How to grow water chestnuts. Once the days begin to shorten in midsummer they begin storing some of their photosynthesized sugar in modified underground stems or corms. A plant a deep container that holds water a bag of potting soil and enough water to fill up said container. Corms are planted 4 5 inches deep in soil 30 inches apart in rows and then the field is flooded for a day.
Plant the corms in the spring after the last frost has passed. Youre in usda plant hardiness zones 8 through 11 with a frost free growing season of at least seven months or youre in usda plant hardiness zones 4 through 7 and can start the plants indoors from three months to one month before your last spring frost date. Water chestnuts require controlled irrigation and 220 days of frost free days to reach maturity.
This water level should be maintained until the corms are ready to harvest. Chinese water chestnuts will perform well for you if. To grow asian water chestnuts you need.
Plant the chestnuts in the early spring. It takes about 8 months from planting until harvest. Use a spade to dig a hole thats large enough.
If you want to give the tree a head start you can plant the seed early indoors once these roots poke through. During spring and summer water chestnuts put all their energy into growing the tubular stemlike leaves they need for photosynthesis. Water chestnuts require controlled irrigation and 220 frost free days to reach maturity.
After that the field is drained and the plants are let to grow to about 12 inches in height. Chestnuts usually begin to develop roots in early to mid february. Planting water chestnuts 1.
Space your corms or. Cut the top off the carton as well. Be sure to store your planting corms in water or theyll quickly lose their germinating power planting the corms can be a little tricky but a fun adventure.
Dig a 5 centimetre 20 in deep hole and plant your chestnuts in them. Water chestnuts can be planted in any shallow fresh water environment. How chinese water chestnuts grow.
After that the field is drained and the plants are allowed to grow until they are 12 inches high. Plant corms about 10cm deep in the soil keep the soil moist but not submerged until their shoots are about 20 25 cm high then fill with water to about 10cm above soil level. Corms are planted 4 5 inches deep into soil 3o inches apart in rows and then the field is flooded for a day.
I used really cheap potting soil because according to what ive read on the subject the soil basically serves to keep the plant in place.