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Post by nhmountains on Oct 19, 2017 14:15:23 GMT -6
A box full of chestnuts arrived today from Chestnut Hill. I keep saying I'm not doing these anymore so I hope this is the last year.
I'm donating 25-50 seedlings to our NWTF for table prizes. The rest will be grown and held over at least one winter or sold next fall.
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Post by nhmountains on Nov 3, 2017 17:06:11 GMT -6
I had time to check my two largest Dunstans today. They grew quite a bit this year. The photos may. It show it but they are over 9' now. One more year and I think they'll have burs. I purposely left these with less sunlight the first two years to let their roots get set and protect against the cold. The ACF had done studies and this worked for the colder regions. They've grown well the past two years. This third one was nipped back the first year because a bear flipped the cage. It's coming along slowe're. private image hosting
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Post by smsmith on Nov 3, 2017 18:39:47 GMT -6
Damn chestnuts make me question my thumb being green or black.
Good luck with them
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Post by nhmountains on Nov 3, 2017 19:05:44 GMT -6
Damn chestnuts make me question my thumb being green or black. Good luck with them I should've taken Ben Hooper's advice from a long time ago and planted a few and pampered those instead of the mass production approach. Or I should've concentrated on releasing more oaks. I think that would've been better for my land overall. I did see quite a few Dunstans today that are hanging in there unprotected. Perhaps some day I'll see burs then nuts.
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Post by wildfire123 on Nov 3, 2017 19:30:05 GMT -6
Got some nuts from CHESTNUT RIDGE OF PIKE COUNTY, not much luck. The ones from Forest Keeling have done much better, both Dunstan and Chinese. These came in 3 gallon pots.
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Post by jbird on Nov 6, 2017 17:26:39 GMT -6
I waiting on my local rural king to put their 3 gallon trees on sale.....they have about a dozen or so, but right now they like them more than I do ($30/tree). They will learn it's tough to sell trees when they look like they are dead. They list them for 50% off - I'll buy then and get them into the ground yet before it freezes, but I am not paying $30/tree.
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Post by nhmountains on Nov 11, 2017 14:09:54 GMT -6
I went by this Dunstan today. It out on some good growth this year and is at 8'+ now. The others I planted near it are in the 3' range.
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Post by jbird on Nov 12, 2017 13:10:34 GMT -6
I got screwed by an inside job! My local RK had roughly a dozen trees that I was waiting on and all of the sudden bam.....they are gone! I talked to the store manager and - turns out a store employee tipped off somebody as soon as they went on sale (the very same day) and the guy came in and bought them all. Well shit! I really only wanted 6 or so.....but I guess that is the way it goes. I was pretty pumped getting my first nuts this year. Hopefully more to come....
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Post by nhmountains on Dec 29, 2017 15:18:29 GMT -6
This cold spell will be a good test on my chestnuts. If they survive this winter without major dieback then I'll be happy. If they dieback then I'm done messing with them. Will deal with clearing/releasing more oaks on my property.
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Post by kabic on Dec 29, 2017 17:09:51 GMT -6
I didn't rake any leaves around my trees for insulation thus year. We will see how they survive.
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Post by nhmountains on Dec 29, 2017 23:32:16 GMT -6
I didn't rake any leaves around my trees for insulation thus year. We will see how they survive. How tall were yours getting to? 3-4'?
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Post by kabic on Dec 29, 2017 23:46:52 GMT -6
I didn't rake any leaves around my trees for insulation thus year. We will see how they survive. How tall were yours getting to? 3-4'? 3 feet. They are to the top of hardware cloth cage. They are in a shady spot hopefully like you said they put energy into the roots.
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Post by nhmountains on Dec 30, 2017 4:29:48 GMT -6
I think two things will hurt them besides -30 temps. Drastic swings from -20 to 40s back and forth. Also, early spring warm ups followed by another cold spell.
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Post by Sandbur on Dec 30, 2017 7:14:21 GMT -6
I think two things will hurt them besides -30 temps. Drastic swings from -20 to 40s back and forth. Also, early spring warm ups followed by another cold spell. How cold have you been during the last few weeks? Late January is usually our coldest here. Can’t wait!
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Post by nhmountains on Dec 30, 2017 8:09:53 GMT -6
I think two things will hurt them besides -30 temps. Drastic swings from -20 to 40s back and forth. Also, early spring warm ups followed by another cold spell. How cold have you been during the last few weeks? Late January is usually our coldest here. Can’t wait! -22 a couple times this week. Yeah we usually have this cold in late January. Should be fun.
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