Chinese Chestnut Tree

Thank you for your question. You can plant two or more Chinese Chestnuts or one Chinese Chestnut and a grafted Chinese variety for proper pollination.

Chinese chestnuts STINK and the smell carries. I don't know how anyone can say they have no offensive odor.

Given how small it is.... ask me in a 100 years!

The chestnut size could be attributed to the weather while pollination was taking place. For example, if it was rainy, that might have limited the amount of pollen that reached the flowers in one tree versus the other, which would affect size and quality. It's difficult to say for certain, but it could even be that the consecutive chestnut crops and nuts simply improve in size as time goes on.

I like fall or spring. Beware damp soil.

Chestnut trees only require occasional fertilizer, and prefer a diluted solution. We recommend Stark® Tre-Pep (which is water-soluble) vs. a granular fertilizer:

http://www.starkbros.com/products/tools-and-supplies/soil-additives/stark-tre-pep-fertilizer

According to my step-dad who manages 7 acres of Chinese Chestnuts, you don't need to wait, although, they tend to roast better after 1 or 2 days. He never boils them, but instead scores them & then throws about 12 of them in the microwave for 90 seconds under a damp paper towel. That or you can roast them in the oven for about 20 min.

Mother Nature can be so unpredictable. :-) Here is a guide that tells you exactly what to do if you can't plant right away: //www.starkbros.com/growing-guide/article/how-to-delay-planting

They are hardy to Zone 4 - perhaps there's another reason you haven't had good results growing Chinese chestnuts. Is the site well-drained? Chestnuts do not like "wet feet" and prefer loamy soil to clay soil. If your soil is clay-ey and wasn't amended prior to planting, that could be the problem. Did you do a soil test to see if the site is missing essential nutrients, or if the pH is ideal? All of these things impact a tree's ability to adapt to its planting site.

Yes, two Chinese Chestnut seedlings will pollinate one another.