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Getting it done. Chestnuts

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Getting it done. Chestnuts

Postby wawhitey » 01 19, 2018 •  [Post 1]

So ive been thinking about planting a chestnut grove in my pasture since i bought my house. If i would have just done it, id have producing trees by now. Old saying (chinese proverb?) The best time to plant a tree is 30 years ago. The second best time is today." So i decided time to get off my butt. Placed an order today, will get them when everything thaws out. This year doing chestnuts and huckleberries, next year plums pears and thimbleberries, year after maybe vine maple, pecan and service berries. Will be planting some red stem ceanothus and a handful of conifers too, somewhere in the next year. Anyways, heres what i ordered. If they make it, the chestnut grove will be a killer deer buffet.
CHINESE CHESTNUT (Castanea mollissima) 2-3 foot seedling  qty:5

COLOSSAL CHESTNUT (Castanea sativa x crenata) grafted extra large size 6+ feet  qty:2

PRECOCE MIGOULE CHESTNUT (Castanea sativa x crenata) grafted extra large size 6+ feet  qty:2

PRECOCE MIGOULE CHESTNUT (Castanea sativa x crenata) extra large seedling  qty:1

COLOSSAL CHESTNUT (Castanea sativa x crenata) 3-4 foot seedling  qty:1

SLEEPING GIANT CHESTNUT (Chinese x American x Japanese) 3-4 foot seedling qty:2

TANZAWA CHESTNUT (Castanea crenata) grafted extra large size 6+ feet qty:1

TANZAWA CHESTNUT (Castanea crenata) 1-2 foot seedling qty:1

MOUNTAIN HUCKLEBERRY (Vaccinium membranaceum) 2 year qty:3
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Re: Getting it done. Chestnuts

Postby WapitiTalk1 » 01 19, 2018 •  [Post 2]

That is awesome! Question, can u get huckleberries to grow at less than 4-5 K? Just asking cuz I would be all over this :).
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Re: Getting it done. Chestnuts

Postby wawhitey » 01 19, 2018 •  [Post 3]

Dunno, lowest i ever find huckleberries is about 3500 ft, and im in a little valley at about 2500ft. but i figured i may as well buy 3 little bushes and give it a try. Worst thing that happens is im out about $20.
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Re: Getting it done. Chestnuts

Postby WapitiTalk1 » 01 19, 2018 •  [Post 4]

Sound wisdom.
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Re: Getting it done. Chestnuts

Postby wawhitey » 01 19, 2018 •  [Post 5]

If the huckleberries do well here, ill buy a whole hell of a lot more. If not, i have plenty of good spots in the mountains where i can go pick as many as i want.
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Re: Getting it done. Chestnuts

Postby Trumkin the Dwarf » 01 20, 2018 •  [Post 6]

I love the little nugget of wisdom! If I had enough property to plant trees I'd be on this in a heartbeat!

I guess I'll have to substitute a discussion with a financial planner this spring. I'm young enough still that it can make quite a difference...
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Re: Getting it done. Chestnuts

Postby Lefty » 01 20, 2018 •  [Post 7]

I always heard it was 20 years ago and today
If you have the ground go all out buy a mixture Ive been nursing a chestnut for 5 years,.. if it doent turn into a tree this year Im giving up on it I am one zone too cold. The chestnuts ling the streets in Brigham City were wonderful. I just looked at my favorite chestnut at Roy Jr High (UTah) where I taught,.. the tree on google looks glorious.

Here you go; Just like Christmas
I suggest buying small transplants 18- inches to 3 foot
Get a wide selection of "wildlife plants, that you can snack on or make jams and canned fruit. You will thank me in 10 years.
http://lawyernursery.com/index.php
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Re: Getting it done. Chestnuts

Postby Lefty » 01 20, 2018 •  [Post 8]

Trumkin the Dwarf wrote:I love the little nugget of wisdom! If I had enough property to plant trees I'd be on this in a heartbeat!

I guess I'll have to substitute a discussion with a financial planner this spring. I'm young enough still that it can make quite a difference...


I was unsuccessful with my money making trees,
However the shade and fruit trees are more value anyway . If you have any room plant some of the small old school apples, and mulberries where they wont be a problem you you and the neighbors. Also keep the local beaver population under control,.. Ive lost a few hundred mostly willows and poplar to beaver.
Also make sure your neighbors are on board ,.. dont plant too close to their property
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Re: Getting it done. Chestnuts

Postby saddlesore » 01 26, 2018 •  [Post 9]

I woudn't . 40 + years ago, my father planted some chestnut trees. He found out when they started to bear nuts,they dropped in a spiney husk that opened up with the frost. Those husk did not biodegrade and if walking around the area, you would get stuck by them.They got into the cows and horses hocks and such. The ones planted close to the house, the grandkids would come screaming to get grandpa to pull those spines out of their feet . Only thing worse would be to plant cactus.

Also don't plant mulberries close to the house.They make a heck of a mess when the fruit fall and then the bird sadd to it with thei crap
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Re: Getting it done. Chestnuts

Postby wawhitey » 01 26, 2018 •  [Post 10]

saddlesore wrote:I woudn't . 40 + years ago, my father planted some chestnut trees. He found out when they started to bear nuts,they dropped in a spiney husk that opened up with the frost. Those husk did not biodegrade and if walking around the area, you would get stuck by them.They got into the cows and horses hocks and such. The ones planted close to the house, the grandkids would come screaming to get grandpa to pull those spines out of their feet . Only thing worse would be to plant cactus.

Also don't plant mulberries close to the house.They make a heck of a mess when the fruit fall and then the bird sadd to it with thei crap


Sure youre not thinking of horse chestnuts? This is a chinese chestnut husk.
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Re: Getting it done. Chestnuts

Postby wawhitey » 01 26, 2018 •  [Post 11]

Horse chestnut. Not what im planting
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Re: Getting it done. Chestnuts

Postby saddlesore » 01 27, 2018 •  [Post 12]

Looked more like the chinese chestnuts.We called the horse chestnuts Buckeyes. No good to eat.As I remember, Dad had a lot of trouble with worms in them
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Re: Getting it done. Chestnuts

Postby wawhitey » 01 27, 2018 •  [Post 13]

All the same, im planting them. Im not worried about the husks. Nobody will be running around barefoot in my pasture, and i dont have livestock. This is for the deers benefit.
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Re: Getting it done. Chestnuts

Postby wawhitey » 02 03, 2018 •  [Post 14]

Site of my future chestnut grove. Got about 2 months or so before i can plant. Need everything to thaw out.
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Re: Getting it done. Chestnuts

Postby wawhitey » 04 20, 2018 •  [Post 15]

Well damn. Trees are arriving today. Started digging holes in my pasture, and everywhere i dig im hitting springs about a foit down. Wont be able to plant down there. Not really any other good spots to plant, the rest of my property is heavily timbered and brushy. Im goi g to have to try to squeeze them into a bunch of marginal spots scattered around the property, and fight lots of roots and rocks to get holes dug, and plant in crappy soil. The next couple days are going to suck. Kind of regretting buying so many trees now. This just got a lot harder than i thought it was going to be.
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Re: Getting it done. Chestnuts

Postby wawhitey » 04 25, 2018 •  [Post 16]

Finally got all the trees planted, watered in and fenced off. Had to pack trees, soil, water fencing etc up to the top of my property to make it happen. Up the hill, down the hill over and over. Lots of packing, lots of digging. But its done now. I tell ya, this turned into a much bigger pain, and bigger expense than i expected. If these trees dont make it ill be pretty bummed. If they do, my deer will benefit from it a few years down the road.
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Re: Getting it done. Chestnuts

Postby wawhitey » 05 31, 2019 •  [Post 17]

Well, they survived their first summer with temps up to 105, and their first winter with temps down to -11. All but a half dozen, which died because a bear tore down the fencing around them, which allowed the deer to eat the trees. Couple pics.
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Re: Getting it done. Chestnuts

Postby Swede » 05 31, 2019 •  [Post 18]

You should be eating bear soon. Do you have a Spring bear tag?
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Re: Getting it done. Chestnuts

Postby wawhitey » 05 31, 2019 •  [Post 19]

Swede wrote:You should be eating bear soon. Do you have a Spring bear tag?


I dont. Yesterday morning setting cams i ran into a monster cinnamon at 40 yards. Looked like a damn grizz. Best bear ive ever seen. Was in the only unit i applied for for spring bear too. Hopefully draw next year.
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Re: Getting it done. Chestnuts

Postby Lefty » 05 31, 2019 •  [Post 20]

I bought 5 chestnuts 2-3 transplants yers back
Only one made it the first winter.
Eight cons3ecturive years it froze off. Finally two years ago sucker shoots survived. I pruned the strongest and wrapped it. The whole plant made it through this winter and its starting to leaf out . If it had died this year I was going to kill it off.
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Re: Getting it done. Chestnuts

Postby wawhitey » 05 31, 2019 •  [Post 21]

What type of chestnuts did you plant lefty?
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Re: Getting it done. Chestnuts

Postby WapitiTalk1 » 05 31, 2019 •  [Post 22]

Man, they’re coming along nicely!
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Re: Getting it done. Chestnuts

Postby Swede » 05 31, 2019 •  [Post 23]

Lefty planted Horse Chestnuts for the elk. Go figure. :D
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Re: Getting it done. Chestnuts

Postby Lefty » 06 01, 2019 •  [Post 24]

I bought them from Lawyers Nursery, who sold out a year or so ago.
I dont know they type . But Im sure what ever I ordered was suppose to be edible. I do know they were not hardiness zoned for this part of Idaho.
We had some sort of chestnut that was used for shade trees in Northern Utah.
I had a gorgeous tree out side my shop door at school 60 foot diameter crown; And Brigham city main street is lined with them.

I guess I liked them , just a nice shade tree.

What I would really like to find and plant a bunch of Russian Cherries. Ive seen them in Canada and Star Valley Wyoming
Small a bit tart , not a pie cherry but make the perfect cherry juice, August/September fruit
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Re: Getting it done. Chestnuts

Postby wawhitey » 07 21, 2019 •  [Post 25]

Coming along nicely!
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Re: Getting it done. Chestnuts

Postby Swede » 07 21, 2019 •  [Post 26]

Nice Wawhitey. Lefty has a half dozen of those plants hidden out behind his house. Someone told him they are marijuana and will be worth a fortune.
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Re: Getting it done. Chestnuts

Postby Lefty » 07 21, 2019 •  [Post 27]

Wa. as long as they keep making it through the winter I had a Blaze maple the main shoot winter killed. Fresh apricots today

Dont listen to that Swede character, anyone who sits and waits in a tree for elk cant be trusted
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Re: Getting it done. Chestnuts

Postby Swede » 07 22, 2019 •  [Post 28]

Lefty has his wife posted in the living room, looking out the front window for cops & robbers. "nobody is going to get my cache."
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Re: Getting it done. Chestnuts

Postby Lefty » 07 22, 2019 •  [Post 29]

Swede wrote:Lefty has his wife posted in the living room, looking out the front window for cops & robbers. "nobody is going to get my cache."

My wife is busy working
A few Marines and a SEAL live on my road
Keys in the car and truck all the time, doors use to be open till that skunk literally walked in the front door Thursday morning
The ole doge escorted the skunk out without spraying.

My neighborhood has a reputation
A few drunk native kids were going in houses ( nothing was locked) didn’t find beer or booze in the first 6 house
House # 7 was “Big Dons”
Don changed their lives well him his conversation and a .44
The boys had a change of heart , cleaned Dons floor and became full blown to
Christians in minutes and carried on a conversation with dieity until the sherif showed

I’m kicking back in the coolness of a house I’m working on

Besides I’ve never blown any money on such plants

But my wife does keep a close eye on the tomatoes on the deck
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Re: Getting it done. Chestnuts

Postby Swede » 07 22, 2019 •  [Post 30]

Stop by my hunting camp when those tomatoes get ripe. We can slice up a few and tell some more hunting stories. I am sure we will have to cut the stories short as I can't stay up all night anymore.
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Re: Getting it done. Chestnuts

Postby Lefty » 07 23, 2019 •  [Post 31]

I can get up early but have never been a late night guy
I’ve always been an early to bed
Early to rise,
Didn’t work well making me healthy wealthy or wise
Just get more done before breakfast than most do in a day ;)
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cron