When I was down at the farm, I gathered some Chineese (I think) Chestnuts and Hickory nuts. How do I go about germinating them? I can keep them indoors this fall/winter w/o a problem if that' s what I need to do.

my mother did the same thing,she put them in buckets and just keep a little water ever so often.the hickory nuts never did come up.(weird thing,hickory' s are hard to get up).
all the other one came up about 50%.

I guess just give them a try,and see if it works!

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Thanks I' ll try planting them tomorrow. I think what I may do, is plant them in medium sized peat pots and keep them inside the house this winter.

I have TONS of Black Walnuts, one of my favorite trees, but I' d love to get some Chinese Chestnuts and Hickorys growing on one of the other farms.

I may be wrong, but I think that the freezing part is necessary as it cracks the shell and allows the germination to happen. If they don' t freeze, they don' t grow.
Is that right?
Brian

You should stratify the nuts over winter by keeping them in moist peat moss in a loosely sealed plastic bag. Store the bag in the back of your fridge over winter, just make sure that the peat moss stays damp (not wet). You should get almost 100% germination in the spring if you follow that method.

Dan O.

I have done them similiar to Dan. But I used moist earth in a bag and then put them in the freezer. The wife freezes all of her garden seeds and has very good luck. When you take them out, plant them immediately, don' t let them thaw until they are in the ground. The freezing part is neccessary.
Russ

Thanks for the info! Change of plans

The Chinese chestnuts will have roots growing when it' s time to plant in the spring. If it was pecans or acorns you should soak them in water for 24 hrs before planting. I' d do the same with the hickories.

Dan O.

All right, thanks again!

Any ideas for pears? How do i germinate and plant them?