{"id":9734,"date":"2021-10-20T10:20:08","date_gmt":"2021-10-20T10:20:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.forestwildlife.org\/?p=9734"},"modified":"2024-01-09T10:51:12","modified_gmt":"2024-01-09T15:51:12","slug":"how-to-grow-a-chestnut-tree","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.forestwildlife.org\/how-to-grow-a-chestnut-tree\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Grow A Chestnut Tree?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Chestnut trees<\/a> are large, majestic trees that come in many varieties around the world. Depending on the species, the nuts may or may not be edible. They are also easy trees to grow and maintain. In this article, we\u2019ll talk about how to grow your own chestnut tree, and how long it will take. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How To Grow a Chestnut Tree From a Conker?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"how<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A conker is a nut that grows on a horse chestnut tree. Horse chestnuts trees, or Aesculus hippocastanum<\/em>, are fast-growing trees that are native to southeast Europe<\/a> and have since been introduced to parts of North America. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although conkers are poisonous<\/a> and should not be consumed, many people collect them to grow the seeds inside. Horse chestnuts are easy to grow from seed and will tolerate many different environments. Here\u2019s how to grow them:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 1: Gather Conkers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Gather the conkers that have fallen on the ground beneath horse chestnut trees. Conkers start falling from the trees and are ready to plant in September or October, depending on the climate<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many suggest gathering twice the number of chestnut seeds that you want to grow since only about 50% of them will end up germinating. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 2: Extract the Seeds<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Pull the green, spiky outer husk of the conker apart with your fingers. The seeds are the brown nuts inside of the shell. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 3: Submerge the Seeds (Optional)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Many people place the seeds in a bucket full of water to determine whether they are viable. When you put them in water, the seeds that are dead and dried out on the inside should float to the surface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The seeds that sink to the bottom should readily germinate. You can discard the other seeds by composting them or leaving them outside for animals to eat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 4: Plant the Seeds<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Conker nuts need to overwinter before they germinate, meaning that they need a few months of cold weather before they are ready to sprout. The time you plant them will depend on the weather in your area. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The seeds should be planted after the first frost so that there\u2019s no danger of them germinating too early and dying over the winter. Plant the seeds about an inch below the surface in a pot filled with garden soil and compost. Each seed should be in its own pot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 5: Care For the Seed\/Seedling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Put the pot outside in a sunny location and water it when the soil starts to feel dry. You may need to place it in a frame or small enclosure to protect it from harsh weather and deer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 6: Transplant the Seedling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

About one year after you plant it, the seedling should be about a foot tall and ready to transplant. To do this, dig a hole in the ground that is about as deep as the pot that the tree is in, and around 2-3 times wider. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remove the tree from its pot, place the root ball upright into the hole, and fill the area around the tree with dirt. Make sure the top of the root ball is level with the top of the soil. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How To Germinate a Chestnut Tree?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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American chestnut trees, although once deemed extinct, are gradually being reintroduced<\/a>. The once-prolific tree succumbed to blight in the early 1900s, but scientists are working to develop disease-resistant varieties. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The process for germinating a common American chestnut tree (Castanea dentata<\/em>) is similar to that of the horse chestnut. Just like conkers, American chestnuts need 2-3 months of cold before they will germinate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, gather seeds that have fallen off of chestnut trees in early October and put them in a cold area until the husk splits open on its own. Once that happens, put the seeds into a plastic bag filled with damp peat moss, and poke small holes for airflow. Make sure each seed is surrounded by the moss and not touching the side of the bag or its neighboring seeds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Store the chestnuts in a refrigerator for at least 2-3 months, and then plant them indoors in February or March. Plant the seeds into small pots and place the container on a sunny windowsill. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once the danger of frost has passed, you can transplant the seedlings to the ground. For best results, harden off the young trees by gradually introducing them to the outdoors before you plant them in the ground. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To get an idea of what the process looks like before you start, check out this YouTube video: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=IhA7QcTeziI<\/a>