American chestnuts were once the dominant forest tree east of the Mississippi. In 1904 the chestnut blight arrived from China and within 20 years a combination of disease and preemptive logging caused the tree to go nearly extinct. Small and large-scale breeders all over the country have been working to bring back the American chestnut primarily through crossing it with more disease resistant chestnut species such as Chinese chestnut. Our East Hill Open Pollinated Chestnuts have mostly American genetics, giving them greater winter hardiness and a large forest tree growth pattern comparable to a red oak. Some hybrid genetics give a chance for resistance to chestnut blight. Their parents are open-pollinated crosses growing here on the farm. YOU can take part in chestnuts’ return! A small patch of 3-30 chestnuts will produce viable seed, naturalizing in surrounding areas. The nuts are of tremendous value to wildlife, and are easy to harvest and process for your own use too. Plant chestnuts on a well drained site with good sun. Space them 20-35 ft apart. Give them some love and attention, keeping weeds and deer back for the first few years. Sometimes leaves on young trees show signs of iron deficiency (yellowing between the veins) which can be corrected with sulfur (we sell sulfur for $1/plant). Plant with a hybrid chestnut in the mix to improve the chances of disease resistance in the offspring. Once settled in they are rapid growers. With any luck, mature trees can be 35-50 ft tall. PLANT 2-3 FOR POLLINATION. Hybrid chestnuts will also pollinate. Add sulfur to your order for $1/plant (sulfur is suitable for organic production.) Strongly recommended. BULK PRICING! (you may mix sizes as well as hybrid chestnuts) 3 or more chestnuts: 22% off, 6 or more chestnuts: 33%off, 12 or more chestnuts: 44% off! Bulk pricing discounts apply automatically and will show up when you view your cart.
