Can I grow a chestnut tree from a nut?

To grow chestnut trees using the nuts, you need to have an understanding of their dormancy cycle.  Chestnuts need cold stratification, or they need to be exposed to cold conditions that mimic winter. In the past, I have stored seeds in ventilated plastic bags with damp peat moss in a refrigerator for 90 days, and achieved 80% germination with the induced cold treatment, compared to about 40% for the untreated nuts.

Stratified nuts should be sown in acidic soil within the pH range of 5.5-6.5. When dealing with heavy clay garden plots I mix in approximately 40% coarse sand to prevent waterlogging. All container growers should use at least a 15-gallon container, and during the planting process, the depth of the container will help to accommodate the taproot on the tree seedling. In the first year, the taproot will extend 3 feet deep.

Guard young trees with ¼-inch wire mesh cages, buried 6" into the ground. Deer took the bark off my first saplings, and losing them taught me to make sure I had some sort of barrier before planting a tree. You can combine a physical guard with a capsaicin spray during the fall rutting season.

Plan on 3-5 years until your first nut harvests. Patience is a virtue, and in 2018 my seedlings produced 20 pounds of nuts per tree by 2023. Test soil nutrients every year, and don't hesitate to apply bone meal if you think kernel development is lagging. Good care will produce generations of shade and food.

Read the full article: How to Grow Chestnuts: A Complete Guide for Home Gardeners