how to grow a chestnut tree from seed

I have five Ash trees. It eventually develops into a large canker. Growing a chestnut tree from a seed requires you follow a few steps in order for the seedling to develop correctly. You can usually harvest the nuts by simply collecting them off the ground as they fall. Water helps the soil settle and removes any air pockets that were otherwise trapped inside the packed growing medium. February is when you will want to start growing the seedlings inside. It is thought that in the East, one quarter of all hardwood trees was a Chestnut Tree. To protect the delicate seedling from sun scald, keep a light layer of hay over the chestnut's new leaves for the first two weeks outside. This will help to keep the deer and rodents away. You can then collect them in the sheet and dispose of it. Plant blight-resistant chestnut tree varieties and make sure that the roots are never allowed to sit in soggy, overly-wet conditions. Check around with your neighbors. The source is Chestnut Hill Outdoors, and as the name implies, they focus largely on chestnut trees — specifically “the patented blight-resistant Dunstan Chestnuts, the […] This will give the seedling a chance to grow and establish itself before the screen has to be removed. Tree shelters offer good first season protection against small animals, weeds, drought, mower and chemical damage. Tip: Fertilize occasionally using a complete liquid fertilizer or a fertilizer for acid-loving plants like rhododendrons or azaleas. Once the chestnuts are planted, place them in a sunny area between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit, and do not let them reach a temperature below 60 degrees. Website operating Place your seeds in a plastic bag filled with moist peat moss. Commercial potting mixes are typically too dense for chestnut germination, especially with over-watering. Never plant chestnuts at the bottom of a slope. Then the trees can be transplanted when they are one year old (or more) to their permanent site. Buy Chestnut Trees Buy Chestnut Seeds Buy Chestnut Products Growing Trees From Seed Starting your own chestnut trees from seed can be fun and it may save you money. Replacing storm damaged Willow trees once removed. An herbicide can be used to get rid of weeds, as well, but you need to protect the trunk of the tree before you apply an herbicide to the area. Plant two different chestnut varieties to promote cross-pollination. Place the chestnuts in a plastic bag filled with slightly damp sphagnum moss, peat moss, or sawdust. There is no way to remove the pests once they find their way into the nuts. Ideally, the soil should have a pH between 4.5 and 6.5. They should be stored at 32 to 34 degrees Fahrenheit (towards the top of the refrigerator). Cover the top with wire mesh to stop birds and animals getting to the seeds. % of people told us that this article helped them. home improvement and repair website. Two foot shelters improve transplant success; taller shelters are not appropriate for chestnut because the large leaves are crowded and cause the stem to grow spindly. Birds have dropped Mahonia seed all over the wooded portion of my property.... We're here in NJ. One option is to plant the seeds outside as soon as they drop, but this option gives you less control over the growing seeds. Chestnut trees need abundant sunlight (six or more hours of direct summer sun) and fertile, well-drained and slightly acidic soil. You need to plant at least two trees in order to cross pollinate and produce nuts. Work the soil in the area you intend to plant your chestnut tree, preferably a spot with well-draining acidic soil... 3. With a little patience and a lot of attention you can brag that you grew you own a chestnut tree from just a small seed. Choose nuts that look healthy and plump, without any signs of fungus or rot. After 3 months, plant the nut in a container of peat moss and sand. Before you begin, make sure that you have enough space for two trees. Planting it 40 feet from the house will allow it to fully mature, though you might want to locate it farther away if you like to walk barefoot. Gather chestnuts from a Chinese chestnut tree in late summer to early fall, when the nuts' spiny hulls split open. The fungus gathers around the trunk of the tree, fixating mostly on areas that are cracked or wounded. Tip: The first month after planting, gently remove the chestnut seed from the seedling. Keep the peat moss moist, but not wet or you will promote mildew and rot and the seedling will not sprout. This includes getting started, care & … Carefully cut the unopened burs during early to mid October and keep them in a root cellar or similarly cool place. This article has been viewed 36,686 times. If animals tend to grab the fallen nuts before you can, another option is to cut off the burs before the nuts drop. Plant your seeds in late autumn before the first frost. Get rid of the weevils before they become a problem by spraying the tree with an insecticide once nut burs begin to develop. Pick a sturdy central, upright stem. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/ae\/Grow-Chestnut-Trees-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Grow-Chestnut-Trees-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/ae\/Grow-Chestnut-Trees-Step-1.jpg\/aid5192496-v4-728px-Grow-Chestnut-Trees-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"