GROW A CONKER TREE

PLANT FOCUS

CONKERS

Aesculus hippocastanum, the Horse-chestnut tree. Look at those BEAUT leaves turning golden. Can't get much more Autumn than conkers can ya?

I remember playing conkers with my siblings when we were younger & knocking them all out in tournaments, obvs! (The first recorded game of conkers was in 1848 on the Isle of Wight). We still feel that excitement seeing shiny chestnut conkers peeking through big rustling leaves. Grab a load and put them in a container in your fridge over winter (make sure you leave room for the prosecco yeh!) In early spring, plant them in a pot and wait for them to sprout.

Such a regal old tree! Did you know, it's a member of the Sapindaceae family, which also houses the lychee?!

"UNDER THE SPREADING CHESTNUT TREE, I SOLD YOU AND YOU SOLD ME"

George Orwell