Hybrid chestnut seedling 'Szego' zone 5b

Szego Hybrid Chestnut: A complex hybrid hybridized by Mike Nave. A vigorous, fast-growing cultivar, large producer of good-sized nuts, resistant to cold and chestnut blight. the cultivar received good reviews by Mike Gold of the Agroforestry Center of Missouri at the 2016 Chestnut Growers of American annual meeting. Hardy to zone 5b. We are trying this species in zone 4b in our own orchard just in case.

Chestnuts like acidic soils and should never be limed unless a severe calcium deficiency is suspected. Alkaline soils should probably be acidified to ensure better plant establishment. Chestnuts show the most potential as annual nut productions in far southern Canada of all nut species. Indeed, their late flowering allows them to escape spring frosts and the early maturation allows annual crops. The nuts are contained in squirrel-proof bugs and blue jays until they ripen and fall to the ground. All varieties have sweet nuts superior to European chestnuts often available in grocery stores around the holidays. Trees typically reach 35'-40' or (10-12 m) tall and should be spaced 20-40' or (6-12 m) apart. Production begins in 8-10 years from seedlings. Plant at least 2 different varieties for pollination. All of our varieties appear to be resistant to chestnut blight fungus, with the exception of the pure American chestnut.