I’ve mail-ordered 6 cultivars of nuts and would rank them in approximately this order (ripening time mentioned): Belle Epine (my #1 favorite, but late ripener, probably too late for a portion of zone 4 years), Bisalta #3 (my 2nd favorite, mid-ripener), Maraval (mid-late), Silverleaf (early-mid), Tanzawa (unclear if early or mid), and Marron di Val di Susa (late).
Silverleaf I noticed I was able to eat raw on Jan 02, stored in refrigeration. Most of the others I tried it was November and they had a bitter layer (“Pellicle”) that roasting destroys the bitterness. When cooked mostly just tasted sweet but without flavor notes of my 2 favorites.
Tanzawa were big nuts, and I know it’s resistant to a gall wasp, but I wouldn’t rank the flavor in top of the pack. It’s spelled Tanzawa, BTW, it’s the product of a Japanese breeding program.
I have a grafted Belle Epine in a planter and a layered clone on order, but I worry about what portion of years it will complete nuts in Zone 4. The owner at Burnt Ridge Nursery assures me it will produce up here. It was my favorite. For spring I’m trying to get Precoce Migoule and Bisalta #3 (both as grafts and – as backup against zone 4 winter kill – as seedlings).
Cannot tell you anything about harvesting. My Colossal seedling and Okei layered clone are no bigger after summer #2 than summer #1. I neglected to acidify their soil. Lots of winter dieback on the seedling.
In contrast my Pineapple Quince grew like it’s on steroids, and I don’t even want to keep it now I have an Aromatnya.
Hey you need to remember this: The antifungal Myclobutanil [Immunox] is toxic to chestnuts.