pecan tree seed pods

Can I grow a pecan tree from seed?

It is entirely possible to plant a pecan seed. However, it is important to realize that growing pecans from seed will not produce a tree identical to the parent tree. If you want a particular type of pecan nut, or a tree that produces excellent pecans, you will need to graft.

Can you plant a pecan tree from a pecan?

A viable pecan seed (the nut) is the product of cross pollination (sexual reproduction) between two pecan trees. ... Of course, you CAN grow a pecan tree from pecan nut. That's how commercial growers get their rootstocks, and it's also how new and different pecan varieties are discovered.

How long does it take for a pecan nut to sprout?

Germination is staggered for each individual seedling and 4 to 8 weeks is required for all seed to come up. Dry Storage is required for the nuts as soon as they are harvested. Kernel percent moisture needs to be reduced from 20 at harvest to 6, 5, or 4 before going into storage.

Do you need 2 pecan trees to produce nuts?

Pecans have both male and female flowers, but they do not bloom at the same time. This basically means that a single pecan tree cannot pollinate itself, and will not produce nuts. To get around this problem, you have to plant at least 2 trees and they cannot be the same “type”.

Where do pecan trees grow best?

The pecan tree (Carya illinoinensis) is a deciduous tree native to North America and most successfully grown in hardiness zones 5-9. This member of the hickory genus can grow to heights of over 100 feet and may live and bear nuts (actually drupes) for up to 300 years.

How fast do pecan trees grow?

A grafted pecan tree 4 to 6 feet tall planted in a good site and properly maintained will generally begin production in 6 to 7 years. The more precocious varieties may sometimes start production in 4 to 5 years. The less precocious varieties may take 8 to 10 years to bear.

What is the best pecan tree?

Choctaw is a good yard tree because of its beautiful foliage, scab resistance and high yields of large, high-quality pecans. Unfortunately, Choctaw requires the very best soil and management; otherwise, it will fail. Nuts/lb - 38; percent kernel - 59. Tejas is a good yard tree for west Texas.

Are pecan tree roots invasive?

Tree roots do not typically invade a foundation, though they can contribute to damage. Because they pull water from the soil, they intensify the effect of drought conditions.

Do pecan trees produce nuts every year?

While pecan trees may produce a crop each year once they get started, heavy crops of nuts get produced in alternate years. The phenomenon, called alternate bearing, means the trees produce light crops in the other years.

What is the fastest growing pecan tree?

The Pawnee Pecan (Carya illinoinensis 'Pawnee') has recently become one of the more popular pecan producing trees around. It tends to produce nuts much more rapidly than other species of pecan trees do.

Are pecan trees male and female?

Pecan trees are monoecious. This means that they produce separate male and female flowers on the same plant. Male flowers are located on 4-5 inch long catkins, while female flowers are small, yellowish-green, and grow on spikes at the tips of shoots.

Why are my pecan trees not producing?

Usually, there is no single reason why a pecan tree fails to produce a crop or produces poor quality nuts. ... Inadequate lime or fertilizer- Lack of lime, nitrogen fertilizer and zinc are common limiting factors in pecan production. Fertilize according to soil and leaf sample recommendations.

Are coffee grounds good for pecan trees?

Pecan trees also require full sun throughout the day, so they should not be planted in an area that experiences any shade. Sprinkle coffee grounds around the base of Holly Shrubs and Holly Trees for dense foliage growth and improved berry production.

What grows under pecan trees?

Very few grasses will grow in the shade and, moreover, even fewer turf grasses will grow there.

As a substitute for grasses in your shaded areas you might consider grass-like sedges or other groundcovers. ...
Carex texensis (Texas sedge)
Carex cherokeensis (Cherokee sedge)
Carex flaccosperma (blue wood sedge)

What is the best pecan tree to plant in Georgia?

Fortunately, there are scab-resistant cultivars that can produce high-quality pecan kernels. Commonly found cultivars currently recommended for yard-tree plantings include Elliott, Excel, Gloria Grande and Sumner. 'Elliot' pecans are susceptible to late-spring freezes and should not be planted in north Georgia.

Can you keep a pecan tree small?

Just one tree will produce plenty of nuts for a large family and provide deep shade that will make hot, southern summers a little more bearable. However, growing pecan trees in small yards isn't practical because the trees are large and there are no dwarf varieties. A mature pecan tree stands about 150 feet (45.5 m.)

What do you do with pecans off the tree?

Once the pecans have been harvested, they need to be dried, or cured before storing them. Dry them slowly, spread out in a thin layer on a plastic sheet in an area of low light and circulating air. Stir the nuts around often to hasten the drying process and consider blowing a fan across the nuts.

Do Pecan trees need full sun?

To produce a healthy, productive and beautiful pecan tree, the planting site must provide adequate room for growth, full sun, and deep, well drained soil with sufficient water and nutrients. Mature pecan trees need adequate space for proper growth.

How much does a mature pecan tree cost?

He figures a mature pecan tree is worth $2,500 to $2,850. He estimates the direct costs of buying and growing the original tree to age 12, when the value of the tree's production equals the cost to produce the nuts, at $309.

How much money can you make from a pecan tree?

Now when it is harvest time, a pecan tree can produce up to 50 pounds of pecans. The average retail cost for pecans is $3 per pound. After multiplying 50 X 3, we have $150 which is the profit. To calculate the net profit, we deduct $63 (cost of product) from $150 (total profit) which is a net profit of $87.

Why are pecans so expensive?

Pecan farmers say bad weather and demand from China are forcing prices up. The price of pecans is going up, up, up, which may mean that if you're planning a pecan pie for Thanksgiving, the time to buy them is now. The reasons behind that escalating price all come down to natural forces: supply and demand and weather.