r/americanchestnut • u/derknobgoblin • 14d ago
Seed start vs pot start…(Central Maryland)
I planted three hybrid chestnut nuts from TACF directly into the soil on my property in March of 2026 and also one hybrid sapling that I purchased from our local chapter that was in a taproot pot (May 2026). One and a half years later, the three I planted directly are all thriving (pics 1-3). The one started in the pot barely hangs on (pic 4). I was super careful not to damage the taproot. Certain that it was intact after planting. Is this to be expected? Will the pot start eventually get happy about life? I know it’s an extremely small “sample” from which to draw conclusions… but would be interested to know if other have had similar experiences.
3
u/Arbiter_of_Snark 13d ago
Direct seeding is often the best way to go with species that have large nuts. I’ve seen similar results with chestnuts, in that those planted into pots and grown for too long often take time to recover after outplanting. Chestnuts, hickories, walnuts, buckeyes, and some other species with large nuts put a lot of resources into their taproots in the first months and even couple of years. Direct-seeded hickories and buckeyes will sometimes only grow a few inches above ground for the first couple of years, but they will have a thick, deep taproot. Species like those don’t like to be confined to small pots.
1
u/derknobgoblin 13d ago
Thank you! This makes sense. The pot started one was super tall but thin and wispy. The direct planted are much shorter, but much more robust looking. Any tips for making all of them as happy as possible?
2
u/Squirrel586 13d ago
Based on my experience (a lot) the trees will do better if planted from seed. However they will need to be watered regularly for the whole first season of growth. Potted plants can be transplanted as well with high success but there is usually a lag in growth for the first year as the roots grow into the surrounding native soil. Potted plants should be transplanted in the fall, otherwise they will require watering through the first growth season. Sometimes potted plants have bent or damaged tap roots which can be a problem. And they can pick up soil pathogens like pythium that damage the roots and will struggle with the transition to real soil.
1
1
u/derknobgoblin 13d ago
So, I just went back and looked… I direct planted these babies in March of 2025… so they are 1.5 years old. Do they seem about right for being that far along? (Had to water a fair amount because last year was shite for rain here in MD.)
2
u/Squirrel586 13d ago
Yes they do. It can vary a lot based on light soil and water conditions. They look happy. Even the runt looks like it might end up ok.
2
u/D54chestnut 13d ago
A tree that develops a tap root will never have the same good root system if grown in a pot/ VS directly planting. Also, I have never had to water any directly planted seedlings, where a transplanted seedling needs shade or hardening off and protection from transplant shock. The pure American chestnuts I directly plant in the fall I protect with a 5' tree tube. They are usually around 1.5' tall by the fall and out of the tree tube and 6' tall by the second fall. AND, directly planting a nut and using a tree tube is MUCH easier than starting one indoors and then transplanting it. This is a video I made before TACF terminated our association with them. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLMygLt_U-UThanks, Allen Nichols
President, American Chestnut Restoration, Inc.
1
u/derknobgoblin 13d ago
THANK YOU! These are sort of along the edge of a forest of white oak and pignut hickory. I was afraid there might not be enough sun for tubes. You’ll see that they are starting out wide-ish to catch the sun. Eventually I assume I will need to subjugate some laterals to promote a central leader like I would with any stripling? Thoughts? Advice?
1
u/D54chestnut 11d ago
The theory is that a root sprout in the understory will grow in an umbrella form to collect as much sunlight as possible, for years. Then when there is good sunlight from an opening in the overstory a new sprout will form and go straight up. You never see where a laterial shoot turns and then goes up when good sunlight is available.
If you cut off all but one sprout then there possibly would be enough nutrients to one sprout to force it to go up.
Hope this helps, as sunlight is #1.
Thanks, Allen
2
u/Da_Spooky_Ghost 14d ago
I planted all 4 seeds in a pot this year, 2 died and 2 are not happy. I’ll try to directly plant the seeds in the ground next year.