Colossal (chestnut) facts for kids
The Colossal chestnut is a special type of chestnut tree. It comes from the Central Valley in California, USA. This tree is a mix of the European sweet chestnut and the Japanese chestnut. It can handle very cold weather, down to about -20°F (-29°C). You can grow it in many places, from Zone 4 to Zone 8. The 'Colossal' tree blooms early in the year, but it cannot produce its own pollen. This means it needs other chestnut trees nearby to help it make nuts. Unfortunately, 'Colossal' trees can get diseases like chestnut blight and root rot.
How the Colossal Chestnut Began
The 'Colossal' chestnut tree likely grew from a seed planted a long time ago. Benjamin Tonella planted the first 'Colossal' tree around 1888 or 1890. This happened in Nevada City, California. The seeds probably came from a nursery owned by Felix Gillet.
Felix Gillet was a very important person for chestnuts in the US. He brought some of the best French chestnut trees to America. He also imported many Japanese chestnut trees. After Gillet passed away in 1908, C. E. Parsons bought his nursery. Parsons then started selling the 'Colossal' chestnut to everyone in 1925. By the year 2000, the original 'Colossal' tree was huge. It was over 70 feet tall, with branches spreading more than 50 feet wide. Its trunk was almost 14 feet around!
Growing Colossal Chestnuts
'Colossal' chestnut trees grow very quickly and strongly. However, their wood can be a bit weak. Sometimes, branches loaded with many nuts can break. Strong winds can also cause branches to snap. For many chestnut farmers in America, the 'Colossal' tree is a top choice. It produces the largest nuts and lots of them.
Since 'Colossal' trees don't make their own pollen, they need help. Farmers must plant other types of chestnut trees nearby. These other trees are called pollenizers. They provide the pollen that 'Colossal' trees need to make nuts. Studies show that 'Colossal' trees produce the most nuts when pollen is available. This usually happens in late June or early July in places like Michigan.
Young 'Colossal' trees, especially those that have been grafted, can start making nuts quickly. They might produce nuts within a few years of being planted. The nuts usually fall from their spiky husks easily. 'Colossal' nuts are very big, with about 11 to 15 nuts making up one pound. Each nut weighs around 25 grams. Usually, you will find three nuts inside each burr (the spiky outer shell). Sometimes, a single 'Colossal' nut can even have two or three tiny plant beginnings inside.
The skin on 'Colossal' nuts is quite thick. These nuts do not store well for a long time. It's best to eat them within 90 days if you keep them in the refrigerator. The taste of 'Colossal' nuts is considered average. They have a lot of sugar, but some other chestnut types taste even better. In California's Central Valley, if conditions are perfect, 'Colossal' orchards can produce a lot of nuts. They can yield about 4500 pounds of nuts per acre! However, because the buds open early, late spring frosts can sometimes harm the young leaves and buds.
