Expert: Jim Hyland - 10/28/2009

Question
Jim, I live in the Northwest, I had my parents send me 10 chestnut seeds from the Northeast from a living tree. How would I go about germinating the seeds and getting a chestnut tree to grow in the northwest?

Answer
Nuts collected in the fall must undergo several months of cold storage before they can be planted in the spring. Chestnut seed has strict requirements for storage-it must not dry out at all or become soggy; it must not freeze or be stored very long above 40­ F. It is common for nuts to start sprouting in storage (usually between late February and late March). If the roots get much longer than 1 inch, they are hard to plant. Refrigeration between 32­ and 34­F. may slow the sprouting somewhat.
Plant the seed with the root shoot down or on a flat side if there is no root yet. If only a few seeds are being planted, you may want to start them in large pots, temporarily, until transplanted. Plant the seed about one inch deep, and when the seedling is about 8" tall (roughly 4 months), it can be planted in a permanent site. If using a pot, make sure it is big enough so that (lie roots do not become root-bound. Twist off the old nutshell before planting outside.