Starting a Chestnut Orchard: Lessons from Nash Nurseries

Starting a chestnut orchard can feel equal parts thrilling and terrifying. I remember that mix the day we planted our first trees. So I loved hearing Jon and Bill Nash of Nash Nurseries describe the same feeling on this week’s episode. Between them, the Nashes carry six generations of nursery wisdom, and Jon’s raising the seventh. What struck me most was how generously they share what they’ve learned. Here are the threads I couldn’t stop thinking about.

The First Rule of Starting a Chestnut Orchard: Slow Down

When I asked Jon what “Generation Zero” growers should focus on first, his answer came without hesitation.

“The number one thing would be patience. Doesn’t happen overnight. It definitely takes a decently thought-out plan.”  — Jon Nash (2:00)

Furthermore, Jon pushes back on the temptation to plant 2,000 trees right away. Instead, he recommends starting smaller and staggering plantings across years. That way, a mistake in one batch doesn’t sink the whole operation.

Bill made the same point in his own voice. “Make sure you’ve got all your ducks in a row,” he said (43:20). Consequently, patience and planning become the real insurance policy for a young orchard. This is a process, not a sprint.

Site Selection Beats Everything Else

Before we dig into tactics, here’s the clearest answer the Nashes gave all episode.

When you’re starting a chestnut orchard, patience beats pace every time. Before you put a shovel in the ground, study your soil, drainage, frost pockets, and wind exposure. Dig a one-foot hole and fill it with water. Count how fast it drains. That single test tells you whether chestnuts will thrive.

Jon shared this after walking a struggling site — a flat, clay-heavy old soybean field facing westerly winds.

“Chestnuts hate sitting in water. The water’s still there 3 days later? Probably not a great site for chestnuts.”  — Jon Nash (36:45)

Additionally, Jon pulls free USDA topographical maps and historic NRCS soil surveys before any consult. Both are online and free. Bad sites produce struggling trees, no matter how good the cultivar.

Six Generations of Tacit Knowledge

One of my favorite threads was how Bill and Jon moved their know-how from Bill’s head into shared systems.

“In years past, it always had just been up here in my head… information needed to be passed around.”  — Bill Nash (12:30)

So Jon bought an old UPS thermal printer off eBay and started barcoding plant material. Today, every tree is mapped and every schedule is logged. Meanwhile, any employee can pull a tree’s record on a phone from anywhere on the property.

Jon now coaxes his own kids the way Bill once coaxed him — with tractors, knives, and spending money. He pays his 7- and 10-year-olds a dollar per pound of harvested, floated chestnuts. They bought a LEGO set with their earnings. Lesson delivered.

Innovation Rooted in the Work

Meanwhile, the Nashes aren’t standing still. Alongside Dr. Dennis Fulbright and Roger Blackwell, Jon helped launch Treeborn. Specifically, it’s a value-added brand built around roasted chestnut chips and chestnut flour. They’ve even inspired a nut-brown ale with Michigan brewing partners.

More striking is their tissue-culture trailer. With MSU researcher Dr. Mario Mondojando, Jon planted his first tissue-culture Eurohybrids in 2021. By 2025, those trees were 4–5 inches in caliper and already producing.

“It’s a much more rapid way of producing a tree that’s very strong and healthy, grows faster, and bears quicker.”  — Bill Nash (29:30)

However, the inspiring part isn’t the lab itself — it’s the scale. After touring Hartman’s blueberry operation, Jon realized a boutique tissue-culture setup was within reach. Ultimately, that mindset is exactly what chestnut research needs more of.

Why Community Beats Going It Alone

If one line sticks with me, it’s this one from Jon:

“We are not a big enough industry that everyone needs to be their own kingdom.”  — Jon Nash (44:00)

Instead, he believes our best path is learning from each other. Groups like Chestnut Growers of America, the Northern Nut Growers Association, and the Midwest Chestnut Producers Council make that possible. Indeed, the Nashes walk that talk. They consult with growers across the country. Moreover, last summer they hosted an unforgettable CGA/NNGA gathering at their Michigan farm. So here’s my invitation. Subscribe to Branching Out: Growing Together. Join our community at unitedchestnuts.com. Explore our blog for more takeaways like these. Then visit Nash Nurseries to see six generations of chestnut wisdom in action. We really do grow best together.