Dunstan Chestnut Trees

[mcbuck58]

After two previous failed attempts to start from seed that was given to me, then speaking with @mcbuck58 via phone last fall, I'm hopeful I can at least follow directions of someone whose had success so following as identically as possible

Nuts from Chestnut Ridge; stratified in containers with Baccto (brown bag) soil
3x8 T-pots with Baccto soil (white bag); trays fit great in 20L bus tubs from Amazon

Two hybrids (only 2 that made it from 30 started on second attempt) planted in fall '22 & three hybrid Chestnuts I won in a drawing from MO Nativ Nurseries planted fall '23 - all five trees in tubes on complete opposite side of 150ac that these will hopefully be planted on

Thanks for the tip(s). How deep should be pushed back down - should radical exit from shell be completely under soil?
I shook down soil when I loaded T-pots to get soil 'settled' to bottom hole without compaction & have been watering only from beneath (filing tub 1.5") as suggested. Assume the push-up meant radical was successfully growing downward but I wondered how firmly to push back down - have done so lightly every other day keeping radical/shell tip just under soil level

Thank you T2D2 for the update. Please accept my apology because I had forgotten that I talked to you last fall. Talk to so many people about the trees/seedlings hard to keep track of everyone.
Always try to keep the end of a short radical pushed into the dirt. Just gently push the radical into the soil. That goes for a nut that's cracked but not yet sent out a radical. A short radical is hard to break. A long radical is fairly easy to break. When I pull nuts out of stratification, if I have a long radical, I'll use a small screwdriver to make a hole in the soil to insert the radical. I would also water the soil around the nut a little while the radical is short or the nut is just cracked. Once the radical starts growing down into a root water from the bottom is all you need. Also once the radical starts growing down into the soil it's alright if you see the top of the radical. Actually with the top of the radical showing that allows the trunk to sprout and grow straight up rather than trying to push through the soil. Hope this all makes sense. Any other questions just ask. Good luck to you.

 

[mcbuck58]

Seedlings are leafing out really good. Look how thick that canopy is. Most seedlings are 16 to 18 inches tall. Got a few on the end that are 10 to 12 inches tall. Also have a bunch that are 20 inches tall. All height measurements do not include 8 inches of roots.

 

[JCDEERMAN]

Seedlings are leafing out really good. Look how thick that canopy is. Most seedlings are 16 to 18 inches tall. Got a few on the end that are 10 to 12 inches tall. Also have a bunch that are 20 inches tall. All height measurements do not include 8 inches of roots. View attachment 269445View attachment 269446

Wow! Thats awesome. As said before, I'm 2 weeks behind you. My wife will kill me if mine are close to that tall in 2 weeks. Even though it's in MY office! The other day she asked if my office was an office or a greenhouse . Question - I forgot when said you start fertilizing yours. Now or when you put them in the ground? I bought the exact same stuff you use

 

[mcbuck58]

Wow! Thats awesome. As said before, I'm 2 weeks behind you. My wife will kill me if mine are close to that tall in 2 weeks. Even though it's in MY office! The other day she asked if my office was an office or a greenhouse . Question - I forgot when said you start fertilizing yours. Now or when you put them in the ground? I bought the exact same stuff you use

Tell her it's both, you're multitasking.
Seedlings I fertilize when they go outside first of April. If there's a frost or freeze they go in garage for the night. My in ground trees I'd say around third or forth week of April. The experts say fertilize when no chance of a freeze.
In case someone wants to know. I have taken the nut off as soon as roots are at the bottom of the pot and seedling has branched up. I usually take the nut off when I move them outside just because I'll handle each one individually. Make sure to take the nut off when they are outside if you have any squirrels, coons or possums.

 

[kckndrgn]

My update, I have chestnut trees in so many different states. I did not take them all out of the fridge at the same time. I had some with long radicals that were planted first. Many were not even cracked at that time, so I kept them in the fridge.
All in all I have:
2 - grape vines
21 - persimmon (found a persimmon tree camping last year and collected fruit, saved the seeds)
77 - Dunstan Chestnuts