American Chestnut trees used to fill forests on the East coast from Georgia to Maine, providing food and rot-resistance lumber. Unfortunately, an Asian blight in the early 1900's killed most American Chestnut.
However, blight resistant varieties of chestnut can still be purchased as saplings from tree nurseries and be grown in Vermont.
The key is good soil and lots of patience. Chestnut trees can start bearing fruit anwhere from five to eight years old, but will take nearly 15 years to fully mature.
This week’s garden tip
Use leftover jack’o’lanterns as a plant pot. Simply fill it with soil and plant your favorite flower. After a few weeks, you can compost the whole pumpkin; plants and all.
