So I have been interested I the hybrid chestnut trees they have available the last few years. Has anyone got some producing? Do they like sandy soil? I think I would like to try growing a couple if I could find a source for nuts. I’ve got oaks and hazelnuts I don’t see why chestnut should be much different.

Had a couple of them growing in the yard at the old place, they were a cross between the Amercan chestnut and the Chinese chestnut. A big mistake growing them in the yard. Besides not giving much shade, the trailers after the bloom were real messy, and after the nuts drop and open, you don't want to be wearing tennis shoes to clean the yard, the spikes on the husk are real nasty. Oh, and when they were blooming, it gave off a real funky smell, you would swear something had died in the yard.

The pros
The nuts are excellent for eating, and the deer will come and eat the heck out of them. Took more than one deer under those trees.

I think we got 3 yr old stock and it took another 3 years before they starting producing. Grew them on top of a sandy hill,

[img]https://chestnutridgeofpikecounty.com/shop/[/img]

Friend of mine just showed me a mature chestnut tree growing near Roanoke River in Halifax County, NC. I doubt there is another within 100 miles. Could it be a survivor? No nuts on it last year but it is full of nuts this year.

Charles, if it has lots of nuts it is getting pollinated by another chestnut nearby.

On the smell of the chestnut catkins; I had a friend once say it smelled like semen. Never have gotten that out of my head...especially as I walk by trees in bloom!

Had to sign up to get updates as they haven’t got inventory yet. Have you used these?

I am guessing they self pollinate. Many trees do. I don’t know.

I stand corrected. Google says another tree is required. I wonder if this tree is a hybrid or an American chestnut? How can I tell?

Primarily you can tell by the size of the nuts. Americans are thumbnail sized nuts whereas Chinese, Hybrid and European all would likely be quarter sized or larger. Also the leaf is a little different but can be hard to tell by the novice.

Several times. Won't be long now.

Several years ago I bought some from Arbor Day Foundation. They haven't done very well. This year I bought some from Epic Whitetail Habitat LLC

They now have a genetically modified native chestnut...somehow they added a wheat gene to it. The tree is supposedly blight resistant and fertile. I believe they are just waiting for final approval

Can't believe I'm responding to this but he's right

I think I will stick with my Black Walnut trees.....They smell like trap dye, that's as far as I want to go.....

If I plant a bunch of chestnuts from seed, will I probably need to put up deer fences once they start to grow?

And squirrel fencing! Every chipmunk around here seems to find them in the ground when I plant them. I now have a raised bed that I covered with hardware cloth. On the bottom too...buggers mined under last year!

Darn chipmunks, huh. I don't have many of them, but some squirrels

I haven't seen that 1 yet

I need to treat mine for worms or bugs.
Sevin on the ground in springtime?
Pretty sure they are Chinese, they were planted by two different guys that I knew.
Deer. squirrel, chipmunks, bear, and I like em.
Not a good tree to walk under in bare feet, or park the vette under.

As a kid I knew of two natives, one was HUGE.

Don't know about Hybrids.I have some of the Italian Castanea Chestnuts.Old guy I got them from told me plant them on high ground because they don't like being wet,,and NEVER fertilize them.He has over 100 on his place and has been growing them since the 50s.When I went to dig some young trees to plant at my place,,he had 8 deer feeding off the nuts on the ground.Squirrels were all over the place.Very good producing trees,,and they are the type preferred for humans to eat also.P:S:,,dont plant them right in your yard unless you want them little Porky Pine husks all over your yard.They are sharp.