Growing Chestnuts for Wildlife

[Neahawg]

Yup that was my first batch had several make it to 4 and 5 feet but this was my best one.

 

[Sparkynutz]

Sparkynutz

I am sorry - I posted rather fast and then you edited your post and added photos to it. When a person reads it now - they think I was in the wine cabinet. Your seedlings in the extra photos look great.

Don't be sorry. I'm happy to have the input!
When I can get the wife to come out to the land with me I'll post up some pics of me by my biggest trees

 

[Sparkynutz]

And with good comes the bad, in the 3 weeks I wasn't able to make it up there either Japanese Beatles or something ate nearly every leaf it had, not sure if it will pull through or not.

I would think it will come around. I had one tree that I planted in a really bad spot and didn't cage or mark. I cut it off accidently mowing 3 times. The last time I saw the leaves laying there and tried to dig it out with a small shovel which happened to cut the main root in half. I tossed it down and finished mowing. Before I left I had a little time left before work so I dug a quick hole in a better spot and planted what was left of that sad broken tree. Now a month later it's over a ft tall and has 6 leaves. I don't think it wanted to die. Hardy little bugger.

 

[wbpdeer]

It will pull thru - the roots are driving the train. They are the engine. Sorry for the setback. But it will be a setback - not a death sentence. I am hopeful.

 

[Neahawg]

Deff got my fingers crossed so far it has been my favorite tree I've grown

 

[mattpatt]

I think it'll come around. I've had a few that I thought were dead due to watering issues. Their leaves turn brown and fall off. Then a couple weeks later after paying better attention to watering they bud back out and put on new leaves. It sets them back for sure but it is usually not a death sentence.

 

[Sparkynutz]

My biggest tree from last year never lost its leaves all winter keeping them until not sure when this spring. They were dead and brown. Tree looks healthy as can be now. I thought it was dead but but it has maintained it's steady lead over the rest of last year's trees.

 

[wbpdeer]

Anyone new to tree growing should appreciate Matt's video in the opening post of this thread. Remember he is growing in a much hotter climate that about 90% of the forum users on this site.

I appreciate the information you share friend. Also, the threads you brought over. I will rebuild mine over time.

 

[mattpatt]

Haven’t updated this thread in quite a while so I though I’d do so. Here’s a video showing some of my trees in my orchard near my house.

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[mattpatt]

Chestnuts are looking good. Some of these are my late dropping trees. Barring anything unforeseen, I hope to have plenty to share with the group this year.

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[ncstewart]

Put me first on list!


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[weekender21]

That’s awesome! I’m definitely interested.


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[Kennychestnut]

Looks great .
How did the seeds I sent you do this spring ?


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[mattpatt]

Looks great .
How did the seeds I sent you do this spring ?


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I’ve got several of them in some grow bags but they haven’t pushed up any top growth yet. I checked them the other day and the tap root is growing so I hope to see some top growth soon. I was starting to get worried about them actually but it is only the first part of May so there’s still time. I just get impatient.


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[Kennychestnut]

You start yours a lot later than me .
I put my nuts in moist media in November . They put out a root sometime in February.
I have 2 ft trees now.
My germination rate was almost 100 percent.

Next year I’m going to delay moisture .
I’m hoping to not have to run my greenhouse heater so much .
Good luck Matt . Keep us posted


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[mattpatt]

Yeah I don’t mess with all that. I just store them in a ziplock bag in the refrigerator until I’m ready. This keeps them from germinating prematurely in the refrigerator before you’re ready to do something with them. About the first of April, I’ll germinate them in some moist media and plant what I want to grow for that year. Never have had a problem getting them to germinate this way and by the time fall rolls around I’ll end up with a 4 foot one year old seedling (or taller) for the trees that I grow in my big 36 gal pots. The ones in the 5 gal grow bags won’t get near that tall though.

Matt

 

[RGrizzzz]

What varieties are you growing? Chinese? Hybrid?

 

[mattpatt]

What varieties are you growing? Chinese? Hybrid?

Right now I have Chinese hybrids in production (early and late dropping) seed nuts sourced from The Wildlife Group so who knows what they really are in terms of named variety but I’ll have Luvall’s Monster and Gillet coming on in a few years hopefully.

Matt


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[mattpatt]

Some of the Chinese trees are getting close to blooming…

Matt


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[9x56MS]

I am currently growing Dunstan chestnut trees in central Ny I have 3 in my yard and 5 on my hunting property. Had a pretty good crop last year.