Growing Chestnuts & Persimmons

[Buckman26]

Hi everyone,

2 years ago I planted 6 permissions and 6 chestnut from mossy oak nativ nursery. I also planted 4 chestnuts from whitetail hill. During the first growing season, the permissions were doing well and grew about a foot, but are struggling since. 3 have died and the other 3 leafed out the 2nd year but did not grow much, if any. All the chestnuts have leafed out the past 2 years but have grown maybe a couple of inches. I am in zone 5a and all these trees were planted on higher ground with tree tubes.

Does anyone have any thoughts on why these trees aren’t doing well? Any suggestions on other nurseries to purchase chestnuts or permissions from? Thank you for your time.

 

[GoldenTriangleIL]

Cut the tubes down to 24 inches and use cages.

 

[Hoytvectrix]

I would look at buying bare root persimmons from MDC or the Kansas Forest Service. I have planted a few hundred of persimmons from both of those sources. I have great luck with tree tubes on persimmons. As to why yours grew for a bit and then either didn't grow more or just died, I would think it has something to do with your site and especially the soil. Persimmons grow faster in the bottom ground at my places, but I also have several that grow about a foot per year on the ridgetops.

Chestnuts are kind of hit or miss in tree tubes. Some grow really well and others would do much better in cages. I really like to grow them out from seed, but there are all kinds of great places to buy chestnut seedlings or younger grafted trees. Some like Blue Hill chestnuts. Personally, I am not a fan of the structure of the 2-3 types I have planted and will only grow them out from seed going forward. If you want some nuts to try growing out your own, PM me as I will certainly have some extra Chinese chestnuts leftover this winter.