How to Grow a Chestnut Orchard: Part III: Seeds, Seedlings or Grafts? How about all three?!!

[@gregkahle9046]

Thanks for the excellent info, Will be starting another 50 seeds this spring. Appreciate you taking the time to share, thanks again.

[@johnsangl]

Great to hear! Good luck this growing season!

[@ihus9950]

Great info John, Thank you👍🏻

[@johnsangl]

You're welcome - thanks for watching & commenting!

[@MySliceOfHeavenoutdoors]

Great Info John, You shared lots of sources that could even give us more info. Thank you for sharing, I appreciate it

[@johnsangl]

You’re welcome! Hope it helps.

[@ChipsOutdoorChannel]

Great information John! Thanks for sharing!

[@johnsangl]

Thanks for watching!!!

[@natfa4253]

Thanks for informative video. Very nice on you to share this to us. You did excellent job. P. S. Please, do it without music, your voice is more important.

[@johnsangl]

Thanks for the feedback!

[@darkomrkalj2246]

Hi John! Please do have any idea how to lowe ph soil and get ready soil for new seadlings?

[@johnsangl]

If your soil is not naturally pH below 6.5, you will have a hard time keeping your trees healthy. Here is a link to lower soil pH: www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/ho/ho-241-w.pdf

[@marklassig]

Thanks John looking forward to the protection video. I have a very seccussful fruit (apple and pear) orchards, one at 40 trees and one at 20 trees at different sides of the property. They are 6 - 10 years old. It produces very well and the deer love it. Looking to do the same with Chestnuts. Most of my fruit trees are 20+ feet tall and I have removed the 5' tall metal cages from them. So I can reuse these for the chestnit trees. Also thinking of using weed mats and small tree tubes of maybe 2' tall on the chestnuts. Would like to hear comments back on that approach

[@johnsangl]

I’d use the metal cages for sure. Not sure if you’ll see much benefit adding the 2ft tubes. Certainly the 2ft tube is not enough by itself. Good luck growing your Chestnuts!

[@gregkahle9046]

Mark Lassig What diameter are your cages and what did you make them out of? I'm thinking I want to do the same.....not sure thanks

[@marklassig]

@@gregkahle9046 5' tall 2x4 woven metal fencing. Cut 10' sections and secure with 2 t-posts

[@gregkahle9046]

@@marklassig Appreciate it, have a great day!

[@josephconway9489]

John, Thank you for the great information. Your past videos motivated me to begin cold stratifying last seasons chestnut seeds for planting. I think my mix was too damp because some seeds became moldy so I cleaned them and replaced the mix with a slightly drier mix. Now I am hoping for the best. 2 years ago our hunting club began planting 2 and 3 year old Dustan chestnut trees and so far have a total of 14. We planted them in cages. The trees are doing quite well and actually began producing nuts last fall. We did remove these to help the trees focus on root development. Question: I was wondering if you have any experience with air layering to clone trees? I was think of trying this method in the spring. I would use the lower temporary branches that I plan to remove with pruning anyway. I figure I really have nothing to lose other than my time. However, the video suggests that grafted trees have a short lifespan. Could this be due to an absent or weak tap root? I was wondering if you have or know someone who has had success with this method of propagation for trees. Again, thanks for the great content and I enjoy watching your orchard grow!!

[@johnsangl]

I have never tried layering with Chestnuts personally. Burnt Ridge Nursery sells layered chestnut trees however. You could reach out to them and ask further details. Good luck with your seeds this year and thanks for watching!!

[@johnsangl]

Grafted trees fail for unknown reasons in Northern Climates and may have to do with the cold, increased susceptibility to disease and graft incompatibility.

[@josephconway9489]

JohnSangl thank you! Good luck to you too!!

[@josephconway9489]

@@johnsangl I spoke to a gentleman from Burnt Ridge Nursery. He told me that chestnuts are quite difficult to air layer. He told me that air layering would only work on new growth. I did order some the sleeping giant seedlings to plant this spring. Thanks for the recommendation!! BTW I have some chestnut seeds beginning to sprout. YES!!! Thanks for the great videos!

[@onevision23]

Thanks for the video

[@bandmasterjf]

You should look into air layered trees for cultivars. I'm try some now on a very prolific pear tree.

[@johnsangl]

I’ve seen some of that done. I’ve not tried it.

[@jacobflick7180]

John do I need to use a fluorescent light to grow under or would an LED ship light work?

[@johnsangl]

I’ve been asked that question before and I don’t know the answer. I would say - try it and then let me know how they do! I’ve only used the fluorescent shop lights.

[@boxybrown33]

I think seedlings from high quality cultivars is the best you can do with a nut tree. Studies have also shown if you choose the largest seeds you’ll get more vigorous seedlings.

[@johnsangl]

Can’t disagree with anything said here.

[@c.a.martin3029]

As always great info. I like the green screen idea but it makes me feel like I'm car sick, I can't watch you standing still with a moving back ground.

[@johnsangl]

Good to know! Maybe I’ll start running around to match it 😬. Thanks for the feedback.

[@juliendionysus2011]

The music is oddly disturbing

[@juliendionysus2011]

Could you please shut the music off ? Thanks a lot ...

[@johnsangl]

No way to do that after publishing.

[@liquidgold2735]

turn down the music bro

[@johnsangl]

Sorry about that - my editing software has steadily improved since my early videos.