Chestnut (Chinese/hybrid)

Chestnuts are cold hardy nuts that are great candidates for nut production in the Catskills. We have planted dozens of Chestnuts on a range of soil types with wide success. Their only major preference is that the soil be well-draining. Overly waterlogged soils are not preferable.

We have two varieties this year, all grown from seed. Due to chestnut blight, our chestnuts are primarily Chinese chestnuts with some other species hybridized in smaller portions. 

Ohio chestnuts: These seed nuts come from Ohio Chestnuts, a long running Chestnut orchard in Ohio. They have had several years to select for cold hardy northern climate genetics, making these a great option for northern growers, including ourselves. They have also selected for yield and harvest-ability. 

New Jersey Chestnuts: We sourced these chestnuts from an old horticultural planting in Princeton New Jersey. This planting shows a lot of diversity in tree form and nut size. We suspect that they are mainly Chinese chestnuts, though their may be some European chestnut genetics as well. We do not believe these Chestnut genetics have made it into the nursery trade, so this is a way to add some diversity to a planting as well. 

We highly recommend planting at least 3 trees at a time, at 15 ft or more spacing. Otherwise you will not get good cross pollination. Mature trees require full sun, while seedlings can develop in part shade or full sun. 

Sun: full to part (while young)

Moisture: medium to dry, well drained