Chestnuts are amazing trees capable of bountiful nut production every year. Unlike other nut trees which may produce large crops every few years and then have small crops in other years, the chestnut provides reliable stable production every year. They also make excellent shade trees with large spreading arms. Plant in orchards with 35 foot spacing. Chestnuts need good sun and soil with good draining capacity. If planting in clay soils, use ‘pit and mound’ planting to raise their root crowns above the water table