Stratifying Chestnuts in the Fridge

[yoderjac]

Here is what I was going to use.

If it says long-fiber somewhere on the bag it is the right stuff. Brand doesn't matter. The picture Wayne posted is the brand Home Depot carries. Long fiber sphagnum sort of had long stems with dried tiny leaves tangled together. Regular peat moss almost looks like powder in your hand.

Thanks,

Jack

 

[TreeDaddy]

The long fiber stuff also make a big f****** mess when dry out of bag

bill

 

[Jayber]

Oh, I had a mess!! But it appears that I have the powdery kind. Well, they're going in bags w/o medium at this point!

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[Redonthehead]

I have successfully used regular peat for four years. Its it very acidic and high in tannins, why wouldn't that be "anti-fungal"? They find well preserved bodies in peat bogs hundreds of years old. I've had no problems with mold - only lost less then 10 nuts out of hundreds.

 

[yoderjac]

I have successfully used regular peat for four years. Its it very acidic and high in tannins, why wouldn't that be "anti-fungal"? They find well preserved bodies in peat bogs hundreds of years old. I've had no problems with mold - only lost less then 10 nuts out of hundreds.

After a number of years at this, I'm convinced that things like the medium for cold stratification are second order factors for mold. The primary factor, in my opinion, is exposure to mold at collection. We can create conditions that favor or disfavor mold growth, but I think early exposure to mold sources is the key. If nuts sit on the ground and conditions are ripe for mold at the collection site and if nuts are collected and stored in such a way that mold exposure can easily transfer from nut to nut, you are swimming up stream. If there is no mold exposure a the source, you are swimming with the current.

I figured this out when I received nuts from multiple sources and handled them all identically. I had horrible mold issues with nuts from one source and almost no mold with nuts from another source. I've never had mold issues with nuts I've collected myself directly from the trees before they fell.

If you are starting from scratch and planning things out, I think using long-fiber sphagnum is a best practice (live if you can find it). However, if you don't have it, I would not sweat it. I'd say it is much more important to get the moisture levels and temperature correct than the specific media you use in cold stratification.

Thanks,

jack

 

[Shedder]

I think using long-fiber sphagnum is a best practice (live if you can find it).
jack

Like off the ground? Loads of it here.

Would it not have mold spores if it was picked from the ground?

 

[yoderjac]

Like off the ground? Loads of it here.

Would it not have mold spores if it was picked from the ground?

I got my live stuff from a research facility that grows it. Even though mold spores are ubiquitous, they need the right conditions to take hold. The high carb content of chestnuts seems to be a real breeding ground for mold. Also keep in mind that nuts can sit on the ground in some parts of the country and not pickup mold depending on conditions and it can take hold quickly in others when conditions are favorable. Again, I think getting the right water content and temperature is a first order factor and the specific medium used to hold moisture is second order. I'd say using long-fiber is more of a "best practice" rather than a requirement.

Thanks,

Jack

 

[Jayber]

Circling back on this one to report the results using the Canadian Sphagnum peat checked at 90 days, all seeds soaked in water 24H prior to planting:
In plastic ziploc bags ~90% sprouted, 1-2 seeds molded.
In shallow plastic container <50% sprouted, 25% seeds molded.

Ziploc bags, no peat 0% sprouted, 10% seeds molded.


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[yoderjac]

Circling back on this one to report the results using the Canadian Sphagnum peat checked at 90 days, all seeds soaked in water 24H prior to planting:
In plastic ziploc bags ~90% sprouted, 1-2 seeds molded.
In shallow plastic container <50% sprouted, 25% seeds molded.

Ziploc bags, no peat 0% sprouted, 10% seeds molded.


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Great feedback and a good test. How many nuts did you use for each so we know the statistical significance of the percentages. One question. I presume when you say something like <50% sprouted and 25% molded, that 25% is part of the 50% that did not sprout and that when you mold you mean visible mold, correct?

General thoughts: Cold stratification is a function of temperature and moisture content. The size shape of the container can affect the amount of retained moisture.

Your results of 90% in ziplock with medium are consistent with Wayne's results with 90 days compared to my results planting at 60 days which was significantly lower.

Thanks for posting your results.

Thanks,

Jack

 

[Jayber]

16 nuts per ziploc.
16 nuts per plastic container. Container had a lid that was propped open, mold typically concentrated near unopened end
Seeds that molded were counted in the number that did not sprout.
Nuts with mold were all clearly visible.

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[yoderjac]

16 nuts per ziploc.
16 nuts per plastic container. Container had a lid that was propped open, mold typically concentrated near unopened end
Seeds that molded were counted in the number that did not sprout.
Nuts with mold were all clearly visible.

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Thanks for the update. I'd say that sample size is a bit small to draw strong conclusions, but it does give us some indication.

Thanks,

Jack

 

[Jayber]

Thanks for the update. I'd say that sample size is a bit small to draw strong conclusions, but it does give us some indication.

Thanks,

Jack

16 nuts per bag × 2 bags w/ peat
16 nuts per bag x 2 bags w/o peat
16 nuts per container x 2 containers w/ peat

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[yoderjac]

16 nuts per bag × 2 bags w/ peat
16 nuts per bag x 2 bags w/o peat
16 nuts per container x 2 containers w/ peat

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That is a better statistical sample. Did you notice any significant difference between the two bags of the same type?

Thanks,

Jack

 

[Corbin.clay]

Circling back on this one to report the results using the Canadian Sphagnum peat checked at 90 days, all seeds soaked in water 24H prior to planting:
In plastic ziploc bags ~90% sprouted, 1-2 seeds molded.
In shallow plastic container <50% sprouted, 25% seeds molded.

Ziploc bags, no peat 0% sprouted, 10% seeds molded.


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I refrigerated without moss or any type of media, and even with a 24 hr soak at 30 and 60 days, I had 0 % germination. There was always moisture in the bags. My fridge is a community work fridge so the temperature also could have been too low for too long. I have a bag of spagnum moss waiting for next years seed.

 

[Jayber]

I refrigerated without moss or any type of media, and even with a 24 hr soak at 30 and 60 days, I had 0 % germination. There was always moisture in the bags. My fridge is a community work fridge so the temperature also could have been too low for too long. I have a bag of spagnum moss waiting for next years seed.

Same results here, had to remove nuts with mold on several occassions.

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[Jayber]

Making good progress! Think it's time to move to pots and get outdoors. What is the recommended size?

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[scott44]

I do about 12 weeks in the RM-18's and then to 1gal RM pots and planting the pots later. I have had decent luck planting directly out of the RM 18's into their final spot.

 

[Jayber]

Any concerns with putting some directly in the ground now? Was thinking I'd try it at my dad's property in IL this weekend. I'll also use the grow tubes that I got from Chestnut Hill when I purchased 2 trees a couple years back.

 

[Jayber]

I do about 12 weeks in the RM-18's and then to 1gal RM pots and planting the pots later. I have had decent luck planting directly out of the RM 18's into their final spot.

RM-18, is that a tray or individual pot size?

 

[scott44]

RM-18, is that a tray or individual pot size?

I have the RM 18 trays, they also come in express or individuals.