Want to GROW CHESTNUTS? 5 Things to do RIGHT NOW!

5 Things to be doing RIGHT NOW so your Chestnuts grow their best next Spring!
Cold-stratifying Chestnuts Seeds: • Chestnut Seed Planting
Starting Chestnuts INDOORS: • Chestnut Seeds under t...

[@chasecanter6472]

Hi John! I bought 100+ acres in Centerville looking to start a small orchard. I’ve sub’d to your channel!

[@johnsangl]

That is awesome! Congrats on the purchase - great location!!

[@Sevaanos666]

I just found your channel last week. Going to dive through your videos over the next few weeks. Me and my father just planted 3 acres of grafted trees these past two weeks. We had been doing research and planning for the last 2 months. We have a sod farm here in south western Ohio and are adding in chestnuts in addition to the sod and soybeans. Planning on running our drip watering system next week and plan to add more acres each year.

[@johnsangl]

Sounds like you have some big plans! You have the added benefit of already knowing a lot about irrigation which can be helpful in those dry spells. Best of luck & welcome to the channel!

[@ebr-fan1117]

That's some fine advice for the community John! I picked a bunch of chestnuts up off the ground at a local orchard today, bagged individually based on the tree source for cold stratification. They also had fresh pawpaw's for sale so those seeds will get cold stratified for spring planting too.

[@johnsangl]

Score! Good luck growing.

[@user-sg1rv3mu4p]

Good Stuff! I am growing chestnuts out here in the PNW just below the Canadian border. I need to thin them out this winter we have over 1500 on 15 acres, between 3-12 years. Mostly Europeans', but truly a fascinating tree/adventure.

[@johnsangl]

Wow!! Huge planting. I’m sure your experience is very different out West!

[@AJ-ox8xy]

Perfect are you on the Idaho or Washington side? I'm looking to do the same. What's your goal per acre? I've heard most people say that the most you can carry per acre is about 100? Is that true. Because there are very few people that know anything about growing chestnuts in these parts.

[@user-sg1rv3mu4p]

I am in NW WA, about 30 miles below Canada. We have to many trees per acre currently and I plan to thin them out over the next few years down to about 800 or so. Were on 15 acres which about 12 are planted w/chestnuts, and they are coming into their light production stage after 10 plus years in the ground. I would like to get to a 20 x 20 spacing which is about a 100 trees per acre, but as fast as they grow they have a tendency to block out the sun. So what I'm doing is marking trees that are in need of a deep pruning, and come early spring I will prune those and remove any "suspect" trees that are diseased or weakened. Chestnuts are the next avocado..that nobody knows about..lol What parts are you in?? @@AJ-ox8xy

[@ezscrapbooks5705]

Hi there! I’m in North Idaho. Can I purchase some nuts from you in bulk for planting. I can come pick them up if it’s too much trouble to ship. 😊

[@stefanr570]

Tip #6: Have commitment and patience. It will be 7 to 8 years until your first harvest. During that time you may need to water and fertilize your trees and consistently maintain your tree protectors. See John's other videos for all of that. Thanks, Stefan

[@eugenelaky1993]

Try 4-5 years till you get nuts

[@johnsangl]

Great additional tips!

[@johnsangl]

I agree - you may get lucky with burs at year 3, but 4-5 years is my average. Some trees won't produce until later though. That's why it is good to plant several so you increase your odds of early producers!

[@eugenelaky1993]

@@johnsangl my uncles Dunstan chestnut trees were 24 feet tall at five years and produced heavy...I planted120 hybrid chestnuts on my property. they just finished their second..

[@johnsangl]

Sounds like your Uncle has some great soil & growing conditions! Good luck with your new hybirds!@@eugenelaky1993

[@brianhina8538]

I have 58 trees so far in southeastern Ohio. Love you Channel.

[@johnsangl]

That is great! SE Ohio is great! Thanks for watching & commenting.

[@justtinkering6054]

I just found your channel yesterday. I've been watching all your chestnut videos. Keep up the great work!

[@johnsangl]

Welcome to the channel Justin! Thanks for commenting - hope you are able to use something!

[@jennifersonger590]

Hi John- I love your helpful suggestions for starting my own Chinese Chestnut Trees. I live in Vermont and 30 to 40 years ago. My dad planted two trees in the yard. I am heartbroken because I will be moving in a few months and can’t take them with me because they’re too big. I’m planning on harvesting some of the chestnuts and storing them in the refrigerator in soil. Can they stay there until spring or would you suggest starting them inside in three months?Thank you! Jennifer

[@johnsangl]

Harvest them this fall, then keep them in the fridge until next Spring, then you can start them indoors or outside depending on your situation. If you search my page, you'll find info on either method. Best of luck and sorry you are having to leave the trees. Hope your next chapter is a good one!

[@brianpetrocine294]

Great keep up the great work l admire anyone who is working to restore the chestnut. Brian Petrocine

[@johnsangl]

Thanks.

[@stevegaines-vq3bd]

nice video, i subscribed....just planted 3 fruit trees & now want to plant some Dunstan Chestnuts....are the nuts cheaper to buy compared to the bare root trees..?

[@johnsangl]

WAY cheaper, but require a LOT more work.

[@dustincathcart2089]

Great video! Thanks from a rookie chestnutter in warren pa!

[@johnsangl]

Thank you - Hope it helps. Good luck growing!

[@arroworchard1054]

Hay brother sorry I haven't been on and keeping up with you my trees are doing great and awesome content like always and your trees look great

[@johnsangl]

Thanks - glad to hear things are going well.

[@briandavis4606]

Great advice as always! Hello from upstate NY. My trees finally peeked out of the top of my 5 foot tube this summer, it's been about 3 years now I guess. How was your harvest this year any nuts for sale yet?

[@johnsangl]

My Harvest was very very low - similar to many others around me. Nothing for sale. Glad to hear your trees are starting to clear the tubes! Thanks for checking in.

[@MySliceOfHeavenoutdoors]

Great video John, good info.

[@johnsangl]

Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@kermitl.peterson4970]

Great video! Good info. Thanks!

[@johnsangl]

Thanks for watching!

[@jdoboy6835]

Hi John,,, another good video! I'm still having a hard time finding the exact rooting compound for my white oak acorns. (No problems starting burrs) I raked up about 40+ gallons of the W oak nuts 2 weeks ago. The nuts & some leaves were damp when i put them in 5 gallon buckets,,, I just left the buckets outside under my patio roof. I checked them yesterday & about 50% are already starting to throw out tap roots. What do you say,,,,, What works best for you? Should I try to plant them outside, under the ground now, & risk mice & munks digging them up,,,, or just put the rootings in buckets of dirt & keep them in my garage till spring? I'll send you an email with some pictures. Like we talked about before, almost every one of these acorns already have holes drilled inside & out of them! These nut-eating maggots are BAD around here!! But, it seems, they are not hurting the integrity of the nuts! Still 'alive' & rooting. THANKS for all of your info. ;>)

[@johnsangl]

I put my English white oak and Sawtooth white oak acorns in the fridge the same as my chestnuts and then stay indoors or outdoors in the Spring. That allows me to avoid mice and other damage.

[@jnpg]

Thanks!

[@johnsangl]

You're welcome - thanks for watching/commenting!

[@paulyoung448]

Hi John, we are also in the north western Pennsylvania, around the DuBois area, we were curious where do you sale your chestnut? Who buys the chestnut 🌰? Thank you we will waiting for the video.

[@johnsangl]

Hi Paul - I used to ship seedlings, but so many people reserve them thru the year - I just sell out locally in the first week. As far as chestnuts, I'm just getting in the production phase enough to have enough nuts to sell. I am assuming most of those sales will be local as well.

[@paulyoung448]

@@johnsangl thank you John.

[@wvhunter1]

More great content! I watched a video where you compared growing results in Treepots, Deepot and Cone-tainers. Are Deepots and Cone-tainers as frustrating as Treepots when removing seedlings? Which growing container would recommend to start seeds in for planting during the same growing season?

[@johnsangl]

Nothing is as frustrating as attempting to remove tree seedlings from Treepots while keeping the Treepot intact. Conetainers are great if you want to start your seedlings and transplant within 8 weeks. Deepots are good if you are wanting to grow them a little longer before transplanting but plan to transplant in the same growing season.

[@ihus9950]

👍🏻

[@brianrossow9800]

👍

[@The_Mothzz]

Hello , i have gotten some small American chestnut seedlings , the winter buds look really dark. Is this a problem? Happy holidays, best regards from Europe.

[@johnsangl]

I wouldn’t worry much about the bud appearance at this point. I’d just see how they do when they wake up next Spring. Best of luck and Happy Holidays - John

[@The_Mothzz]

@@johnsangl thank you for your kind answer

[@jamessullivan9992]

Smear mud on the trunk it keeps the blight away

[@triley9587]

Hi John, do you have any advice on keeping chestnuts from molding? Lost my whole crop in the fridge last winter. Checked and cleaned them just about every two weeks. Wore rubber gloves too. By late February they were all bad. This year I gave half of my nuts a quick bath in diluted bleach as an experiment and using the buried bucket of sand method this year instead of the fridge.

[@johnsangl]

Putting FRESH seeds seems to be the best guard against mold. Paying close attention to avoiding too much moisture in the peat moss/sand or whatever medium you use is also important. Best of luck!

[@davidsoloninka7742]

I’ve had a very minimal nut crop the last two years. My 36 chines chatnut tree r abou 12 yrs. Do i need st spray?… fetilize?? I noticed that the male staimens r plentiful but very few tiny femaile burs in early spring, what causes that? Thx

[@johnsangl]

I'd guess your trees are still immature - they all mature at varied times, but I'm sure they'll really take off in the next few years for you. I don't think spraying would be helpful & I wouldn't fertilize trees that are 12yo either.

[@jackjackbt]

Do you think growing chestnut trees in Connecticut will do okay or do you think it’s too cold?

[@johnsangl]

There are chestnuts growing in Connecticut, but you'll be pushing their limits. Consider picking something with a little bit of American genetics or a known cold-tolerant Chinese tree(like Mossbarger). Best of luck!

[@fhuber7507]

I have the location, ordered some saplings. 200 T-posts in a pile for staking. (way more than needed) You mentioned voles going for the roots. I have voles on the property. Any control recommendations?

[@johnsangl]

When you plant, remove all vegetation for 3 feet around the tree. Consider using glyphosate(if you're open to herbicide - avoid getting any on the trunk or leaves) for the first couple years or using landscape fabric if you have the time & patience to do that. Voles are feeding on vegetative roots & if you remove grass around the trees - they won't bother your trees.

[@jimdavis7670]

What to do keep worms out of chestnuts

[@johnsangl]

Meticulous orchard floor management for now. Later, I'll probably have to spray to have effective prevention.

[@douglaslockard9241]

I want to by chestnut saplings

[@johnsangl]

Your best bet is to find a local grower and buy some bareroot trees in the Spring. I sell them locally every Spring around mid-April.

[@jasonbroom7147]

Very good information on how to grow a commercial chestnut orchard. Growing American Chestnuts, the tree that has been almost entirely wiped out by the blight brought to the US in the early 1900's, by Chinese chestnut trees, is an entirely different subject. In fact, if you want to grow pure American Chestnut trees, as part of the restoration effort, planting any Chinese chestnut trees, or hybrids like the Dunstan, is a really bad idea. American Chestnut trees are suitable for hardwood forests and don't make a good orchard tree. American Chestnut trees produce the absolute best fall food source for wildlife in the Eastern US.

[@johnsangl]

If a blight-resistant American Chestnut is ever produced(def some progress recently if it ever gets released by regulating agencies), having Chinese/Japanese/European trees near it shouldn’t affect them. Having a pure American forest is just not possible without blight resistance.

[@jasonbroom7147]

@@johnsangl - That is not the position of the ACF, as it can and will result in undesirable hybrids. The one caveat to that is if these trees are being grown in a hardwood forest regeneration effort, the tall, vertical growth factor of pure American Chestnut trees will ensure those genetics are preferred. The blight resistance will come through the genetically modified strain, not by association with Asian or European genetics. What you're doing in your orchard is very cool stuff. I hope it works out to be a financially successful endeavor. It should not be confused with restoration efforts of American Chestnuts, in any way.