>
>rare tree because it probably is not blight resistant. Also how old
>does the tree have to be to start producing nuts? What other trees are
>needed for pollination? If it is not blight resistant, how can I
>protect it?
It may have nuts when it's 5 or 6 years old. It needs another chestnut to
pollinate it, as they are not usually self fertile. It can be another
american chestnut, or even a chinese or european chestnut. I have planted
pure americans, just 'cause I want seeds from pure stock. You can do as
you wish. If there are very few chestnuts in your area, there might not be
any blight. There is no blight in PEI, where I live. Trees old enough to
make nuts will make catkins the first year, then catkins and little green
lumpy things further out the twig the second year. You will see several
styles sticking out of the green burs, and if pollination is successful,
the green lumpy things become large round green balls of prickles with the
nuts inside them. They split open in the fall and the nuts may fall out or
come down with the bur attached in a wind. Either way, they are yummy.

Jocelyn