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How to Grow Water Chestnuts

Water Chestnuts are an essential ingredient in Asian cooking. They taste like a combination of apple, chestnut and coconut, which makes them versatile in salads, stir fries and dim sims! Water Chestnuts take 8 months to harvest and they prefer to grow in water. They are a generous vegetable as 1 corm can yield up to 2 kg per year!

Full sun, frost free

Keep moist all the time

Rich, water holding soil with plenty if organic matter

Suitable for all climatic zones

8 months

Spring after frost

How to grow water chestnuts in a garden

Step 1

Choose sunny spot in your water garden or bog garden. Enrich with Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser.

Step 2

Plant the corm out in 75 mm intervals, 5 cm deep. Cover lightly with Yates Seed Raising Mix and water well.

Step 3

Water regularly until the leaves are 10 cm tall, then flood the soil until the plants are submerged with the tips above the water, keep Water Chestnuts growing in water for 7 months so top up the water when required.

Step 4

Drain the water 1 month before harvest, and dig out the corm, wash dry for storage.

How to grow water chestnuts in a pot

Step 1

Choose a sealed pot at least 500 mm wide and deep and position in full sun spot. Fill with 20 cm quality potting mix, such as Yates Potting Mix with Dynamic Lifter, cover the potting mix with rocks if growing in a pond.

Step 2

Plant the 1 corm per pot, 5 cm deep. Cover lightly with Yates Seed Raising Mix and water well.

Step 3

Water regularly until the leaves are 10 cm tall, then flood the soil until the plants are submerged with the tip above water, keep Water Chestnuts growing in water for 7 months so top up the water when requird.

Step 4

Drain the water 1 month before harvest, and dig out the corm, wash dry for storage.

Growing tips

*Make sure there are no frost during the 8 months growing season,
Peel and eat raw for fresh Water Chestnuts,
Bog garden, old container or bath tub would be great for Water Chestnuts, Water Chestnuts store well in soil, cut the leaves and leave the roots in the soil over winter.