I went to the Omaha Zoo and found this huge productive Chestnut tree. I may come back in the Fall to collect some Chestnuts that drop down to the ground. I will grow some seeds. Jack I think you would like this tree.
Tony
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That thing is loaded. Take leather gloves!
An aunt of mine has some trees. I think they were american/chinese hybrids because a lot of them got blight and are dying out.
I like a few once a year, but last winter I had a few boiled in sugar-water, and those were good. So I might have to reconsider my preparation this year. And give some to that co-worker that made the sugar-boiled chestnuts.
Also… the smell of their flowers is about the same as callery pear with slightly less fish…
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There are little variations in the way they are prepared but the basic concept is a long time favorite.
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Just a note to anyone new to chestnuts:
They are a true nut but they are unlike our dry, hi-fat, low carb, peanuts, cashews, Brazil nuts, and almonds (none of which are true nuts, ha ha) in that they will spoil quickly if not stored properly. I’ll save the details for the interweb but just know that when you acquire chestnuts put them in the fridge until you get a storage and/or cooking plan.
Unless there’s an appropriate pollenizer growing within 200 ft or so, there may not be any ‘filled’ nuts in those burs.
Two sizeable chestnuts growing here on the community college campus… but probably 500 ft apart. Most burs contain all ‘blanks’ - empty, unfilled seed capsules…but an occasional nut, and rarely more than one per bur is filled.
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If the burrs are not filled, that problem might be solved for the future by grafting scions from a couple different cultivars onto the big tree. In 2-3 years, pollen!
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Yeah, well, if they were growing at my farm I’d probably do that… but not with trees on the community college campus.
It’s possible that some botany, hort, ag, etc., professor might think that would be a great project for their class; or whoever has the say-so might think it’s a good idea for a civilian to just do it.