How to Plant Shagbark Hickory Nuts
The shagbark hickory nut tree is native to North American. It can reach a height of more than 100 feet, provides plenty of shade and grows a large bounty of edible hickory nuts. The tree can be started from the nuts themselves. Learn how to plant shagback hickory nuts to grow your own backyard tree. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Collect shagbark hickory nuts in the fall and early winter (e.g. November or December) from the ground beneath a standing shagbark tree. Avoid picking nuts that are still on the tree, as they may not be mature enough to sprout and grow. For best results, gather nuts from a shagbark tree that is growing in your area, as that tree's offspring will be better suited for your local climate and soil.
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Peel off the rough outer husks of the shagbark hickory nuts using your thumb and forefinger.
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Fill a bucket or pail with tap water and empty the nuts into the water. Soak for three days, changing the water twice daily to keep the water fresh and prevent the nuts from rotting in stagnant water.
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Prepare the pots. Any quart- to gallon-sized plastic or ceramic pot will suffice. Fill with standard potting soil procured from your local nursery or garden supply store.
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Plant the shagbark hickory nuts when they are done soaking. Sink the nuts 3 inches below the surface of the soil and pat gently to cover. Limit yourself to one nut per pot. Place the pots outside in direct sunlight and water gently to avoid washing soil away from the buried nut. If you cannot place your pots outside, put them in your refrigerator. The nuts need cold temperatures to simulate being outside in order to germinate properly.
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Wait for the hickory nuts to sprout. The nuts will begin germinating as soon as the weather outside begins to warm up. If you placed the potted nuts in your refrigerator, take them out in February and put them outside. The nuts will sprout underground first, sending down roots before the actual sprout breaks the surface.
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Transplant the sprouted nuts once they reach 6 inches in height. Select a well-drained area of your yard that receives full sunlight. Use a shovel to dig a hole that is the width and height of the nut's pot. Slide the sapling and the potted soil out of the pot and into the hole. Tap soil around the edges and water. Apply a tree fertilizer according to the fertilizer's specific guidelines.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit qasxcadmin: sxc.hu
