slope with an average of less than 7 hours of light per day, chestnuts grow with yellow and thin leaves, a large number of flowers and fruits will appear during the flowering period, and the fruit particles are few and the yield per unit area is low. , the difference between good fruit quality.

3. Rainfall: The amount of rainfall directly affects chestnut yield and fruit size. Compared with fruit trees such as persimmons and dates, chestnuts require more water, so chestnuts are suitable for planting in rainy and humid places (such as southern regions). Chestnut has been proven to be more productive during the rainy season. Excessive drought will affect tree growth and ultimately lead to lower yields. Throughout the growth process of chestnut, only moderate drought during the flowering period is more conducive to pollination and fruit setting. At other times, water should be supplied in a timely manner, especially during the growth and development period of chestnuts that require greater water demand. Before chestnut fruits mature in autumn, proper rainfall or watering can promote fruit growth and increase yield. However, chestnuts should not be overwatered because chestnuts are not waterlogging-resistant. Excessive watering or poor drainage can easily cause chestnut root rot and mold.

4. Temperature conditions: Chestnuts can be grown in the north and south of our country, but chestnuts in the south are suitable for the local climate and heat resistance, while chestnuts are cold-resistant in the north. But generally speaking, chestnut is most suitable for growing in places with an average annual temperature of 10-25°C, abundant rainfall, and abundant heat. If chestnuts are planted in a place with a large temperature difference between day and night, the fruit will be better. This temperature difference is beneficial to the accumulation and transformation of nutrients in chestnuts, so chestnuts from the north are more delicious.