Sugarloaf Mountain Orchard
East Field – Originally planted in 1970 with an estimated 1000 irradiated seeds. Most have succumbed to chestnut blight and phytophthora. However, some 27 remaining trees have been used as mother trees in our breeding program. Also, a backcross orchard of BC3 seeds (Manahan 41 x AG247) and an experimental orchard to study hypovirulence were planted in 2007 . However, most of these trees have been killed by the blight, phytophthora or deer.
To see an article on the chestnuts of Sugarloaf Mountain by Essie Burnworth, click here.
Address:
7901 Comus Road, Dickerson, Montgomery County
Contacts:
The Propers – Stewards
David Webster – Executive Secretary, Stronghold Inc.
Challenges: Deer, Phytophthora, gall wasps, vines.
East Field Location:
Maryland Chapter Menu
National Facebook
Amazing work being done by the West Virginia Chapter!
1 CommentComment on Facebook
Why were they planted so close together?
We love helping students get excited about, and involved in, the American chestnut tree!
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Save this for when you plant your chestnuts! All you need is a deep pot, well-draining soil, and proper seed orientation for success. 🌱
Want to learn more about growing chestnuts? Visit this link to learn more: tacf.org/growing-chestnuts/
#planting #growing #americanchestnut #PlantingSeason #explore
6 CommentsComment on Facebook
I appreciate the effort, but you’re just planting a tree that will die young.
Another way is put out a bunch of chestnuts, walnuts, acorns etc and let the squirrels plant them (they won't eat them all)!
Where do you get the American chestnuts?
I highly recommend checking out this article by Robert Foster, in which he reminisces about the time he helped save a large, standing American chestnut tree. He also shares an older article that tells the full story of the tree and the effort to preserve it. The original piece, published in American Forests magazine, is titled “Saving Something of Value” by Herbert E. McLean and is copied below his introduction.
Click the following link to check it out: rfoster.substack.com/p/one-big-tree
#americanchestnut #nature #explore #fighttosave #story
0 CommentsComment on Facebook