Pumpkin Center, Kern County, California. This article is about the unincorporated community in Kern County. For the unincorporated community in Lassen County, see Pumpkin Center, Lassen County, California.
Harvesting Chestnut Trees. After the chestnuts fall from the tree, watch for the spiny burs to split. Donât harvest chestnuts if the burs are still green and closed because the nuts inside will be unripe. Harvest the nuts every couple of days.
Basket or container. Begin harvesting the chestnuts a week or more prior to the first forecasted snows of the winter season. Use a stepladder to get up to the burs at the end of the chestnut treeâs branches. The burs themselves appear closed early in the fall but should have split open by now.