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GingerChinese and Chestnuts Turmeric CherylMatt Ernst Kaiser1 and1 and Kristi Matt Durbin Ernst22 IntroductionIntroduction GingerAmerican (Zingiber chestnuts officinale (Castanea dentataRoscoe) ),and once turmeric promi- (nentCurcuma in the longaeastern) both U.S. havelandscape, a long all history but disappeared of use in Asian,in the Africanmid-1900s and Caribbeanwhen chestnut cuisines. blight Fresh eradicated ginger is availablenearly all year-round of these popular in the U.S.trees. and Blight-resistant Canada from pro va-- ducerieties wholesalers of Chinese sourcingchestnut (fromCastanea global mollissima suppliers,) andand boththeir arehybrids widely are available viable alternativesin their dried, for ground commercial form thatchestnut is produced production. from their underground rhizomes.

TheChestnuts U.S. ginger are low crop in fat is mainlycompared grown with in other Hawaii. nuts Reand- cently,are receiving some U.S. attention vegetable from and the greenhouse health food growers indus- havetry. These added nuts ginger are and eaten turmeric roasted, as high-valueboiled, or sautéed.special- tyChestnuts crops to maymeet beconsumer incorporated demands into for various locally recipes, grown nuts peaks from September through December, then ingredients.such as stuffing, Producers vegetable in the dishes, northeast casseroles, have success and des-- declines dramatically. Proper post-harvest handling, fullyserts. produced Dried chestnuts ginger in can high be tunnels, ground and into experience flour as a including cold storage and marketing the chestnuts withsubstitute ginger for and wheat turmeric flour production or corn meal.(through the 2018 from refrigerated containers at retail, is essential for season) indicates both crops may be adaptable to high maintaining market quality. Because consumers are tunnelMarketing production in Kentucky. relatively unfamiliar with chestnuts, the producer will BaBy ginger The most promising outlets for chestnuts include the want to provide recipes and instructions for use and Marketingdomestic fresh (roasting) markets, upscale restaurants, athandling grocery at stores. the point Turmeric of sale. producers should also pro- Kentuckyand ethnic/specialty producers havefood focused groceries. on sellingChestnuts directly can vide use guidelines, as fresh turmeric is not commonly toalso consumers, be used to using make local gluten-free market chestnutchannels flour like farmers for sale foundMarket in the Outlook marketplace. Common uses include using marketsas a specialty and community food. Specific supported fresh chestnutagriculture. markets A few in- theChestnuts vegetative have tops potential of both for plants production to make on teas,marginal and producersclude restaurants, also sell theseroadside specialty stands, crops on-farm via wholesale markets, bothland cropsin Kentucky. are used Local in juicing. growers Both who rhizomes can consistent can also- marketingfarmers markets, for restaurant retail groceries, chefs. Some and specialtyfood retailers food bely dehydrated,supply high pickledquality, orgood candied. tasting, and weevil-free focusedretailers. on The offering University organic of Missouri and local Center produce for Agro have- chestnuts have the advantage of freshness over im- reportedforestry reportedsourcing sellingginger directlocally. to consumers from on- Gingerported chestnuts,and turmeric which have may received be viewed attention by consumers in the farm stands and farmers markets, and selling direct to healthas expensive and wellness or of lesser product quality. market, However, with turmeric many U.S. at- Localrestaurants, farmers as themarket most customers common marketingand CSA membersmethods. tractingconsumers much are recent unfamiliar interest. with The chestnuts, FDA regulates and chestnut how willChestnut benefit growers from recipesin the Easternand preparation U.S. have suggestions also sold productsgrowers willmay needbe marketed to be willing with respectto educate to claims and pro of- forchestnut fresh value-addedginger. Shelf products life and online. storage potentialmote their health crop benefits. to a new Farmgeneration marketers of considerations should be conveyed to mustconsumers. understand the potential ramifica- customers,Chestnuts are as oftenthe freshconsidered “baby” a holidayginger tions of making health claims when sell- infood its item,immature so growers stage couldproduced take in advan high- ingMichigan fresh produceis the leading crops, aschestnut associating state tunnelstage of willthis havepotential different market requirements by timing thesewith 360specific bearing crops acres with inhealth 2017. benefits Cali- thansales theaccordingly. mature ginger Demand that isfor available chest- www.uky.edu/CCDwww.uky.edu/CCD violatesfornia andfood Florida marketing also regulations. have around

1 1MattCheryl Ernst Kaiser is an is independenta former Extension contractor Associate with the with Center the Center for Cro forp Diversification. Crop Diversification. 2 2KristiMatt ErnstDurbin is isan a independentsenior horticulturist contractor in the with University the Center of Kforentucky Crop Diversification. Department of Horticulture. Cooperative Extension Service | Agriculture and Natural Resources | Family and Consumer Sciences | 4-H Youth Development | Community and Economic Development 300 bearing acres, with larger acreages per farm than (pH 5.5 to 6.5) and will not tolerate high pH soils. Michigan. The number of states reporting 100 or more While trees are cold hardy when dormant, swelling acres of chestnut trees for nuts increased from eight in buds are susceptible to frost damage in the spring. Do 2012 to 13 in 2017, according to the 2017 Census of not plant in frost pockets or locations with poor air Agriculture. Iowa, Missouri, Ohio and Virginia tallied drainage. substantial new plantings since 2012. Mature chestnuts require a final 40 feet by 50 feet Marketing channels for U.S.-grown chestnuts have spacing; however, it may take 20 or more years before mainly focused on niche, upscale foodservice and spe- trees actually fill this space. Some growers interplant cialty food markets. Production for local sales, such chestnut seedlings at a closer spacing among grafted as at farm festivals, is a possible way to add value to chestnuts. As the permanent grafted trees mature and small-scale production. The agricultural cooperative come into full production, these filler trees are- re Chestnut Growers, Inc., developed as a processing moved. and marketing outlet in Michigan, as has the Route 9 Cooperative in Ohio, where its members could access Trees are trained to a modified central leader shape, a commercial-scale chestnut peeler for processing. with only limited pruning needed on bearing trees. Young trees require protection against sunscald injury Production Considerations to their smooth bark with white spiral trunk guards. Planting material and cultivar selection Supplemental watering helps promote tree growth and Chestnut trees may be established from seeds, seed- to reduce stress, especially in the first year. Once es- lings, or grafted trees. Planting grafted trees is pre- tablished, trees are relatively drought tolerant; howev- ferred for consistency in yield, ripening, size, and er, irrigation will help bearing trees to produce larger quality of the nuts produced. While seedling trees are nuts and improve nut fill. generally more readily available and less expensive to purchase, grafted trees come into bearing sooner than Pest management seedlings. Grafted trees should have a genetically sim- Eliminating undesirable vegetation prior to planting ilar rootstock to avoid delayed graft incompatibility is essential for tree establishment. Weeds should be several years after planting. Grafted tree survival is controlled within 3 feet of young trees. Weed control more likely when the rootstock is a seedling of the scion cultivar. strategies include the use of herbicides and mowing between tree rows. Chestnut blight is still present in There are a number of Chinese chestnut cultivars the U.S., but using blight-resistant varieties may re- and hybrids that are well adapted to Kentucky condi- duce disease incidence. Potential insect problems tions. Nut characteristics, such as size, flavor, crack- include aphids, Japanese beetles, potato leafhoppers ing quality, and storage life can vary among varieties. and chestnut weevil. Insecticide applications will be It is particularly important to choose selections resis- required annually for weevil control and as needed tant to chestnut blight, and cultivars that produce the to control Japanese beetles. The Asian chestnut gall largest nuts such as Qing. Most markets require large wasp (ACGW) is also present in Kentucky. Biological chestnuts. Chinese chestnuts are self-sterile, so two or control through parasitoids is showing some control. more different cultivars are required for good pollina- There are no insecticides cleared for ACGW, but adult tion. Refer to Nut Tree Growing in Kentucky (ID-77) wasps are easily killed with sprays applied for Japa- for recommended varieties. Custom grafted trees may nese beetle. have to be ordered a year in advance. Young trees are very prone to damage by animal pests, Site selection and planting such as rabbits, mice, squirrels and deer. These pests Chestnuts can be grown on land that is considered will need to be controlled to reduce nut losses. Plac- unsuitable for other crops, such as sandy or gravelly ing plastic guards around each tree soon after planting soils. Heavy, poorly drained sites should be avoided, will help deter feeding damage from voles or rabbits as chestnuts are very susceptible to Phytophthora root when population pressure is low. Deer fencing and rot. Chestnuts prefer soils that are somewhat acidic tree shelters should be used until trees are large. Harvest and storage The first harvest for seedling chestnuts can be expect- ed in five to six years. Grafted trees will begin to bear within three to five years, with larger yields beginning six to nine years after planting. Soil moisture is im- portant prior to harvest because half the kernel growth takes place during the last two weeks before ripening.

Chestnuts are hand-picked off the ground once they have fallen from the tree. Daily harvesting is neces- sary to prevent the fallen nuts from drying out and to ensure that area wildlife does not steal or damage the crop. Alternatively, where deer or squirrel losses are severe, nuts in burs may be shaken from the tree once the burs begin to split. Chestnuts harvested too early be incurred protecting seedlings from animal pests. will be smaller, softer in texture and hard to remove Substantial losses due to graft incompatibility may from burrs. also occur if grafted trees are not selected carefully. Harvested nuts are separated from any debris gath- Establishment costs will vary depending on produc- ered at harvest and cleaned so they are free of dirt. tion systems and tree costs. Total establishment costs Promptly refrigerate (32° F or slightly above) in ven- for 1 acre of chestnuts in Kentucky would likely range tilated plastic bags. Nuts should not be allowed to dry from $4,500 to $8,000 per acre for the first five years out. Curing and storing chestnuts is a fairly involved of grafted tree production. Estimates from Michigan process, and interested individuals should consult the calculate a five-year establishment cost at $7,797, in- harvesting and storage article from Michigan State cluding a $1,187 deer fence cost. Estimates for Ken- University listed in the Selected Resources at the end tucky production (2019), based on a price of $2.50 of this document. per pound, show establishment costs recouped after seven to nine years. Annual returns to labor, land and Labor requirements Based on 1,000 to 2,000 pounds produced per acre, management of $1,000 to $1,450 per acre of chestnuts labor needs are approximately 80 hours for establish- could be realized after year 7. ment in the first two years, 25 hours for production, 70 hours per ton for hand harvest, and 16 hours per ton Financial returns may increase as trees mature and for packaging and grading. produce substantially greater yields of nuts per acre. Higher prices will also generate greater profitability Economic Considerations from chestnuts. Product quality (particularly, weevil- Chestnuts require three to six years for establishment free) and market development are essential for profit- before any nuts may be harvested, and 10 years be- able chestnut production. Potential chestnut producers fore yields are significant. This delay will mean a pe- can utilize a detailed financial projection tool, devel- riod without any cash income, presenting a significant oped by the University of Missouri Center for Agro- financial and production risk. For this reason, many forestry, to estimate long term profitability. chestnut growers start with the crop as a hobby or source of generating farm income from underutilized Selected Resources land. • Nut Tree Growing in Kentucky, ID-77 (University of Kentucky, 2007) http://www2.ca.uky.edu/ Initial investments for chestnuts include land prepara- agcomm/pubs/id/id77/id77.pdf tion, the purchase of trees, deer fence installation and • Chestnuts (Michigan State University Extension) the installation of an irrigation system. Other costs http://msue.anr.msu.edu/topic/info/chestnuts may include a sprayer, a nut shaker, cleaning equip- • Chestnut Growers, Inc. ment, a grader, and cold storage. Significant costs may http://www.chestnutgrowersinc.com/ • Chestnut Decision Support Tool (University of • Commercial Chinese Chestnut Production in Missouri Center for Agroforestry, 2012) Virginia (Virginia Tech, 2017) http://www.centerforagroforestry.org/profit/ (under https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/content/dam/pubs_ext_ Specialty Crops: Chestnuts) vt_edu/ANR/ANR-279/ANR-279.pdf • Chestnuts (Agricultural Marketing Resource • “Harvesting and Storage” (Michigan State Center, 2018) http://www.agmrc.org/commodities- University) https://www.canr.msu.edu/chestnuts/ products/nuts/chestnuts/ harvest_storage/ • Commercial Chestnut Costs of Production and • Asian Chestnut Gall Wasp (ACGW) in Kentucky Comparative Analysis with Tart Cherry Production (UK Entomology) https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ (Michigan State University, 2013) entfact/asian-chestnut-gall-wasp-acgw-kentucky https://www.canr.msu.edu/chestnuts/establishing_ • Route 9 Cooperative orchards/cost-of-production http://www.route9cooperative.com • Chestnut: American Chestnut (Northern Nut Growers Association, Inc., 2009) Suggested Citation: https://nutgrowing.org/research-and-resources/types- Kaiser, C. and M. Ernst. (2020). Chinese Chestnuts. CCD- of-nut-trees/chestnut-american-chestnut/ CP-66. Lexington, KY: Center for Crop Diversification, • Growing Chinese Chestnuts in Missouri University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and (University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry, Environment. Available: http://www.uky.edu/ccd/sites/www. uky.edu.ccd/files/chestnuts.pdf 2012) 6.74 MB http://www.centerforagroforestry. org/pubs/chestnut.pdf

Reviewed by John Strang, UK Extension Specialist, and Daniel Becker, UK Extension Associate Photos courtesy of Pixabay.com April 2020 For additional information, contact your local County Extension agent Educational programs of Kentucky Cooperative Extension serve all people regardless of economic or social status and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information, age, veteran status, or physical or mental disability.