Acorns and conkers?

Hi, I have collected some conquers and acorns to start in pots and some in the ground. Was just wondering if anyone knows what I do with the little spikes on the chestnuts before I plant do I leave them attached and if so when I plant them which way round do they go?
Any advice would be great :D

 

What you've got there are Sweet Chestnuts H, Conkers are the rounder ones with a bigger white patch.

Just plant them as they are, the roots are Geotropic & will find their own way down

 

Arrggh right I wondered why they were so small lol! :D
Thanks pal.

 

But I see no acorns in that picture...

 

Might have planted them already

 

Haha well spotted. I did not take pictures of the acorns, the the little spikey bits on the sweet chestnuts I was not sure about though, I think Squirals mite bite that bit out before they plant them in my lawn which stops them from growing.....
Will plant them all tomorrow I think :D

 

Scrunge had squirrels burying nuts in his compost heap,

http://gardenerscorner.co.uk/forum/composting-recycling/32369-things-get-into-compost.html

 

They can be processed, off the top of my head I think they contain too much tanin or starch, I think it involves making a flour that has to be washed under running water & then roasted to make a coffee substitute, same with Horse Chestnuts.

I'll google it later to see how wrong i've got it

 

I think you can make bread from the acorn flour aswell.

 

I think I read something like that too. Oak tree is my favourate. I also read in the olden days in Scotland, if you were executed, and had an estate, your oldest oaks would be cut down from your land. For making battle ships.

 

I germinated some Horse Chestnut last year, I collected them, put them on a spare patch of ground in one corner of the garden, covered them over with some old compost/leaf mould and then put some chicken mesh over them. In March this year I uncovered them and about 50% had split and had a root coming out, I then potted those up and now have several young trees between 6 & 12" in height :thumb:

In the past I've also grown Beech, Acorns and Sweet Chestnut by more or less doing the same thing, except I had the Beech in trays as they were smaller seed.

Some of the Beech I grew from seed are now stunning 15ft+ specimens at the fishing lake that I used to manage in Cheshire :thumb:

I'm attempting to grow Beech again this year and also have put Hazel and Bird Cherry in :thumb:

 

Cheers Bilbo, I think I mite try that method myself, I have enough seeds to try a few different ways. Mite have to start pulling some flags up though

 

I had a splendid oak tree antique bed frame a few years ago which I couldn't really afford at the time (well neither I could today for that matter :D) but nevertheless it had such splendid carving and it was so unusual that I had to have it and I paid the £600 for it.

Unfortunately I was soon to realize that it was a touch too small for a average size mattress and with deep regret I eventually had to give it away.

It had quite an imponent headrest board and a lower footrest board (surelly the terms are wrong) and it had some removable finial at the corners which I later understood they were if one wanted to use candles for light.

 

I've planted a dozen acorns and as many chestnuts....I will be planting the seedlings around a lake near Broadway Tower on my bro in law's land...along with the 15 hazels from my own trees