Chestnuts?

[aaronc]

Here is the vid I watched. I've watched quite a few of his vids....he's located in Pennsylvania. He's eat up with chestnut fever

 

[Onthedge]

Never tried it that way. When I started 7 years ago I researched and been doing it how the experts suggested. Had a few that didn’t work over 7 years but I get near 100% results every year. I have done from 180 to 300 seeds each year. Your brother had how many seeds and how many grew trees? Got my curiosity so I’ll try it next year.

A relative from Indiana brought him a Ol'roy dog food bag full of them, he put them in his shed for the winter, he gave me some and told me how plant them, I built a little raised bed about 2'x3' with plastic underneath then filled with peatmoss, about 4 inches deep, soak it good with water add nuts and cover with a couple more inches of peatmoss water again, I had almost 40 plants come up, and found about half a dozen that didn't sprot. I put 6 plants out when they were about a foot tall and gave the rest away, and I didn't think anything about caging them and the next fall the deer destroyed them.

 

[mcbuck58]

Here is the vid I watched. I've watched quite a few of his vids....he's located in Pennsylvania. He's eat up with chestnut fever

Seen that video and some of his other ones. Have you seen his orchards. That’s where I got the tray idea

 

[aaronc]

Seen that video and some of his other ones. Have you seen his orchards. That’s where I got the tray idea

Yeah I've watched a ton of his stuff...I like it that it is well documented and easy to follow from year to year...he does a good job. This guy here has a nice looking orchard too and has some good vids as well.....

 

[mcbuck58]

A relative from Indiana brought him a Ol'roy dog food bag full of them, he put them in his shed for the winter, he gave me some and told me how plant them, I built a little raised bed about 2'x3' with plastic underneath then filled with peatmoss, about 4 inches deep, soak it good with water add nuts and cover with a couple more inches of peatmoss water again, I had almost 40 plants come up, and found about half a dozen that didn't sprot. I put 6 plants out when they were about a foot tall and gave the rest away, and I didn't think anything about caging them and the next fall the deer destroyed them.

Ok then that worked for you guys. Cool. I think I remember last year or year before you posted some pictures showing your trees after the deer got them.

 

[mcbuck58]

Yeah I've watched a ton of his stuff...I like it that it is well documented and easy to follow from year to year...he does a good job. This guy here has a nice looking orchard too and has some good vids as well.....

Yea seen him too. Good info. That’s how I started by videos, books and online research.

 

[countryboy3006]

I was going to use peat moss to stratify my chestnuts and my KHickory's...Nobody around here had it and I didn't really think about ordering it..so I ended up using some spent potting soil out of the wifes flower pots in zip lock baggies. I moistened the dirt and will continue to keep it that way with a spray bottle. I also did a bag with just paper towels. I don't know what the temp is,...it's the first time I've done it. It's the extra downstairs fridge in the basement. We'll see what happens.

I have about 50 I got from Chestnut Ridge in a spare fridge right now using peat moss. This is my first try at chestnuts. Hoping to get a few to plant on the family farm. I have been doing some different oaks for a few years now. Trying to get a good variety of trees planted to give the deer plenty of options. I'm hoping the chestnuts turn out good. Good luck with yours.

 

[bigpuddin43]

I had probably 60-80 nuts from a supposedly 15/16 american chestnut. this was probably 6 years ago. I put them all in a ziplock bag with some potting soil and moistened it. put them in the freezer best I remember. pulled them out in the spring and after a few weeks probably 80% had sprouted. started them in tree tubes and let them go a year. set out about 30 next spring and gave a few away. they all grew good for the first year then most died. I have one that still sprouts back out in the spring and grows for a bit then dies back. I would really like to get my hands on some dustan nuts to get a good grove going. I just dont think we will ever get there with the further crosses.

 

[aaronc]

I have about 50 I got from Chestnut Ridge in a spare fridge right now using peat moss. This is my first try at chestnuts. Hoping to get a few to plant on the family farm. I have been doing some different oaks for a few years now. Trying to get a good variety of trees planted to give the deer plenty of options. I'm hoping the chestnuts turn out good. Good luck with yours.

Thanks and same to you. I have a few oaks in my yard...they've done well.

 

[mcbuck58]

I had probably 60-80 nuts from a supposedly 15/16 american chestnut. this was probably 6 years ago. I put them all in a ziplock bag with some potting soil and moistened it. put them in the freezer best I remember. pulled them out in the spring and after a few weeks probably 80% had sprouted. started them in tree tubes and let them go a year. set out about 30 next spring and gave a few away. they all grew good for the first year then most died. I have one that still sprouts back out in the spring and grows for a bit then dies back. I would really like to get my hands on some dustan nuts to get a good grove going. I just dont think we will ever get there with the further crosses.

Sure it’s too late to get Dunstan nuts now but check out Chestnut Ridge of Pike County in Illinois see if they have any left. Still have 28 seedlings left if you want to put some in the ground now. Don’t know if you seen my ad in classified forum. Check out the thread “For sale American Chestnut seedlings Mammoth Cave KY” read the whole thread it has lots of information.

 

[aaronc]

I had probably 60-80 nuts from a supposedly 15/16 american chestnut. this was probably 6 years ago. I put them all in a ziplock bag with some potting soil and moistened it. put them in the freezer best I remember. pulled them out in the spring and after a few weeks probably 80% had sprouted. started them in tree tubes and let them go a year. set out about 30 next spring and gave a few away. they all grew good for the first year then most died. I have one that still sprouts back out in the spring and grows for a bit then dies back. I would really like to get my hands on some dustan nuts to get a good grove going. I just dont think we will ever get there with the further crosses.

My local Wal-Mart has Dunstan saplings in pots in the spring, not sure about other stores.

 

[mcbuck58]

My local Wal-Mart has Dunstan saplings in pots in the spring, not sure about other stores.

Rural King also. You can go to Chestnut Hill nursery and sign up for email alerts. You can see a list of what stores in multiple states and get an alert when the stores you pick are going to get delivery. You have to move fast because what I have seen the stores only get 15 to 25 trees.

 

[Nock]

Hey @Nock Chestnut Ridge good place. 30 year old orchard all Dunstan Chestnuts from Chestnut Hill in Florida. Original place of Dr. Dunstan and his Dunstan chestnuts. Good luck with your seeds. Are you going to grow one season and then fall plant or plant the seeds directly into ground next spring?

I believe I’m going to start in pots and plant in the fall.

 

[Rut-n-Strut]

Dunstan chestnut is basically a marketing term. It's predominately an Asian chestnut. Dunstan trees aren't grafted. They are grown from nuts (offspring) rather than an exact replica you'd get from grafting. For that reason, the exact percentage of the Dunstan chestnut is unknown. It's not 50% though. I'd venture to say it's closer to 15/16 Chinese than 50%. If you're growing from seed, you'd probably be better served growing an asian variety that produces a good tonnage, flavor, or whatever it is you're most interested in.

There are groups trying to breed Asian and American chestnuts but, from what I understand, they aren't having a ton of success getting the American characteristics while maintaining blight resistanance. More promising is introducing a transgenic wheat gene into full American varieties. This gene helps the tree attack the blight and then the tree recovers. Currently, a chestnut group is waiting for the USDA to approve this GMO chestnut before it's going to be released to the public. Call me a nerd, but it's pretty remarkable what's being done.

Here's some more information on that for those interested:

 

[mcbuck58]

That is a very interesting video. Knew about American Chestnut Foundation and the state chapters. I have sent them samples to verify trees I’ve grown or found. Little bit worried about GMO plants. The video talked about making sure they didn’t escape from their test area or possible tree recall if it gets approved and people plant them. What are long term effects on the environment. Don’t forget the the Japanese beetle was in a test area around Purdue University until it escaped. I better stop here on my rant. Planning on contacting them to get more info. Seven years ago I got 10 each of four different kinds of chestnuts. Three varieties did not do good so they have either died or so slow I took them out. The Dunstans have done the best. Have got nuts on some 2 1/2 yr olds but always on 3 1/2 yr olds. This is just my opinion and from experience. The video still suggested to keep planting chestnuts.