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Growing American Chestnuts

davidpeaceriver__2b

12 years ago

I kidnapped an American Chestnut seedling and spirited it far, far away from its natural range and into the hostile climate of Northwestern Alberta. It (much to my surprise) survived a very cold (-40C/-40F) winter, and I'd like to coax some strong growth from it during the growth season. Does anyone have any growing tips? Should I fertilize it? Should I provide it with shade, or full sun? Any advice would be appreciated!

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Comments (3)

lycopus
12 years ago
Chestnuts will grow faster in full sun. Otherwise they are very durable trees outside the range of the blight.

Here is a link that might be useful: Caveat emptor
davidpeaceriver__2b
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks for the tips! *Something* (insect, not animal) has been eating my little plant, and it seemed to be suffering from sun scald, so I let my squash ramble by and shade it. Fingers crossed that it'll survive another winter! Alberta has become something of a refuge for endangered eastern trees -- I think we've got the largest number of non-diseased American Elms on the continent, Butternuts grow well here, and, with luck, we'll escape the ravages of the Emerald Ash Borer -- so I'll see if I can preserve a bit of genetic heritage by keeping the chestnut alive.
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YEah, look up "hypovirulence". Where are you located? If you're in an area with arid summers (i.e. the American WEst), you would have much more luck. The fungus has a lot of trouble producing it's tiny "mushrooms" (conidiophores) without heat AND humidity. I have seen 150 year old PURE AMERICAN chestnuts in Siskiyou County, Ca. that are thriving, where humidity is never more than 30% on 98 degree days. I have some seed from a naturalized grove that established itself on a clear cut near EUgene, Oregon I could send you, but it is most likely not pure American. I believe it might be EUropean/hybrid of some sort. Lawyer nursery sells seed of American Chestnut from a grove that survives in Michigan. Also, Cold STream Farm supposedly sells bare-root trees, they are located in Michigan. If you really are interested in American Chestnut, I would suggest reading Susan Freinkel's book "American Chestnut - The life, death and rebirth of a perfect tree". Amazing how the Forest Service helped knock this species closer to the edge of oblivion by declaring a policy of cutting ALL chestnut trees, living and dead. I believe that they figured any trees that weren't dead soon would be, so best to salvage the timber. They probably eradicated many trees that had some blight-resistant genes. Aside from working for the lumber companies and introducing exotic diseases (i.e. white pine blister rust) into the country, I guess they do SOME good once in a while...(?)
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davidl_ny5
12 years ago
Where did you get a seedling? All but a tiny number of remaining American Chestnuts grow from rootstock of pre-disease individuals and never get big enough to make seed before the disease gets them again. I see many small trees in our woods, but never a seedling. Anyway, good luck!

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