Growing chestnut
nut
Pollination
Self-sterile - plant two or more different seedlings or varieties.
Growing it
Zones 4-8. In the eastern US grow blight-resistant Chinese or Chinese-hybrid chestnuts, not the near-extinct American species. Fresh nuts must be refrigerated.
Where chestnut grows best
Hardy in zones 4-8, and it needs enough winter cold - about 400-800 chill hours - to flower and fruit well. Combining the two:
Good fit across most of: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming. Also parts of Alaska, Arizona, California, Florida, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Texas, Washington.
Will you get enough chill?
Chestnut needs roughly 400–800 hours between 32 and 45 °F over winter to break dormancy evenly. Check your area with the chill hours calculator. Low-chill breeding has pushed many varieties well below the figure here, so read the plant tag.
Questions gardeners ask
What zone does chestnut grow in?
Chestnut grows in USDA hardiness zones 4-8.
How many chill hours does chestnut need?
Roughly 400-800 hours between 32 and 45°F over winter, depending on the variety. Low-chill varieties need less - check the plant tag, and estimate your own area with the chill hours calculator.
Does chestnut need a pollinator?
Needs a pollination partner. Self-sterile - plant two or more different seedlings or varieties.
Which states can grow chestnut?
Chestnut suits most of Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas and 26 more, and parts of 12 other states where the right zones occur. Your own zone and chill hours matter more than the state.
Chill and pollination are given at the fruit-type level; specific cultivars can differ. Values are typical ranges for home-garden planning.