Chestnuts are mature when they fall naturally from the tree. They ripen in September and October over a period of about two to four weeks. The nuts gain half of their final weight in the final two weeks before falling, so avoid knocking them from the tree. Gather the fallen nuts every few days to preserve quality.

How can you tell when chestnuts are ripe?

A ripe chestnut should be harvested from the floor around the tree rather than from the tree itself as they aren't ripe until they drop. Look for shiny brown chestnuts that feel firm, the bigger the better.

Can you pick chestnuts off the tree?

When to Harvest Chestnuts

The fruit on the tree is protected by extremely prickly burs that are green throughout the growing season. As the fruit mature, the burs turn brown. ... On the other hand, once the nuts fall from the tree, act quickly so that you gather the chestnuts before the wildlife get to them.