How to Grow Chestnut Seeds
Chestnut seeds can be of many varieties, the two most common being the American chestnut and the Chinese chestnut. There is the Ohio buckeye and the horse chestnut are also popular, but neither of them are edible. The American chestnut trees used to be a widespread in the forests of the United States until a blight wiped them out. Today, new, resistant cultivars have been produced by crossing the American chestnut with the Chinese chestnut so that they resemble the original American chestnut but without the susceptibility to blight. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Shovel
- Wheelbarrow
- Peat moss
- Root mulch
- Plastic milk jug with bottom cut out
- Rake
Instructions
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1
Prepare a planting site for the chestnut by digging a 2-foot-deep, 2-foot-wide hole. Place half of the removed soil into a wheelbarrow and add an equal amount of damp peat moss. Mix thoroughly and place the mix in the hole.
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2
Plant the seed under 1 inch of soil, placing it lying on its side, in the center of the hole.
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3
Press the soil firmly over the seed by stepping on it with your boot.
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4
Water the area lightly but don't wash the soil off the top of the chestnut.
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5
Mulch over the area with 2 to 3 inches of root mulch to protect the new growth during the winter. Use a rake to spread it smooth.
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6
Protect the new seedling in the spring when it sprouts by sinking 2 inches into the soil a plastic milk jug with the bottom cut out.
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Remove the jug when the chestnut seedling reaches the top of the jug.
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Tips & Warnings
Order the specific seeds from Virginia Tech where they distribute seeds for free to help get the new resistant variety growing in the forests across the area. Check with them in early October since they distribute them until the supply runs out.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
