There are horse chestnut trees that grow in the UK, Ireland, Canada, and Norway.These trees have brown chestnut-like nuts inside of their spiky husks.You can grow your own horse chestnut trees by collecting fallen conkers and planting nuts.A conker tree can be a great addition to a home garden because it provides shade and pollination.
Step 1: Fall is a good time to pick up fallen conkers.
Horse chestnut trees can be found in parks, gardens, streets, and green areas.The brown conker nuts can be found in the green spiky husks around the trees.Horse chestnut trees were introduced to the UK in the 16th century.Horse chestnut trees can be found in the UK and North America due to widespread planting.
Step 2: The small brown nuts are inside the spiky husks.
Several of the conker nuts are inside the spiky green outer husk.If the husk is still closed, use your fingers to open it and pull out the nuts.The conkers might be separated from the husks if they have been on the ground for a while.Brown nuts are what you need to plant and grow.husks can be thrown into a compost pile.
Step 3: Drop your conkers into the water with a bucket of water.
Put enough water in a bucket or container to submerge your conkers.Put the brown conker nuts in the water.
Step 4: The conkers should be thrown away at the top of the water.
onkers that float are dried out and dead.You can either use the conkers for food or compost them.Put the conkers at the bottom of the bucket to be replanted.
Step 5: The seeds can be planted in late autumn.
After several cold periods,onkers will grow.Before the cold winter weather arrives, plant them between the end of October and the beginning of December.After you plant the conker nuts, they will grow.
Step 6: The mixture of soil and compost should be placed in a small pot.
Pick a small pot that is less than 1 liter.Just below the rim, fill it with a mixture of 50 to 70% rich potting soil and 30 to 50% compost.Pack the top of the soil using your hands.A good rich soil for conkers is made up of sand, silt, and clay.
Step 7: Make a deep hole for each conker.
Scoop out a small hole in the middle of the pot.Press the conker down into the hole and cover it with the soil.It is possible to grow multiple conkers in a single pot, but you will have to transplant them sooner.To save yourself, plant conkers individually.
Step 8: It will get at least 4 hours of sunlight a day if you place the pot outside.
Pick a shaded spot in your yard or garden.Try to find an area that doesn't get too cold in the winter.If you live in a place that gets a lot of hard frosts, you can put potted conkers inside a cold frame to protect them.
Step 9: Water the soil to keep it moist.
Water the soil whenever it starts to dry out.Don't let the soil dry out completely.Don't water the soil right now if it feels dry compared to the last time you checked it.
Step 10: You should wait for the seeds to grow after you plant them.
The conker seeds take a long time to grow.They will start to grow after that.While you wait for the seeds to grow, don't change anything about the water or light conditions.
Step 11: If needed, protect the seedlings from deer by moving them to a safe place.
If deer come onto your property, keep the seedlings in an enclosed area.Deer love conkers and can destroy a crop of seedlings before they have a chance to mature.If your property is open, surround individual seedlings with wire fencing or keep them in a fenced area.
Step 12: When the seedling is at least 0.2 m tall, transplant it.
After you plant your potted conker, keep watering and watching it grow until it is at least 0.25 m tall.This usually takes a year from when you planted it.If you want to keep growing the conker in a pot for a longer period of time, you can just transplant it to a larger pot.
Step 13: The tree can be replanted in a wide open spot.
If you want to permanently plant your conker tree, choose a large, sunny spot in your backyard, garden, or field.The hole should be as deep as the pot is currently in.Pack dirt around the hole after removing the tree and root ball from the pot.The job is done once the tree is in the open.The rest will be taken care of by nature.