Chestnut Production?

[KSQ2]

That affects the number that germinate. I thing Wayne had his in for 90 days and I had mine in cold stratification for 60 days. He got well over 90% (can't recall exact numbers_ and I got in the 70s% germination. Keep in mind you don't start the count when you put them in the fridge. It starts when you add dampness to the medium. Without the right moisture content, in the cold, they kind of go into suspended animation.

I kept them in a plastic baggie with a damp paper towel. I had to remove a total of 5 nuts over the winter b/c of molding.

 

[KSQ2]

On the same note, none of the direct seeded nuts have begun top growth either. Neither oaks nor chestnuts, so I’m not worried as of yet, just curious.

 

[yoderjac]

On the same note, none of the direct seeded nuts have begun top growth either. Neither oaks nor chestnuts, so I’m not worried as of yet, just curious.

Given your RMs are outside, I would guess they get similar light to the direct seeded ones. The medium would be roughly at air temperature which should be somewhat warmer than soil temp, so the RMs may start a bit sooner, but I suspect not much. My charts above were done indoors so the temperatures were much more controlled. I had small indoor greenhouses at the time with shop lights and a small heater to control temp an humidity. I would guess nuts started outside would be somewhat slower. I think top growth (vs root development) is more driven by temp and light. Plants don't want to start that too early and then get a late cold snap that kills the top growth.

 

[KSQ2]

Given your RMs are outside, I would guess they get similar light to the direct seeded ones. The medium would be roughly at air temperature which should be somewhat warmer than soil temp, so the RMs may start a bit sooner, but I suspect not much. My charts above were done indoors so the temperatures were much more controlled. I had small indoor greenhouses at the time with shop lights and a small heater to control temp an humidity. I would guess nuts started outside would be somewhat slower. I think top growth (vs root development) is more driven by temp and light. Plants don't want to start that too early and then get a late cold snap that kills the top growth.

It’s SO tempting to pull some soil/medium back to see if the root is beginning to develop, but I’ve not given in to the urge to satisfy my curiosity.

 

[mattpatt]

I grow outside. I don’t know about yall but I was looking at the forecast for next week but not much is going to germinate with highs in the mid 60s. I think there are a couple of days where the temps are in the 70s.


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[KSQ2]

I grow outside. I don’t know about yall but I was looking at the forecast for next week but not much is going to germinate with highs in the mid 60s. I think there are a couple of days where the temps are in the 70s.


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We’ve been pretty cool as well Matt, I thought that might be slowing everything down some, hoping in fact, that was the issue.

 

[TreeDaddy]

I have 9 RM 18 trays that I started outdoors mid february

Sawtooth,live oak,white oak ,DCO,chinkapin oak

All had radicles

starting to see top growth DCO,sawtooth,and white oak

bill

 

[mattpatt]

We’ve been pretty cool as well Matt, I thought that might be slowing everything down some, hoping in fact, that was the issue.

They’ll put on top growth but it’ll be much slower. Just wish it would hurry up and decide to warm on up a little.


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[KSQ2]

They cold persists, so I decided to cheat.

 

[mattpatt]

Have any of you guys been fertilizing your bigger trees? I usually spread some 10-10-10 or 13-13-13, if I can find it @ 1lb. per 1” of trunk diameter btw. In case anyone was wondering.

Anyway the last couple of years, my daughter has been showing rabbits in Spring for her FFA project in school. So I have just started using rabbit manure and it seems to be working fine. It is extremely high in N-P-K and is considered a “cold” manure as it doesn’t need to be composted and can be applied directly to plants or in this case, trees. Other manures such as chicken and cattle are considered “hot” manures and must be composted before they can be used as fertilizer.

You can also brew a “tea” which can then be applied to both the foliage or poured around the tree which is supposed to cause the plants to take in the nutrients faster but I just throw the manure out with a bucket and let Mother Nature water it in for me.

Here’s a pic of my son holding one of the furry rascals…

Matt


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[yoderjac]

Have any of you guys been fertilizing your bigger trees? I usually spread some 10-10-10 or 13-13-13, if I can find it @ 1lb. per 1” of trunk diameter btw. In case anyone was wondering.

Anyway the last couple of years, my daughter has been showing rabbits in Spring for her FFA project in school. So I have just started using rabbit manure and it seems to be working fine. It is extremely high in N-P-K and is considered a “cold” manure as it doesn’t need to be composted and can be applied directly to plants or in this case, trees. Other manures such as chicken and cattle are considered “hot” manures and must be composted before they can be used as fertilizer.

You can also brew a “tea” which can then be applied to both the foliage or poured around the tree which is supposed to cause the plants to take in the nutrients faster but I just throw the manure out with a bucket and let Mother Nature water it in for me.

Here’s a pic of my son holding one of the furry rascals…

Matt


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Cute!

My neighbor boys are taking their rabbits to a hotel lobby for Easter. The manager thought it would be a nice Easter attraction.

The only fertilization I've done on my chestnuts is with Osmocote and MicroMax when they are in containers. Mine are all wildlife trees planted in too high volume to provide care for. So, once my trees are planted, they have to produce on their own.

I don't know how chestnuts respond to fertilization, but it sure can't hurt for folks who are babying a few trees.

 

[KSQ2]

Have any of you guys been fertilizing your bigger trees? I usually spread some 10-10-10 or 13-13-13, if I can find it @ 1lb. per 1” of trunk diameter btw. In case anyone was wondering.

Anyway the last couple of years, my daughter has been showing rabbits in Spring for her FFA project in school. So I have just started using rabbit manure and it seems to be working fine. It is extremely high in N-P-K and is considered a “cold” manure as it doesn’t need to be composted and can be applied directly to plants or in this case, trees. Other manures such as chicken and cattle are considered “hot” manures and must be composted before they can be used as fertilizer.

You can also brew a “tea” which can then be applied to both the foliage or poured around the tree which is supposed to cause the plants to take in the nutrients faster but I just throw the manure out with a bucket and let Mother Nature water it in for me.

Here’s a pic of my son holding one of the furry rascals…

Matt


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We have some friends who raise rabbits, we throw the droppings on the garden and some smaller foodplots too.

 

[KSQ2]

A number of the chestnuts are beginning to lift out of the soil, which tells me the root system must is getting bigger. Hoping for some top growth soon. It also looks like a number of the chestnuts are dead unfortunately.

 

[KSQ2]

 

[mattpatt]

View attachment 27778
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View attachment 27780

They look good to me. You’ll have top growth before you know it:

Matt


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[KSQ2]

Several of the chestnuts look like they’ve attempted to put on some top growth, but shortly after getting out of the ground, they seem to just give out and die. This happened to several nuts last year, and the failed shoots would sometimes be replaced by another. Is this normal, or am I doing something wrong? I’ll try to post a couple pics, but the shoots are kind of hard to see. After coming out of the root, they just appear to “burn off” at the top and die.

 

[yoderjac]

It isn't normal for me, but I grew mine indoors under lights and controlled conditions until they filled 18s. @mattpatt can probably give you an idea of what is normal for growing outdoors.

 

[mattpatt]

This isn’t normal. Looks like the soil is very moist but it’s hard to tell with the pic zoomed in so much. You may be suffering from a form of damping off.

Matt


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[yoderjac]

This isn’t normal. Looks like the soil is very moist but it’s hard to tell with the pic zoomed in so much. You may be suffering from a form of damping off.

Matt


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Yes, damp-off can happen indoors too with improper watering. They don't like wet feet. When I water chestnuts, I saturate them until water is running out of the lower holes of the 18s. Once saturated, I pick them up to get a feel for weight. I consider that weight a "full tank. I then don't water them again until it is time. Each day (indoors), I'll pick them up and test the weight. When the get to approximately 1/4 tank, I'll drench them again.

That technique works much better than trying to water on a schedule. There are too many factors to try to water by schedule, even indoors. I can imagine that there are even more factors starting them outdoors.

 

[KSQ2]

Yes, damp-off can happen indoors too with improper watering. They don't like wet feet. When I water chestnuts, I saturate them until water is running out of the lower holes of the 18s. Once saturated, I pick them up to get a feel for weight. I consider that weight a "full tank. I then don't water them again until it is time. Each day (indoors), I'll pick them up and test the weight. When the get to approximately 1/4 tank, I'll drench them again.

That technique works much better than trying to water on a schedule. There are too many factors to try to water by schedule, even indoors. I can imagine that there are even more factors starting them outdoors.

I’ve been watering once every five days, and about a quart of water on the entire tray. I guess I’ll let them dry out completely. There is NOTHING easy about this. It’s incredibly frustrating.