First Kentucky Produced B3F4 Nuts?

In December 2012, four B3F3 American chestnut trees were obtained from the Kentucky Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation for planting in Joe Creason Park at the entrance to the Louisville Nature Center.  These were some of the most advanced trees in the blight resistance breeding program and are known as Restoration Chestnut 1.0 trees.

 

Peter Glauber and Anne Myers Bobigian carefully plant a 1 year old chestnut seedling in Joe Creason Park, December 2012.

 

The trees were tended to by chestnut steward, Peter Glauber, who has watered each tree during dry periods, has pulled weeds, monitored, helped prune, mulched, etc.  Peter's efforts have been a tremendous aid to these "pioneer" chestnut trees within Louisville's Metro Park system - having been the first American chestnuts to be planted within the park system since at least the 1940's (estimated).

 

From Peter's care, as well as several Louisville Restoration Branch work days to help tend this small grove, the trees have grown quite well!

Now, I'm sure you have heard or read that it takes chestnut trees 5 to 8 years of growing before they begin to produce nuts, right?  Well, the Louisville Restoration Branch is happy to be the first producers of what are called "B3F4" nuts!  That is correct!  These trees that have been in the ground for only two years produced a few viable nuts - 3 to be exact.

There are four trees planted in this grove.  Last year, tree #4 produced male flowers and none of them produced female flowers (burs).  However, this year, tree #4 was covered in female and male flowers!  Chestnut trees are self-infertile, so they need an unrelated partner to produce viable nuts.  Luckily, tree #1 had two male catkins (flowers) on it!

LNC tree #4 displaying both male and female flowers, June 2014.

 



With such a limited pollen source, I attempted to assist nature a little by removing half of one of the male flowers from tree #1 and rubbed it on each female flower in hopes of successfully pollinating tree #4.  The rest would be up to nature to take care of.  Although limited in success, I did manage to harvest the three viable B3F4 nuts at the end of September!

Of course, nature (squirrels) may have beat me to others, but three is a start!  These nuts are currently stratifying in cold storage so that they will be ready to plant this next spring.

Stop past the Louisville Nature Center to check out the chestnut grove!  If you are interested, plan on helping to plant some additional chestnut trees in another Metro Park - Des Pres Park - on December 6, 2014, beginning at 10:00 AM.  Following the planting of three Restoration Chestnut 1.0 trees, participants will have the opportunity to taste some roasted chestnuts!  Yes, take a break from your Christmas shopping, help plant some trees and enjoy "chestnuts roasting on an open fire!"  (BTW - the "open" fire will probably be a propane burner, but the nuts will still be tasty!)

Contact this blogger at kchacha@yahoo.com if you would like more information.