Things You'll Need:
- Digging tool (like a shovel)
- Long screwdriver
- Spray bottle filled with water
- Bucket of sand (unless you’re planting in sandy or sandy loam soil)
- Metal Rebar
- Mallet, hammer, or rebar post driver
- 4 foot grow tubes, also known as tree shelters
- Bird net for top of grow tube (recommended, but not required)
- Zip ties or wire
- Permanent marker
when to plant
Plant your seed in the spring as soon as the threat of frost has passed.
| Zone | Last Frost Date | First Frost Date |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | April 1-21 | Oct 17-31 |
| 7 | March 22 – April 3 | Oct 29 – Nov 15 |
| 8 | March 13-28 | Nov 7-28 |
Planting Location/Site
Ozark chinquapin will not grow in clay soil types. The ideal soil type is gravelly, sandy, or sandy loam.
Select a planting location that is sunny and has well draining soil. Rocky or sandy soils on a slope is an ideal location. However, the trees can grow in a variety of locations as long as there is good drainage for the root system and full to partial sun.
The roots cannot tolerate any standing water. A good test is to pour a quart container onto the intended location to see how quickly the water will disappear. If the water disappears into the ground in less than a minute the site is suitable. Avoid locations near standing water or where water stands after a heavy rain.
Planting Instructions
At this point (planting time), your seed should have a tap root. It’s critical that the tap root is not damaged in any way during seed storage or planting. If it becomes damaged the tree will produce a shallow root system and die when dry late summer conditions occur.
Plant the germinated nut directly in the ground with the tap root pointed down, do not worry about the orientation of the nut. When you plant the seed, make a pilot hole deep enough to gently fit the entire length of the taproot and seed into the ground about 1/2 inch to 1 inch from the surface, then fill up the pilot hole with sandy soil to cover the root and nut. Then immediately place a grow tube on the nut.
Water your tree weekly after planting unless there has been rain. You will need to allow water to deeply moisten the ground below the germinated seed to establishing a long tap root and attaining maximum growth. Do not use any mulch or organic material when planting.
We do not recommend planting into pots.
Step by Step guide
STEP 1:
Pilot a hole about 6 inches deep. Create a “shelf” 1/2 inch to 1 inch below the top of the ground inside the hole.
Remove any roots, etc., from the hole. It’s a good idea to probe your planting hole with rebar about a foot deep prior to confirmthere are no large rocks.
STEP 2:
Fill the pilot hole with sand. Creeks are good places to source sand.
STEP 3:
Use a piece of wire or the blade of a long screwdriver to create a hole in the sand deep and wide enough to accommodate the seed’s tap root.
STEP 3 continued:
It will look something like this.
STEP 4:
Use a spray bottle of water to gently remove any peat moss from the tap root and seed, then carefully place the seed on the shelf in whatever position makes the end of the tap root tip point straight down.
STEP 5:
Fill the hole with sand, covering the seed completely. It’sa good idea to use a small stick or something to mark where the seed is at so you know where to place your grow tube.
STEP 6:
Drive down your metal rebar deep enough to clear the top of the 4 foot grow tube by 2 inches. Label the grow tube and secure it to the rebar with zip ties or wire. Put a bird net on top of the tube. Place a few rocks around the base of grow tube.
Caring for your trees
Water your tree weekly after planting unless there has been rain. You will need to allow water to deeply moisten the ground below the germinated seed to establish a long tap root and attain maximum growth. To prevent root rot, do not use any mulch or organic material when planting.
Protecting Your Trees
It’s very important to place a 4 FT tall grow tube on the nut immediately after planting to prevent animals from getting the nut (and killing the plant). The grow tube will accelerate tree growth, serve as a scent barrier to rodents, and protect it from browsing deer as well. Without protection loss of newly planted seed is high.
You can get 4 foot grow tubes at Forestry Suppliers https://goo.gl/T1bJuP , order by phone 1-800-647-5368; ask for Tubex 4 foot tree shelter. We recommend using rebar stakes to secure the grow tube, as opposed to a stake made of wood. It’s important to sink the rebar stake about an inch or more below the top of the grow tube so that when the tree grows out of the tube it’s not whipping against it.
Some insect like chinquapin leaves as well and it is a good idea to spray the leaves of your young tree with an organic fruit tree insecticide, especially the first year.
Production
Under good conditions your tree will start to produce nuts in 3-5 years. Ozark chinquapins are not self-pollinating and will need another tree.
Seed Storage and Germination
The Ozark Chinquapin have certain requirements for optimum growth. Ozark Chinquapin nuts puts down a taproot in the fall of the year similar to what a white oak acorn does in the fall. Because of this, seed collected in the fall of the year and planted the following spring often will not germinate. You can simulate conditions in the outdoors that are free of rodents by placing the seed in a sealable plastic bag with damp peat moss (damp not wet) and place it in your refrigerator’s crisper. The seed will eventually sprout a root in 2-4 months depending upon temperature (ideal temperature is between 34-42 degrees F). This method assures good seedling development.
Your seed are shipped in the correct moisture content of peat moss. However, it is still important to blow air into the bag while tumbling the seed carefully once a week to prevent mold. Keep peat moss damp and not wet. We add an anti-fungal agent to the peat moss to prevent mold but it’s important to ventilate the seed about once a week by blowing air into the bag and very carefully tumble the seed to rearrange their position in the bag.
Between January and March the seed will develop a root, about 1 to 4 inches long, depending upon temperature. This method assures good seedling development.