Jason Broom
Well-Known Member
Chestnut seedlings don't get much better looking than that one!
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One Thousand Chestnut Trees - a Whitetail Deer Project
- Thread starter wbpdeer
- Start date
Goldentriangle
Active Member
They look so much better than my potted ones. The potted trees are doing great but they are considerably more "leggy" and just don't look as good. The leaves on my potted ones are in good shape but the leaves on the direct seeded are really defined and rigid. Almost like a tomato plant.
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wbpdeer
Well-Known Member
Goldentriangle
18 out of 19 is fabulous on direct seeding. You have to be smiling over that outcome.
Folks notice the reddish tint on the top two or three leaves - that is a sign of healthy growth and to me shows the roots are happy and delivering.
I have concern that a rabbit will hit that seedling - where I live that is a risk. Others would say deer will browse it.
Feed them at least twice in June, once in the next week and then two weeks later. The advantage of direct seeding is the tap roots gets established. Being in bottom ground soil means they chestnuts have a bright future and the wildlife will benefit from it.
Congrats!!!! That is a beauty in the photo.
Wayne
18 out of 19 is fabulous on direct seeding. You have to be smiling over that outcome.
Folks notice the reddish tint on the top two or three leaves - that is a sign of healthy growth and to me shows the roots are happy and delivering.
I have concern that a rabbit will hit that seedling - where I live that is a risk. Others would say deer will browse it.
Feed them at least twice in June, once in the next week and then two weeks later. The advantage of direct seeding is the tap roots gets established. Being in bottom ground soil means they chestnuts have a bright future and the wildlife will benefit from it.
Congrats!!!! That is a beauty in the photo.
Wayne
Goldentriangle
Active Member
Wayne, I'm assuming the river bottom soil has something to do with the success. It is black dirt as deep as u can dig. Some of the factory farm outfits in the neighborhood push 250 bushel an acre corn with irrigation. 2/3s of the seedlings look just like that. Also these have a five gallon bucket with the bottom cut out over them, and then fencing around the mulch. I just removed that stuff for a pic..
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wbpdeer
Well-Known Member
EDUCATIONAL POST
In my growing area right now is an excellent time to locate new Chinese Chestnuts trees. Also, if you have been collecting under a chestnut tree, it is time to see if the tree has catkins on it. Severe wind storms and blowing rains at the wrong time can remove many or all catkins from a tree. I had a young tree stripped in 2016 by a spring wind storm.
This photo shows the color of a Chinese Chestnut loaded with catkins verse the color of normal trees. Photo was taken on May 30th in Portland, TN located in Zone 7a. In different parts of the country this time period photo can occur earlier or later. Notice the light green fuzz appearance of the chestnut tree. With binoculars you can see this up to a mile away depending upon visibility. Get in your truck and ride around - you can find them by sight at the appropriate time of the year for your area.
My wife's grandfather planted this trees in the above photo - he has passed on. Now my son owns this land.
The photo below is two of my most consistent chestnut trees. I started collecting and distributing chestnuts from these two trees. A tornado eliminated 20 % of the tree on the left. In September these limbs normally touch the ground due to the weight of the burs.
I am hopeful about five young Chinese Chestnuts trees in my yard. I planted all five of them from chestnuts I collected off of the two trees in the photo above. All five of my Chinese Chestnut trees have catkins on them. They have survived three severe thunderstorms already. It appears I have a chance to collect a few chestnuts off trees in my yard. Let me say chance means I am hopeful. Mother nature is in charge. I took the photo below from one of my five trees. I have read the word catkin was given to the bloom because it favors a cat's tail.
I have spent a great deal of my time and some money helping others learn how to grow Chinese Chestnuts. I am 64 years old and realize my time on this earth is in the hands of our creator. I don't know how many more years I will collect and distribute Chestnuts but I want to share good knowledge that helps others. Spend two hours - one hour a day on two different afternoons looking for chestnut trees in your area.
Every time I think about all the boxes shipped to other individuals and realize those trees will soon bear chestnuts for whitetail deer a big smile comes across my face. For those of you that don't understand that sense of satisfaction, I guess we think differently.
Wayne
In my growing area right now is an excellent time to locate new Chinese Chestnuts trees. Also, if you have been collecting under a chestnut tree, it is time to see if the tree has catkins on it. Severe wind storms and blowing rains at the wrong time can remove many or all catkins from a tree. I had a young tree stripped in 2016 by a spring wind storm.
This photo shows the color of a Chinese Chestnut loaded with catkins verse the color of normal trees. Photo was taken on May 30th in Portland, TN located in Zone 7a. In different parts of the country this time period photo can occur earlier or later. Notice the light green fuzz appearance of the chestnut tree. With binoculars you can see this up to a mile away depending upon visibility. Get in your truck and ride around - you can find them by sight at the appropriate time of the year for your area.
My wife's grandfather planted this trees in the above photo - he has passed on. Now my son owns this land.
The photo below is two of my most consistent chestnut trees. I started collecting and distributing chestnuts from these two trees. A tornado eliminated 20 % of the tree on the left. In September these limbs normally touch the ground due to the weight of the burs.
I am hopeful about five young Chinese Chestnuts trees in my yard. I planted all five of them from chestnuts I collected off of the two trees in the photo above. All five of my Chinese Chestnut trees have catkins on them. They have survived three severe thunderstorms already. It appears I have a chance to collect a few chestnuts off trees in my yard. Let me say chance means I am hopeful. Mother nature is in charge. I took the photo below from one of my five trees. I have read the word catkin was given to the bloom because it favors a cat's tail.
I have spent a great deal of my time and some money helping others learn how to grow Chinese Chestnuts. I am 64 years old and realize my time on this earth is in the hands of our creator. I don't know how many more years I will collect and distribute Chestnuts but I want to share good knowledge that helps others. Spend two hours - one hour a day on two different afternoons looking for chestnut trees in your area.
Every time I think about all the boxes shipped to other individuals and realize those trees will soon bear chestnuts for whitetail deer a big smile comes across my face. For those of you that don't understand that sense of satisfaction, I guess we think differently.
Wayne
mattpatt
Well-Known Member
I have a couple trees blooming this year. But I'm only four years into this. I expect I'll have more next year.
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wbpdeer
Well-Known Member
Matt,
My five chestnuts were collected in the fall of 2014. Put in a rootmaker 18 in Jan of 2015. Planted in late April 2015. They are in my yard and get babied and feed with liquid Orchid Fertilizer. I water them good. These five trees are stress free.
Odds are something happens and I don't get any chestnuts this year from these young trees - but a fellow has a right to hope. I think of trees as young athletes that develop at different ages: some bloom early, some at a normal time and the late bloomers. My son was a late bloomer - he could dunk a basketball in college but not in high school. He grew about 20 to 22 months later that most in his class.
Wayne
H20fwler
Member
Wayne,
I've got around a dozen of these planted behind my road screen out at the farm, I'm very happy with their progress.
The ones I've given to friends are also doing well, they have lost a few to squirrels. I tried to tell them they needed a LOT of protecting the first couple years.
I haven't had a chance to check on the ones I direct seeded in the thorns and brush but the few I have in pots at the house in RT pots are doing OK.
I've got around a dozen of these planted behind my road screen out at the farm, I'm very happy with their progress.
The ones I've given to friends are also doing well, they have lost a few to squirrels. I tried to tell them they needed a LOT of protecting the first couple years.
I haven't had a chance to check on the ones I direct seeded in the thorns and brush but the few I have in pots at the house in RT pots are doing OK.
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wbpdeer
Well-Known Member
H20fwler,
Your approach is wise. You spread the risk. Not every things turns out exactly as we wish. I discovered on Sunday that a recent flood in our county that made state wide news, killed two of chestnut trees in a bottom field. Additionally, it changed the vertical appearance of some, sent nice 5 feet tall cages to parts unknown. Also have a boundary fence that was destroyed by raging water and debris. This flood put a 90 degree angle in T Posts.
I will be adding stakes to leaning trees and have some nice two year old chestnuts to plant in the locations where things went against my efforts.
Your chestnut in your photo is healthy and thriving. Congrats for your success!!! Thanks for sharing some chestnuts with your friends.
Wayne
Your approach is wise. You spread the risk. Not every things turns out exactly as we wish. I discovered on Sunday that a recent flood in our county that made state wide news, killed two of chestnut trees in a bottom field. Additionally, it changed the vertical appearance of some, sent nice 5 feet tall cages to parts unknown. Also have a boundary fence that was destroyed by raging water and debris. This flood put a 90 degree angle in T Posts.
I will be adding stakes to leaning trees and have some nice two year old chestnuts to plant in the locations where things went against my efforts.
Your chestnut in your photo is healthy and thriving. Congrats for your success!!! Thanks for sharing some chestnuts with your friends.
Wayne
mattpatt
Well-Known Member
Sounds like we're about at the same point. I have a few older trees out in the woods but I haven't seen any blooms on them. I'm looking forward to the next couple of years.
Matt
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