Growing Chestnuts for Wildlife

[mattpatt]

I had a similar thread over on the QDMA forum so I thought I'd start one here. Please post comments, questions, videos, pics. Anything having to do with growing Chestnuts for Wildlife! Since we are getting a fresh start, it would be nice if we could keep a lot of the info consolidated as much as possible. I know that's easier said than done though. Please feel free to post!

Matt

 

[mattpatt]

 

[mattpatt]

 

[JohnL48]

I looked into planting some on my property in ny Catskill area and the nursery said not to due to the colder climate. What's your thoughts ?

 

[wbpdeer]

JohnL

Do you know of any chestnuts in the area? Michigan State has a Benton Harbor version of the Chinese Chestnut that is cold hardy. Their climate and your climate have got to be similar. Planting location on a farm can make the difference between success or failure.

 

[JohnL48]

JohnL

Do you know of any chestnuts in the area? Michigan State has a Benton Harbor version of the Chinese Chestnut that is cold hardy. Their climate and your climate have got to be similar. Planting location on a farm can make the difference between success or failure.

I'm not aware of any. I have a great spot (full sun) but when I contacted the nursery, I forget if it was Realtree or Chestnut hill , but he said I'm right on the fringe of too cold. Maybe he wanted to sell me fruit trees, don't know

 

[Bowtech64]

Great videos. I started sawtooth oaks last winter indoors. I think I will try chestnuts this year all out doors. I liked your setup. I'm very interested in the chestnuts that have the November drop time.Thanks for the videos.

 

[mattpatt]

Great videos. I started sawtooth oaks last winter indoors. I think I will try chestnuts this year all out doors. I liked your setup. I'm very interested in the chestnuts that have the November drop time.Thanks for the videos.

Yes unfortunately I have been unable to secure more Buck IV nuts. I do have several trees going on two years old now that I have planted in my yard and still have some in pots. My hope is the late dropping gene got passed down and my trees will be late droppers as well. If so, I plan to collect nuts from my trees and use them to grow more. Won't know anything for 4-5 years at the earliest. Best bet is to order the tree package from the Wildlife Group and collect nuts from them when they get old enough.

Matt

 

[wbpdeer]

Matt,
Would you please post on here the spray you use for Chestnut leaves when the insects begin to eat on them. I read that post elsewhere and hope you will post it here. I intend to give it a try but know it needs to be shared by you since you have positive experience with it.
Thanks for what you share friend.

 

[mattpatt]

Matt,
Would you please post on here the spray you use for Chestnut leaves when the insects begin to eat on them. I read that post elsewhere and hope you will post it here. I intend to give it a try but know it needs to be shared by you since you have positive experience with it.
Thanks for what you share friend.

https://www.bayeradvanced.com/find-a-product/insects-pests/vegetable-garden-insect-spray

 

[Jason Broom]

I'm hoping we eventually have a Hard Mast sub-forum to go along Fruit Tree sub-forum.

My question today is about one of my chestnut trees. It has leaves that are a little lighter in color and have faint white spots on them. It's not chicken-pox, is it?

 

[mattpatt]

I'm hoping we eventually have a Hard Mast sub-forum to go along Fruit Tree sub-forum.

My question today is about one of my chestnut trees. It has leaves that are a little lighter in color and have faint white spots on them. It's not chicken-pox, is it?

If you can, please post a pic so we can see what's going on.

Matt

 

[Jason Broom]

If you can, please post a pic so we can see what's going on.

Matt

Matt, this is a picture of the tree I was concerned about.

Jason

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[ncstewart]

Can you chestnut guys help with the one in the middle that's red? The ones with light color leaves are Chinese and the dark are suppose to be allegheny chinquapins but this one from the very first leaf has always had a red tint and don't want to plant it in my mini orchard if it is something different.


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[TreeDaddy]

test

 

[wbpdeer]

ncstewart,
To me the red leaves appear to be a chestnut. Some plants just put on red leaves as they grow - others kick out little red leaves at the top or the main stem or at the end of the branches.

Try this - take out two chestnuts you are sure about and put that red leaf plant in the middle of the other two - compare trunks, bark, front of leaves and back of leaves. I bet you conclude it is a chestnut. Hope this helps.

 

[Neahawg]

I do know Allegheny chinquapins show a lot of variation in leaf shape from one tree to the next. Alot of my American chestnuts will have that color early on but grow out of it as the leaf matures.

 

[ncstewart]

Ok thanks guys.


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[mattpatt]

Matt, this is a picture of the tree I was concerned about.

Jason

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Hi Jason,

Not sure what could be causing those white spots. Maybe fungal?

Matt

 

[mattpatt]

Can you chestnut guys help with the one in the middle that's red? The ones with light color leaves are Chinese and the dark are suppose to be allegheny chinquapins but this one from the very first leaf has always had a red tint and don't want to plant it in my mini orchard if it is something different.


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I think the one with the red leaves is a chestnut as well. I have a few that do that when they put on new leaves. I also notice there are a few of your trees that look to be suffering from iron deficiency (a common problem with acid loving plants). I combat this problem by using a Miracle Grow Orchid fertilizer. It has trace amounts of iron in the fertilizer and will help with the iron deficiency in the soil.

Matt