“Extension’s Successful Gardener”

‘DUNSTAN CHESTNUT’
FEATURED IN 4-H PLANT SALE

By: Kevin Starr
N.C. Cooperative Extension Service

A sure sign that the new year has arrived is the beginning of the 4-H Plant Sale. This year’s selection of plants is probably the most diverse we have offered. The diversity is due partly to the availability of different varieties from our suppliers and from our desire to offer something different to folks.

This year’s sale will feature two varieties of rabbiteye blueberries, two varieties of figs, one type of bunch grape, and one muscadine. These will all be available in one-gallon containers. Strawberries and chestnuts are available as bare-root plants.

The ‘Dunstan’ chestnut is a variety that
we’re particularly happy to offer. ‘Dunstan’ is a cross between the famous American chestnut and the Chinese type. It has resistance to chestnut blight which is the disease that virtually wiped out our native American chestnuts. These large trees were valuable for the decay resistant wood they produced as well as the nuts. When you go to our mountains where these trees were once so prominent, you will find young trees that sprouted from stumps. But once they start to get some size on them, they will succumb to chestnut blight.

The ‘Dunstan’ chestnut produces a more upright tree than the Chinese chestnut as well as larger nuts. So while this tree will not replace the legendary American chestnut, it does have some of its characteristics. There have been many attempts to find native chestnuts immune to the blight or to cross the American species with blight resistant types. ‘Dunstan’ seems to be one of the best varieties to come out of these efforts.

These trees will be for sale at $20 for a 2-4 foot bare-root seedling and you need to plant at least two for pollination. At that price, it probably won’t make a great offering for our fund-raiser. But it does provide local availability of a variety that is very difficult to find. I plan on buying a couple myself to see how they do.

If you are interested in purchasing through the 4-H Plant Sale, please call Cooperative Extension at 704-736-8458 to request a variety listing and order form. You can also pick one up at our office on the first floor of the James W. Warren Citizens Center in Lincolnton. Finally, you can find the details including the order form on the web at www.lincolnfreshfinds.blogspot.com. The order form and accompanying check must be returned to us by February 25.

Plants will arrive in March. Buyers will be notified of an exact date prior to the arrival of the plants. If you want to know more about growing any of the plants mentioned in this column, don’t hesitate to call me at 704-736-8452.