We tested the effect of biochar application on growth of planted jack pine on a sandy soil in northern Minnesota. Biochar was applied in combination with compost and with or without manual irrigation in a factorial design to isolate possible effects associated with nutrient or water availability. There were no differences among treatments in seedling annual diameter or height growth after 4 years. Watering increased mean needle mass, indicating the treatment was somewhat effective at increasing water availability and seedling performance. Watering increased foliage Mg and K concentrations and content, possibly indicating that these elements are limiting to jack pine growth on sandy soils. Biochar-only application decreased foliage Ca concentration relative to controls, likely due to increased nutrient immobilization when biochar is applied without a nutrient source. These findings and others from the region highlight that biochar does not increase planted jack pine seedling survival or growth on sandy soils.