Chestnut Tree's

[DonT]

My wife and I were out for a walk in town this morning and i picked up some fallen nuts.They are dark brown with a prickley husk that peels off to reveal a nut that is about 3cm thick by about 4cm long.I believe these are chestnuts but i am not sure.having read previous posts on growing trees from seed, I brought home some of the nuts,wrapped them up and put them in the freezer to plant next spring.Chestnut tree's are not found in the wild in this area, so this must be an urban tree that someone has planted many years ago.Is this the right process for growing seedlings?  DonT

[Ron Scott]

Not sure of what success you might have with the chestnut since you are generally out of its range.

It is also a prolific stump sprouter, but the chestnut blight fungus usually persists in the living stumps and kills the larger sprouts.

[Ron Wenrich]

My guess is that it isn't an American chestnut, but either a Chinese or European.  

I'm not real sure about starting chestnuts from seed.  If you are interested in getting either American chestnut seeds or seedlings, you can go to http://www.acf.org

There is no guarantee of success, and most trees will die due to the blight.

[Noble_Ma]

Ron,

That discription sounds like what we call horse chestnut?  I just read in my Audubon tree book that they are in the buckeye family.  We don't have a lot up here but they are around.  Does the wood from these trees resemble the American chestnut?

[swampwhiteoak]

Noble_Ma,

No, I think from the description given they are chestnuts.  Ohio buckeye and horse chestnut seed pods get a little spiny on the outside, but I don't think that is what he is refering to.

On the second question, the answer is no, the wood is quite a bit different.  If you go into the link directory you can find some forest service wood publications that can answer the question more completely.

[DonT]

Thanks for the responses,I finally identified my tree.According to tree's of Canada it is a horse chestnut (aesculus hippocastanum).This must have been a tree that someone planted years ago as it is approximately 60cm in diameter.I don't know how they will fair but I think I will plant them in the spring and see what happens.  Thanks DonT

[swampwhiteoak]

Well DonT I feel silly. Sorry, NobleMa, looks like you were right.

[Noble_Ma]

No problem swampwhiteoak.  It was just a guess.  Now if I could just guess that right lottery number.

[Tom]

How big is that thing in inches

[woodmills1]

my front yard ha two huge horsechestnuts (one word) not much good for nothin cept for two days they look nice.  planted round 1860 I think.

[Noble_Ma]

In case you're not kiddding, 2.54 cm/in.  25.4 mm/in

[Brian_Bailey]

Here is what an American Chestnut bur & nut looks like.