Here in SE Virginia, I planted 5 chestnut trees and now mature (2009) and harvest this year is wonderful. I also have 4 trees that are 4 years old and have their first burrs and soon drop. I planted from pots this last spring and 100% success. They are about 2 - 4 feet already. I have potted 50 nuts and plant in spring. I believe they Dunstan and chinese trees. The trees planted in spring will be for wildlife. We do not use plastic tubes and prune in fall. I clip the limbs that are rubbing against another. I cut the inward and upward that touch another. In spring, pollination is noticed by the musty smell that attracts insects. Japanese beetles are destructive. The eat the leaves and takes the energy out. I use a repellent like 7 or seven that is non toxic. Good luck.

Thanks for all the work that has been put into these projects. I have been raising chestnuts in my small orchard for almost 10 years. Right now I grow Qing, Sleeping Giant and a "Bond Orchard" variety. I have been wondering about root stocks.

I worked with Ken out at HARC on the chestnut trees about 20 years ago. I already had my own 10 yr old chestnut orchard just north of Columbia, Mo. in Hallsville. I went with Eaton and Qing as my main varieties. Eaton is favored for its taste by my mostly Asian customers. Qing is a good second variety. It would be interesting to know what percentage of the chestnut crop is lost to squirrels. I graded a creek bank for better access for the equipment, and unearthed many planted chestnuts. It was then that I understood how hard it would be to control weevils. It would seem to me that the rootstock of the Luvall's monster is the hero, not the grafted, top part.

I'm in Northern NY state. I have 40 Dunstan chestnut trees. I'm adding more every year. We actually found 3 surviving American chestnut trees in my area. I plan on getting some nuts this fall to try and grow some of my own. Hopefully they can survive the blight too.

Are those Luvalls monster on the same rootstock (this is a grafted orchard not seedlings of luvals monster?) ? I wonder if the trait actually applies to the top or the bottom of the graft.

Would love the link to the think through tool. Nice info! Thanks!

What is Dr. Michael Gold email? I would like to establish a chestnut grove in North Central Texas.