If you want to harvest some nuts, buy 3 to 4 foot Chestnut trees from the nursery. They are relatively shallow rooted and transplant well. Plant them in full sun. They can tolerate some light shade. They prefer a well-drained soil that is acid to neutral (pH 5.0 to 6.5) but they grow in almost any soil as long as it is kept slightly moist. They do not like soggy soil, or to be in standing water. The best time to plant them is in the fall. Chinese Chestnuts are a bit harder to transplant because they have a very course root system. Chestnuts may be planted in the spring, but the best time to plant them is in the fall.