At Hopewell Creek Chestnut Company we have conditioned all of the nuts we have harvested and sold for the past three years. Discovered our first weevil five years ago the hard way. Cutting into some nuts for the wife to cook with I discovered the dreaded "Half-weevil". Like, what is worst when biting into an apple - a worm or a half worm? Needless to say I was a bit grossed out that I had a worm problem when our orchard was so young. We immediately started getting nuts into refrigeration upon harvesting and within a couple days heat treating. (at the time we do it on the stove top about 10 pounds at a time) No weevils since then. We try to keep orchard floor as clear as possible and at the minimum remove hulls away from base of trees. John we enjoy your posts. Keep up the faith.
Great comment - I sill see about implementing some of these strategies in the orchard! Great “half-worm” story - that would definitely be an unwelcome surprise - haha!
Thank you for starting my thought process on this issue and for the informative video. Good luck and keep us posted. We are sure you will come up with a solution that works. On a side note have you grown any hardy pecans ( not sure if they can grow in your area)? We are trying a few pecan trees in addition to chestnuts, persimmons, apples, pears, hazelnuts, and grapes this year. Best, Russell Mtns of NC
I have not grown any hardy pecans. Good idea - my dad started some 16 years ago in Southern Indiana & still waiting for his first harvest. He has about 20 trees.
Once again very informative. I've used Bonide Orchard Spray and Neem Oil dispensed from powered garden sprayers, but I only have 60 trees. Orchard spray in late Spring and Early Summer. Neem oil after harvest. No weevils so far.
I have not noticed weevils yet on mine. I do know of chestnut trees withing about 6 miles of me and there certainly could be some that are closer.But then the nuts are intended for my own consumption and I only have a few producing trees at the moment. I wonder if freezing the nuts is possible and thaw just prior to consumption.
We started planting chestnuts in 1987. Just seeds from the Asian grocery store to begin with. We had easily 15 years production with no noticeable problem. About 90% of our crop went back to the stores I had originally bought the seed from. We laughed about that, the owner, his son and I. One year, he told me they found larvae. I was horrified, but he smiled and waved his hand, and said it's OK. I think they have come to expect them. They never told me to stop bringing them in. I will say that I saw nuts for sale with holes in them in these Asian stores back in the fall of '86 when I went looking for seed, and I did not choose those nuts to try and plant. There may have been larvae in the seed I planted, but the weevils would have no burs to attack for too many seasons to remain, once production did begin. (a guess really) As it stands now, we nearly scalp the floor and gather the nuts all day long. Starting at one end and repeating after a break time. We end up doing it 3 times a day, but I have no day job other than this, so I know that not everyone could do that. I often even gather at night with a head lamp and a nut picker tool. I would guess we lose 10% to squirrels anyway. I have noticed that some varieties are magnets. Schlarbaum seems to be the worst for me here. Pandora is also heavily affected, Qing moderately, and Eaton has little to none. I'm sure they are just being selective, and absent their favorites, they would infect the next favorite tree, just like with the Japanese beetles, that favor Eaton to eat. We are going to start heat treating this next season 2024. It will add a cost, but it has to be done. We are organic, so no spraying yet. Maybe neem oil in the future? It's a gut punch for sure.
Tons of great info in your comment. Interesting to read that weevils have favorites too! Best of luck with your heat-treatment. Remind me where you are located?
Well John,,,, I knew it would only be a SHORT TIME, till you get 'em. It took about 5-6 years for my trees to get heavily affected. (I sent you an email,,, trying to purchase some of YOUR Dunstan,,,, NO REPLY, so I purchased somewhere else :) Those little suckers can carry away a bucket of nuts in a day! Figure that out,,, How many grubs are getting away, to complete the cycle?!? I've found that it takes about 2 weeks + of air & sun drying for the nut to dry out or age enough,,,, to start producing the 'sugars' & flavor enhancements,,, making them very edible, RAW. None of my family or friends like to eat COOKED chestnuts. That's exactly when the grubs completely mature, & BEFORE they drill their way back out, completing the cycle. ALL of our nuts are picked up & sun dried, usually in wheel burrows or large 55 gallon barrels cut in half. I try to flip the nuts at least every day. I'm trying to prevent any chance of molding. The Wife & I do a 'pinch test'. If we can easily crush in the shell between our fingers, that tells us that the nut is partially dried out & ready to eat. It has then dried out & aged long enough,,, it's time to pass them out to our family & friends for consumption.
John, did you see the video from Empire Chestnuts in Virginia? Sounds like he sprays and does the hot water treatment. Might reach out to him. He also brings in local groups to harvest, I think on kind of a barter basis, including local Mennonites. Good luck, but I'm sure you'll figure it out.
Hi Peyton - Yes, I saw Greg Miller on the Virginia FAIRS video and have a link in this video's description. His orchard is in Carrolton, OH and he(now his daughter) operates Route 9 Cooperative. I refer to that video deeper in this video and showed a quick clip of their hot water treatment. I actually purchased my first 100 Chestnut Trees as bareroot trees from him!
Oh man, ignorance is bliss, I only have 60 trees and while I was aware of the weevil was not aware of its prevalence…. nothing is as simple as it first seems. Good luck with your plan for eradication!
1) YT buried your feed haven't seen you in 4 months... had to go looking for your feed. 2) John Kempf argues that no insect can survive on healthy plant. Not sure about the actual Chestnut in it's final stages where it drops as far as it's health. th-cam.com/video/WNm08atn6tY/w-d-xo.html
At Hopewell Creek Chestnut Company we have conditioned all of the nuts we have harvested and sold for the past three years. Discovered our first weevil five years ago the hard way. Cutting into some nuts for the wife to cook with I discovered the dreaded "Half-weevil". Like, what is worst when biting into an apple - a worm or a half worm? Needless to say I was a bit grossed out that I had a worm problem when our orchard was so young. We immediately started getting nuts into refrigeration upon harvesting and within a couple days heat treating. (at the time we do it on the stove top about 10 pounds at a time) No weevils since then. We try to keep orchard floor as clear as possible and at the minimum remove hulls away from base of trees. John we enjoy your posts. Keep up the faith.
Great comment - I sill see about implementing some of these strategies in the orchard! Great “half-worm” story - that would definitely be an unwelcome surprise - haha!
Great information John, keep us updated with your plans on what you intend to do.
Will do - thanks for watching & commenting!
Thank you for starting my thought process on this issue and for the informative video. Good luck and keep us posted. We are sure you will come up with a solution that works. On a side note have you grown any hardy pecans ( not sure if they can grow in your area)? We are trying a few pecan trees in addition to chestnuts, persimmons, apples, pears, hazelnuts, and grapes this year. Best, Russell Mtns of NC
I have not grown any hardy pecans. Good idea - my dad started some 16 years ago in Southern Indiana & still waiting for his first harvest. He has about 20 trees.
I took care of mine by using beauveria bassiana and different types of nematodes.
Once again very informative. I've used Bonide Orchard Spray and Neem Oil dispensed from powered garden sprayers, but I only have 60 trees. Orchard spray in late Spring and Early Summer. Neem oil after harvest. No weevils so far.
Thanks for sharing! How old are your trees?
@@johnsangl Planted 1 year old seedlings 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018. Chestnut Ridge 2015/16 and Chestnut Hill 2017/18.
Just make sure to pre-wash. Neem is a spermicide
I have not noticed weevils yet on mine. I do know of chestnut trees withing about 6 miles of me and there certainly could be some that are closer.But then the nuts are intended for my own consumption and I only have a few producing trees at the moment.
I wonder if freezing the nuts is possible and thaw just prior to consumption.
There is some data about freezing them, but that definitely destroys the nut's survival and can significantly change texture.
We started planting chestnuts in 1987. Just seeds from the Asian grocery store to begin with.
We had easily 15 years production with no noticeable problem.
About 90% of our crop went back to the stores I had originally bought the seed from.
We laughed about that, the owner, his son and I. One year, he told me they found larvae.
I was horrified, but he smiled and waved his hand, and said it's OK. I think they have come to expect them.
They never told me to stop bringing them in.
I will say that I saw nuts for sale with holes in them in these Asian stores back in the fall of '86 when I went looking for seed,
and I did not choose those nuts to try and plant.
There may have been larvae in the seed I planted, but the weevils would have no burs to attack for too many seasons to remain, once production did begin. (a guess really)
As it stands now, we nearly scalp the floor and gather the nuts all day long. Starting at one end and repeating after a break time. We end up doing it 3 times a day, but I have no day job other than this, so I know that not everyone could do that.
I often even gather at night with a head lamp and a nut picker tool.
I would guess we lose 10% to squirrels anyway.
I have noticed that some varieties are magnets. Schlarbaum seems to be the worst for me here. Pandora is also heavily affected, Qing moderately, and Eaton has little to none. I'm sure they are just being selective, and absent their favorites, they would infect the next favorite tree, just like with the Japanese beetles, that favor Eaton to eat.
We are going to start heat treating this next season 2024. It will add a cost, but it has to be done.
We are organic, so no spraying yet. Maybe neem oil in the future?
It's a gut punch for sure.
Tons of great info in your comment. Interesting to read that weevils have favorites too! Best of luck with your heat-treatment. Remind me where you are located?
@@johnsangl Mid Missouri (Hallsville)
wow good luck .hope every thing works out
Thanks - things always work out one way or the other!
Well John,,,, I knew it would only be a SHORT TIME, till you get 'em. It took about 5-6 years for my trees to get heavily affected.
(I sent you an email,,, trying to purchase some of YOUR Dunstan,,,, NO REPLY, so I purchased somewhere else :) Those little suckers can carry away a bucket of nuts in a day! Figure that out,,, How many grubs are getting away, to complete the cycle?!?
I've found that it takes about 2 weeks + of air & sun drying for the nut to dry out or age enough,,,, to start producing the 'sugars' & flavor enhancements,,, making them very edible, RAW. None of my family or friends like to eat COOKED chestnuts.
That's exactly when the grubs completely mature, & BEFORE they drill their way back out, completing the cycle.
ALL of our nuts are picked up & sun dried, usually in wheel burrows or large 55 gallon barrels cut in half. I try to flip the nuts at least every day. I'm trying to prevent any chance of molding.
The Wife & I do a 'pinch test'. If we can easily crush in the shell between our fingers, that tells us that the nut is partially dried out & ready to eat.
It has then dried out & aged long enough,,, it's time to pass them out to our family & friends for consumption.
I’ll take your advice and incorporate into my practice. Thanks.
Do you have a website listing what you have for trees that are for sale and how much they are for prices?@@johnsangl
John, did you see the video from Empire Chestnuts in Virginia? Sounds like he sprays and does the hot water treatment. Might reach out to him. He also brings in local groups to harvest, I think on kind of a barter basis, including local Mennonites. Good luck, but I'm sure you'll figure it out.
Hi Peyton - Yes, I saw Greg Miller on the Virginia FAIRS video and have a link in this video's description. His orchard is in Carrolton, OH and he(now his daughter) operates Route 9 Cooperative. I refer to that video deeper in this video and showed a quick clip of their hot water treatment. I actually purchased my first 100 Chestnut Trees as bareroot trees from him!
Good. Again, I expect you're going to solve this.
What about netting on the ground.
I should probably start using that.
Which is the lesser of two “weevils”
I think the lesser is the greater evil weevil!
Good thing the WEF will be making us eat bugs.
Good source of protein! Haha
How many pounds did you end up with this year?
Just shy of 50lbs.
just wondered how many years have you been producing nuts?
I believe we produced our first nuts in 2018. Just now starting to really increase.
Finally thought you can sell your farm to me
Everything has a price! (This place just has a very very very HIGH price :) )
@@johnsangl thought you were discouraged and I could move up to north heaven
I guess if you have the problem, it would be better to have the lesser of the two weevils.
good one!
Hilarious! It is a time where you really don't know if you want the greater or lesser of the two weevils!
Oh man, ignorance is bliss, I only have 60 trees and while I was aware of the weevil was not aware of its prevalence…. nothing is as simple as it first seems. Good luck with your plan for eradication!
Thanks! We’ll figure something out!
1st thought it’s Dr. Nut
Or Nutty Doctor!
1) YT buried your feed haven't seen you in 4 months... had to go looking for your feed.
2) John Kempf argues that no insect can survive on healthy plant. Not sure about the actual Chestnut in it's final stages where it drops as far as it's health. th-cam.com/video/WNm08atn6tY/w-d-xo.html