Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: The American Chestnut – demise and rise
Christmas week is upon us! In just days, all the effort you put forth for the holidays will climax into a frenzy of wrapper ripping, face stuffing, joyous abandon! Hopefully… it IS 2021… HOWEVER, part of the Christmas tradition of years past was a bit calmer – roasting chestnuts.
Years ago the American Chestnut was the most important tree in eastern North America. Supplying excellent lumber and tasty nuts that fattened calves and people alike!
But in the early 1900’s a bark eating fungus came into New York on an Asian Chestnut. The blight spread with a vengeance and by 1950 the American Chestnut tree was gone. USDA – What it takes to bring back the near mythical American Chestnut. There are reports that the American Chestnut could grow straight for 50 feet with no other branches. The lumber of 1 tree could fill a train car! It was rot resistant, lighter than oak and used for nearly everything from telephone poles to pulp, fine furniture to musical instruments.
Plant pathologists and breeders have worked for decades to create hybrids that capture the blight resistance of the Asian or Chinese Chestnut but retain many of the attributes of the American variety.
There’s a zone 5 hardy cultivar created by Dr. Robert Dunstan, that he crossbred with the American and Chinese Chestnut.
Check out my recipes tab for info on how to roast chestnuts. Be sure to score the nut before putting them in the fire or they’ll explode!
The above photo is from a friend and former radio host of Northfield Outdoors, Dave Vesledahl. For his story on HOW to roast chestnuts click HERE.
Resources and other information on the American chestnut:
The American Chestnut Foundation
Annandale Chamber – check out the unbelievable pictures of the size of these old trees!