sweet chestnuts

There are a few trees in the park and i picked a couple just to have a look. I (finally!) opened them and the nuts inside are an ok size i think but a little unripe. Do I wait to pick them or do they ripen after picking? have never had any dealings with these before apart from eating them

 

There's a few trees near me too but the nuts are pretty small. I think the trees are a dwarf variety and only about 20ft high and they've been there for over 40 years. They taste OK but not a lot of flesh to them

The tree I used to climb as kid was as big as a tall oak and the nuts were much bigger. We just used to roast them by the bonfire on a tin tray!

I think if you harvest them as they are about to fall naturally they should keep 'till Christmas but I do prefer them fresh and smokey

The spines can be evil and the easiest way to open them is to use your heel and gently press on them while doing a 1/4 turn which will pop the green skins off to reveal the nut.

 

Thanks. I have found out about the spines!! anyone got any tweezers???