Precoce Migoule facts for kids

The Precoce Migoule is a special type of chestnut tree. It's a "hybrid," which means it's a natural mix of two different chestnut trees: the European chestnut (Castanea sativa) and the Japanese chestnut (Castanea crenata). This tree was found by J. Dufrenoy in an orchard called Migoule, near Brive-la-Gaillarde in France.

This chestnut tree grows very strong and straight. It can grow over a meter (about 3 feet) taller in just one year if it has good conditions! It's a big tree, reaching heights of 20 meters (about 60 feet) or more, and it can spread out 7.5 to 10 meters (25-35 feet) wide. These trees start making nuts when they are about 3 to 5 years old. They produce lots of nuts when they are 12 to 20 years old.

Where it Grows

The Precoce Migoule chestnut can grow in many places. It does well in areas where grapes are also grown. This tree is very tough against cold weather. It can survive temperatures as low as -28 degrees Celsius (-20 degrees Fahrenheit) [1].

If planted on a hillside facing southwest, it can grow at elevations up to 500 meters (about 1640 feet). This type of chestnut ripens its nuts early. This is great for cooler, northern places where late-ripening nuts might get damaged by frost [2]. It's a very reliable tree for producing nuts in cool areas.

Flowering and Reproduction

The Precoce Migoule tree blooms early in the year. Its flowers can be sensitive to frost. However, it can still make nuts from its backup buds if the first ones get frosted. The pollen from this tree has a low to medium ability to fertilize other flowers.

In the Northern Hemisphere, the male flowers (called catkins) bloom from June 15th to June 30th. The female flowers bloom a little later, from June 25th to July 10th. This tree can help pollinate all types of European chestnut trees. It can also be pollinated by other chestnut varieties like Basalta #3, Belle Epine, Bournette, Ginyose, Marigoule, Marsol, Tsukuba, and Vignols [3].

Health and Care

The Precoce Migoule chestnut has some health considerations. It can be affected by "codling," which is a type of worm that damages nuts. It is also easily affected by bark canker, a disease that harms the tree's bark. However, it is strong against "rust," which is a type of fungus.

This tree is not very resistant to "ink disease" (Phytophthora) if it grows on its own roots. To help it stay healthy, it's often better to graft (attach) the Precoce Migoule onto rootstock from other chestnut trees. These rootstocks, like Marsol, Maraval, or Marigoule, are more resistant to ink disease.

Harvesting Nuts

When the nuts are ready, they usually fall freely from their spiky outer shell (called a burr). The nuts typically start falling in mid to late September. They continue to drop until the first week of October.

The size of the nuts can vary. It depends on the type of rootstock the tree was grafted onto. The nuts can be quite large, with about 24-26 nuts making up a pound, or each nut weighing 15-18 grams. The nuts have a light mahogany color.

Nut Quality and Taste

The Precoce Migoule nuts are known for their good flavor when roasted. People describe the taste as good, very good, or even excellent. The nuts are also easy to peel after cooking. They store well too, which means you can keep them for a while. These nuts are mostly grown to be sold fresh.