Chinese Chestnut

[GLM]

Anyone plant Chinese Chestnut trees? I found some for sale that are 4' tall in 1 gallon pots for $35.
I have planted many Dunstan Chestnut trees but the 3 out of 20 that survived seem to be growing very, very slowly.
Would they cross pollinate?

[GLM]

Ttt

[unclefish]

Man I got nothing. I have planted Dunstans on my place but they didn't make it. Don't know about cross pollination...but I bet they would.

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[GLM]

Thanks, Steve.
Can't figure out why my Dunstans are doing so poorly and I didn't want to plant the Chinese version if they were no better.

[Doe Doe Spike]

I have about 20 I grew from seedlings last February that are in the ground at the ranch right now but this will be their first summer on their own so I don't know how they'll do. The Chinese are suppose to be more drought hardy then the Dunstans. What kind of soil are you growing yours on? I believe they are able to cross pollinate because the dunstan variety is 1/8 Chinese.

[tex4k]

I've been told all chestnuts will do poorly in alkaline soils, I don't know, I've shied away from spending money on them knowing how my soil is.

[GLM]

I have about 20 I grew from seedlings last February that are in the ground at the ranch right now but this will be their first summer on their own so I don't know how they'll do. The Chinese are suppose to be more drought hardy then the Dunstans. What kind of soil are you growing yours on? I believe they are able to cross pollinate because the dunstan variety is 1/8 Chinese.

My soil is very loamy but it doesn't stay wet. The Dunstans that survived are 5 years old and barely 6' tall. Thanks for the info.

[Doe Doe Spike]

I've been told all chestnuts will do poorly in alkaline soils, I don't know, I've shied away from spending money on them knowing how my soil is.

Correct they like acidic soil and don't do well in clay. Have you tried giving them polyon fertilizer?

[GLM]

Correct they like acidic soil and don't do well in clay. Have you tried giving them polyon fertilizer?

What is polyon fertilizer?

[Doe Doe Spike]

Slow release. Up to 9 months. That way you can dose them good and not burn/kill the trees.

[lavacahunter]

Good luck!

[18ncs]

You might check this site for slow release watering.

http://www.forestry-suppliers.com/

Is the only problem that they are not tall? How do the trees and leaves look during the growing season?

[GLM]

You might check this site for slow release watering.

http://www.forestry-suppliers.com/

Is the only problem that they are not tall? How do the trees and leaves look during the growing season?

Like a skinny stick with a few skinny branches and a few leaves. They have barely grown in 3 years.

[Wakehunter]

Sounds like a good question for Neil Sperry! He was talking about the Chinese chestnut on his radio show (820AM) Yesterday.