Growing chestnut trees from seed - 94% Germination Rate - 2019 Seedlings

We started with 88 chestnut seeds in the fall. And we put those seeds in the refrigerator in damp peat moss for several months to cold stratify. We ended up with 83 chestnut seeds germinating into chestnut trees this spring. That is a 94% germination rate, which is fantastic. This is my best year so far growing chestnut trees.

[sidneyeaston]

Burying the nuts will prevent multi stem growth seedlings. One inch of compost covering the nut will encourage it to send a single shoot skyward to find light and the root will be in a slightly more stable place as far as water is concerned. Makes for a better stronger tree.

[johnburns]

DUDE, U Rock!!
What a great thing you have done!
Up here in southern(ish) Canada, I'm feeling so inspired that on this day, October 3rd 2024, I have put two nuts into the fridge, (in soil), and will patiently wait til spring, for the taproot.
Thanks very kindly ☮️🙏😂

[Sqeptick]

About 10 years ago I read "American Chestnut: The Life, Death, and Rebirth of a Perfect Tree." It's actually a fascinating story about the importance of the chestnut to our country, and the blight that destroyed it. You, of all people, might enjoy the book if you're into reading at all.

[BrenHaas]

Thanks for sharing your experience here. I am going to try and germinate some chestnuts I bought from the local market that were for roasting. The tag said they were organic and all so we will see what I can get using your information as well. THANK YOU again - I grow in Ohio. Happy Tree Growing!

[terrypatrick]

enjoy your video, have watched it many times and get something new each time !

[creekriseoutdoors]

Thanks for this helpful video. I have 83 Dunstan trees 7 years old and I look forward to cold stratifying some this fall. Thanks.

[gaylerobison]

I hope your chestnuts trees all grow to successful maturity! And as for letting the pigs forage on the nuts, PLEASE DO!! I've heard that the American settlers all did that because chestnut was the dominant tree in all our eastern and midwestern deciduous forests, and those pigs supposedly did great. The pigs of Spain are allowed to forage on oak trees/acorns and their meat is the best in the world.

[robertmashburn]

This is the best demonstration of how to grow Chestnuts from the acorn that I’ve looked at! Straight forward, perfect.
I have a five year old Chestnut Tree. Last year it produced probably 75 acorns, this year only 30.
I have a short heartwarming story about these Acorns I’d share if you’d like to hear. Let me know and thank you for the video!!

[marlenevideos]

Wow this is so-o-o interesting.bI bought a jar of shelled chestnuts at my local Whole foods grocery and amazingly meaty are those chestnuts. I am so glad to see so much attention to regrowing this valuable food source. Thank you for sharing how you do your technique, so it can be duplicated by others. To see fifty days growth was so exciting, to see how amazing it was the chestnuts had leaves!

[Jay-tkib]

You can also plant seeds in the ground, at the spot where you want them to grow. Plant them out in late fall/early winter and they will stratify naturally in the ground. Plant 2 or 3 per hole, then later you can thin them to the strongest one.

[TheBigLeeg]

I commend you for doing your part in bringing back the American chestnut. For all you viewing, if you don’t know about the near extinction of the chestnut tree during the turn of the last century, please educate yourself.

[StoneyRidgeFarmer]

doing this today brother!! My dad sent me your video lol....small world!

[davidj.mackinney]

You did a great job with the chestnuts and the best germination rate of the three guys I have watched grow chestnuts.

[pixaxeprepper]

Our 10 trees have dropped all their nuts. I selected 20 for planting. It is getting cold at night and used old pots to plant. I will leave out for the winter. Remember to plant flat side down. In the spring, I will choose our back 8 acres to give room to spread out. I like the summer when chestnut trees have a unique smell and lighting bugs surround the trees. Pollination is critical. Few weeks later, the pods show up and grow. Good luck everyone.

[rickymaynard]

I did as you showed placing the acorn and tap root, but the acorn settled down and got covered up....They took forever to come up...I am now in end of may and have 1/2" tall seedlings....next time I am gonna make sure the potting soil is packed and ensure the entire acorn is above tap root under!

[batpherlangkharkrang]

Thank you for sharing your video homestead 👋 bye 👋 bye 👋 bye 👋 🎥👍👍👍

[DM-wbjv]

Also if you use air pot/ fabric pots on an elevated mesh shelf so air space is also underneath, the roots including the tap root will stop soon as they are close to air and produce more root growth and get bigger tree and can stay longer in pot before putting in ground . I have 1 gallon pots with 3' trees .

[Eljoker]

Your place of living is amazing.
Hope one day to have lake or river in front of my house

[SomeoneCommenting]

If you have squirrels around make sure to protect your seedlings. Even if they are sprouting on pots or directly on the ground, if a squirrel fins out the chestnut it will try to dig it out to eat it anyway. I had a bad experience with a nice chestnut that I had in a pot. Made the mistake of bringing it out too early when it was still small, and the squirrel munched the whole thing into pieces trying to get the nut out of the pot. Same thing with some beautiful Japanese red maples, They were already like three feet tall, but the plants were thin enough for the squirrel to find them irresistible and cut them from the base. They also cut my small grape vines, luckily those came back.

[killzrus]

Can u do a update on this video every couple of months been thinking of doing this on my property great video