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

 

[mcbuck58]

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
View attachment 269842View attachment 269843View attachment 269844View attachment 269845

Oh man, looks good, you been busy.
What size are your pots and where did you get them?
What is the dimensions of those totes?
Thanks and good luck.

 

[kckndrgn]

Oh man, looks good, you been busy.
What size are your pots and where did you get them?
What is the dimensions of those totes?
Thanks and good luck.

These are the pots
Nuenen 100 Pcs Tall Tree Pot... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BVYKZLLS?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

And this is the tote. They were on clearance at Walmart

 

[mcbuck58]

These are the pots
Nuenen 100 Pcs Tall Tree Pot... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BVYKZLLS?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

And this is the tote. They were on clearance at Walmart

Thank you

 

[JCDEERMAN]

These are the pots
Nuenen 100 Pcs Tall Tree Pot... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BVYKZLLS?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

And this is the tote. They were on clearance at Walmart

Those pots are everywhere on amazon. I just didn't like the holes in the side walls. Let us know if roots try to come out of those holes. I got the ones that @mcbuck58 uses with a hole at the bottom, and cut screening to block that hole, but still allow water through

 

[mcbuck58]

Those pots are everywhere on amazon. I just didn't like the holes in the side walls. Let us know if roots try to come out of those holes. I got the ones that @mcbuck58 uses with a hole at the bottom, and cut screening to block that hole, but still allow water through

I've used the pots I have since when I started. Wish I could find them somewhere other than Oregon. Never had any circling of roots because of the vertical ribs and they air prune on the bottom. That means they can't turn and start circling. They just increase in diameter. I put the screen in to hold the dirt in place while the roots are developing. The roots grow through the screen and air prune. Right now in the house they sit in an inch of water. If you pick up a pot you might have a two or three inch root through the screen. They air prune off when they go outside. Look back in thread I have pictures of roots from one month in house and in September before I sell them.

 

[JCDEERMAN]

I've used the pots I have since when I started. Wish I could find them somewhere other than Oregon. Never had any circling of roots because of the vertical ribs and they air prune on the bottom. That means they can't turn and start circling. They just increase in diameter. I put the screen in to hold the dirt in place while the roots are developing. The roots grow through the screen and air prune. Right now in the house they sit in an inch of water. If you pick up a pot you might have a two or three inch root through the screen. They air prune off when they go outside. Look back in thread I have pictures of roots from one month in house and in September before I sell them.

Got it - makes sense. I ordered mine from the link below. From CA, but was a bit cheaper from what I saw. Several of mine have started to leaf out - awesome to see and very cool to see the different stages of growth on the chestnuts being pulled from fridge and planted on the same day

2 20 Pocket Trays with 40 Grapevine Pots

The kit joins the cells and trays you need for growth in a small space, simplifying your ordering process. Kit includes 2 trays and 40 3X8 pots. If you need more than 1 kit, please check individual cases for the best price. Note: Not shipped assembled.

www.groworganic.com

 

[mcbuck58]

Got it - makes sense. I ordered mine from the link below. From CA, but was a bit cheaper from what I saw. Several of mine have started to leaf out - awesome to see and very cool to see the different stages of growth on the chestnuts being pulled from fridge and planted on the same day

2 20 Pocket Trays with 40 Grapevine Pots

The kit joins the cells and trays you need for growth in a small space, simplifying your ordering process. Kit includes 2 trays and 40 3X8 pots. If you need more than 1 kit, please check individual cases for the best price. Note: Not shipped assembled.

www.groworganic.com

Thanks for the link.
Yes it is cool to see how fast they grow and the different stages. Those 20"ers are now 22"ers.

 

[T2D2]

I got the ones that @mcbuck58 uses with a hole at the bottom, and cut screening to block that hole, but still allow water through

Just realizing I missed the part re: screening to block the bottom hole on my T-pots...
As mentioned previously, I shook down soil when I loaded T-pots to get soil 'settled' to bottom hole without compaction (covering both top & bottom openings on pot, then placing pot into tray/tub & topping off w/ soil before placing nut) & have been watering only from beneath (filing tub 1.5") as suggested. Although I haven't pulled the pots to look at the bottom, I am noticing a little soil in tub water, but nothing major.

Is this going to be a problem? Should I try to partially block that bottom hole somehow now? or will they air prune just the same once they're moved outside even if there is some soil dropped out over time?

Thursday will be 14 days in pots indoors. All but 2 of the 49 with radicals have sprouted a trunk varying in heights with the tallest being about 3".

 

[mcbuck58]

Just realizing I missed the part re: screening to block the bottom hole on my T-pots...
As mentioned previously, I shook down soil when I loaded T-pots to get soil 'settled' to bottom hole without compaction (covering both top & bottom openings on pot, then placing pot into tray/tub & topping off w/ soil before placing nut) & have been watering only from beneath (filing tub 1.5") as suggested. Although I haven't pulled the pots to look at the bottom, I am noticing a little soil in tub water, but nothing major.

Is this going to be a problem? Should I try to partially block that bottom hole somehow now? or will they air prune just the same once they're moved outside even if there is some soil dropped out over time?

Thursday will be 14 days in pots indoors. All but 2 of the 49 with radicals have sprouted a trunk varying in heights with the tallest being about 3".

When you get enough roots it will hold the soil. Until then it will be a problem. It will be hard to put the screen in now but I would try. Put something on top like rag or paper towel to hold soil. With your hand holding it in place turn upside down add soil push a pre cut screen in. Another option if you have pots in trays is to put screens in trays. If no trays I would water lightly from the top rather than sitting in water. My seedlings are in pots that are in trays that are in bus tubs. They sit in an inch of water while they are in the house for the month of March. When I move outside they do not sit in water. Chestnuts like well drained soil and will grow faster if not sitting in water. My pot trays sit on wood or in these carts I've made so they drain and air prune. Look back in thread for pictures. When I put my soil in an empty pot I fill pot to the top then push down with block of wood. Top pot off with soil and push soil down again until soil is about 3/4" from top. I'm gently compacting the soil. Hope some of this helps, let us know what you do.

Edit:
I just looked back you have pots in bus tubs. Don't be picking the pots up when they are waterlogged. Soil will fall out. When you try to fix wait till the water in the tub is evaporated