Chinese Chestnut

Chinese Chestnuts Bare Root Seedlings

Castanea mollissima

These are seedlings grown from Route 9 Cooperative’s Elite Empire Mix. These 1-year-old bareroot trees should bear nuts in another 3-4 years. A 10-15 year old well-managed tree should bear 150-300 pounds of nuts annually. 

Chestnuts are a delicacy of many cuisines, and be roasted and eaten whole or dried and ground into a delicious flour.

When you purchase the plant it will be bare root (no soil around the roots.) The tree has gone into dormancy for the winter at this point, so it can be dug up and transplanted with almost no stress to the tree. You just have to make sure the roots stay moist. You'll receive the tree in a pot with moist woodchips or in a bag with moist paper towels wrapped around the roots. It could stay like this for weeks (as long as the roots are kept moist) but I strongly suggest planting in the ground soon after purchase. 

I sell the bare root seedlings for $12 each. Discounts for bulk purchases available.

Note: You must plant at least two trees to ensure pollination.

Size/Spacing:

These will grow to be about 40-60' tall and wide. Space them about 40-60' apart.

Site Preference:

Plant your Chinese Chestnut tree in a spot that receives full sun and has well-draining soil. Chinese Chestnuts are adaptable to most soil types, but do not like heavily clay soils or frosted/wet ground. Mulch around the base, but not near the trunk, to retain moisture and prevent weed growth. Water deeply to settle roots after planting.

If you experience a drought during the first few years after planting your Chinese Chestnut, water once a week. Otherwise, rainwater should be sufficient for the growing and established tree.

They will drop tons of prickly burs each fall. Be sure to plant them someplace where those burs won't be too bothersome. (Not a good idea for planting in the backyard where young kids like to play barefoot.) 

Hardiness:

Up to Zone 4.