Aldeer.com Forums Alabama Deer Talk Quality Deer Management Talk to me about chestnuts

I have two chestnuts that I recognize as such on my camp property. One is a dunstan, per the tag, which has not fruited yet. The other is older and has been producing for a few years at least. I think it may be a Chinese chestnut but not certain. Each year I’ve found a few well developed chestnuts and a few more that the squirrels or deer got. But most of the husks are filled with shriveled nutlets about 5/8” and flattened. I haven’t seen any evidence of weevils. The pH is generally 4.9 in our soil without a liming effort which puts the soil within the range that chestnuts are supposed to like.
Are there any hints that may help me overcome the low yield? Should I plan to plant another one to increase cross-pollenation? I’m considering adding a good base of leaf mould and pine straw mulch around the drip line.

You could trim the tree and create some new growth. Do it now. Might lose a little next year but should do better from then on

Add more trees for pollination

This

Thanks guys. I’ll grab a couple more for the yard.

I planted 10 trees that were 1 year old. That was 7 years ago. I lost 2 the second year. They were all tubed and mulched. Six have produced, last year and this year. Some of the nuts were small or stunted. I had a couple of dozen large nuts that I tried to sprout with no luck. I had to put wire around them to keep the deer from eating all the leaves. The place I hunt here in Fla. has maybe a dozen large trees and they are loaded. All you find is husk unless you are there when they fall.

Ran into a guy who has started a chestnut orchard with irrigation. He said the Chinese chestnuts produce in a year or two and that deer prefer them over the dunstans because of the sugar content.

Planted a variety of nut trees in several large orchard arrangement in 2005. My assessment, the Chinese Chestnut have been the most productive, require the least amount of time, general oversight and money. They were planted on 30 foot centers and should have been planted on 40 foot centers. I clean out all the dead limbs and keep the grounds around the trees free of competition. I do no pruning! Apply triple 13 once a year. Yesterday, I mowed the chestnut shells with my zero turn that covered the ground around the trees to advance my annual clean up after the deer have consumed 100% of the nuts. If I had to do the planting over I would plant more chestnuts and less sawtooth. I am now 74 years old and I admire all the trees planted but by far I am most satisfied with the Chinese chestnut, I do have a few Dunstan but prefer the tolerance and cost effectiveness of the Chinese chestnut. All my trees had a minimum 1” caliper when planted due to my age and future gratification aspirations at the time of planting. If you have dark green leafs on your trees you have a healthy tree and plenty of food source for the deer at least annually for a few weeks. All the trees came from the Wildlife Group outside of Auburn, Alabama, except the dunstan. I suggest planting not less than 6 trees together with the 40’ on center separation for maximum success.

Ive planted at my place 6 dunstan and 10 chinese. They chinese were producing at year 3. Dunstan planted at same time have not produced anything yet.

Do the Chinese Chestnuts have the hulls covered in needles? I had two planted my dad gave me years ago and I could not keep lawn mower tires with air in them because of all the needles I got in the tires cutting around the trees. I cant see how a deer could eat the nut if it didnt pop out of the hull when it hit the ground. Seems to me they would have a nose and mouth full of needles.

They use their hooves to pop them open.

Where is the best place to buy the Chinese chestnut?

Pm sent

North Alabama Nursery, bare root are $4 each

Do they ship? I don't see much on their website.

The Wildlife Group .....they are on facebook also .

You have to message them and they will send you a brochure.

We have 15 left at Muddy Roots Nursery. They are in 3 gallon pots and are 2.5 to 3.5 feet tall.