Obtaining Trees:
Pecan trees generally require 5-7 years to
begin bearing from the time of planting. Additionally a tree must be
grafted or budded if a known, improved variety is desired.
Ungrafted pecan trees are called "seedlings"
and may not bear large or thin-shelled nuts. Some seedlings in Alabama
do make excellent yard trees however, and may be more resistant to
diseases than grafted varieties. Pecan nurserymen are the best source
for obtaining healthy bareroot or container
trees, and they will sell both grafted trees and seedlings.
Pecan
Nurseries in Alabama:
·
Dellwood
Pecan Tree Nursery, (Foley, AL); 334-943-8693
·
Mayo Pecan Nursery, (Grand Bay, AL); 334-865-4126
·
Underwood Nursery (Foley, AL); 334-943-8056
Pecan
Varieties to Grow in Alabama:
·
Unsprayed or Low-Input conditions: Jenkins, McMillan, Carter, Syrup
Mill, Gafford, Farley, Elliott
·
Sprayed Commercial Conditions: Desirable Surprize,
Moreland, Oconee, Cherrylee, Cape Fear,
Elliott, Kiowa, Stuart, Sumner
Tree
Planting:
Bare-root trees should be ordered from a
nursery from Nov.-Jan., and transplanted to the desired location while
they are dormant (Jan-Feb). Container-grown trees can be planted
anytime, but the spring months are best. A good site for a pecan tree
is a level or sloping area with good surface water runoff and plenty of
sunlight. Young trees should receive supplemental irrigation during the
first 3 years of establishment. The soil should be loamy to sandy loam
textured with at least 4-6 feet of well-drained topsoil. Avoid heavy
textured, mottled gray clay soils that retain moisture for long
periods. Pecan trees on sandy soils require supplemental irrigation. A
soil sample should be taken 3-5 months prior to planting to determine
what amounts of lime and fertilizer are needed on the planting site.
Young trees
should be planted 40 feet apart or more. 15-20 year-old trees need
spacing of 50-70 feet, and very old trees should be 70-100 feet apart.
Pecan trees that crowd one another do not produce well, have increased
disease/insect problems, and bear poorly-filled nuts.
Plant trees
at a depth that will match the "original soil line mark" on the trunk of
the nursery tree. Planting a tree too deep can cause problems in later
years. The diameter of the planting hole should be large enough to
accommodate lateral roots without twisting them around. Fill the hole
with good topsoil, and do not add fertilizers, manures, or
peatmoss to the hole. It is recommended to
mix 1/2 to 1 lb. of garden lime to the topsoil before covering the
roots. Pack the topsoil around the roots, and water heavily to
eliminate air pockets. Mulch the planted tree with
uncomposted mulch (shredded bark, pine-straw, leaf litter). A 5
ft. x 5 ft. square of mulch, at least 6 inches deep around the tree is
ideal.
WATER,
WATER, WATER newly planted pecan trees!
Fertilizing Pecan Trees:
In the first year of
establishment, promoting root growth is most important; therefore if
trees are not growing rapidly they should not be fertilized.
If growth is vigorous the first year, apply 10-10-10 at 1/2 to 1 lb. per
tree. If trees are making vigorous growth in the spring of the 2nd
year, apply 10-10-10 at 2 lbs. per tree (April or May) and 1/10 lb. Zinc
sulfate per tree. A soil sample should be taken in the fall of each
year to determine lime requirements.
Fertilizer
rates for pecan trees should increase as the trees age. In general,
follow the guideline listed below:
Annual
fertilizer for one pecan tree:
·
1 lb. 13-13-13 per year of age, up to 25 lbs. per tree
·
1/10 lb. Zinc sulfate (powder) per year of age, up to 2 lbs. per tree
·
dolomitic
lime, 5 lbs. per year of age, up to 100 lbs. per tree
Spread these
fertilizers uniformly under the drip line of mature trees or in a 5 ft.
x 5 ft. square around young, newly planted trees.
It is better
to make fertilizer applications based on leaf and soil samples.
July-August is a good time to collect both leaf and soil samples.
Samples can be sent to: Soil
Testing Lab, Auburn University; Auburn, Alabama 36849.
Forms and boxes for sending samples are available from County Extension
System offices.
Pecan
Pest Problems:
In Alabama, pecans are subjected to numerous
insect and disease problems that cause poor leaf condition and poor
quality nuts.
1.
Sticky mist falling from trees in the summer, and leaves coated with
sticky "honeydew".
Cause: Yellow Aphids.
2.
Small, black velvety spots on leaves and black specks on green pecan
shucks, later forming dark black patches on pecan shucks; nuts may turn
black and fall off in July.
Cause: Pecan Scab Disease.
3.
Masses of webbing covering one to several branches on the tree;
caterpillars visible in the web masses.
Cause: Fall Webworms.
4.
Irregular yellow splotches on leaves, and leaves dropping from tree.
Cause: Black
Aphids.
5.
White powdery film on green pecans or leaves.
Cause: Hickory Shuck
worm.
Low levels
of any of these pest problems can be tolerated. If problems from these
pests are severe, chemical-based pesticides may be needed for control.
Controls for these and other pest problems are described in the current
"Integrated Pest Management Recommendations for Pecans" available from
County Extension System offices. Some of these problems can be
corrected by replanting or grafting with pest-tolerant pecan varieties.
Irrigation:
If your pecans are not filling out properly,
they probably need supplemental irrigation during the period when
kernels fill out (mid August to late September). Rainfall in Alabama is
often inadequate during this time. Medium to large bearing pecan trees
require as much as 50 to 80 gallons of water per tree per day under high
sunlight and high temperature conditions.
How
many pounds of nuts can a pecan tree bear?
Pecan yields are impossible to
predict consistently, because insect and diseases can drastically reduce
the crop in some years. Pecan trees are alternate bearing, and do not
generally produce heavy crops in two consecutive years. A year of high
volume production might be followed by a year of little or no
production. The climate of Alabama during pecan growing season is
highly variable and may strongly affect yields positively or negatively
over a two year period. Hurricanes, for example, are capable of causing
crop loss and leaf loss, which also reduces the following year's crop.
Commercial
growers in Alabama generally agree that production of 1,000 lbs. per
acre is considered good. This translates to production of approximately
50 lbs. per tree for a medium aged tree (15 years of age and up). A
single older, mature tree is capable of producing 100-200 lbs. of pecans
or more in one season, if sunlight is not limiting, fertility is good,
and pest problems are controlled.
Below are some
keys that should help trees or orchards that are unproductive:
1.
Know your varieties. Not all pecan varieties are good ones. Identify
the trees you have and eliminate or graft inferior varieties or
seedlings. If you do not intend to spray trees for pests, scab
susceptible varieties (Desirable, Success, Stuart) will not produce good
pecans.
2.
Eliminate tree to tree shading. Pecan trees produce inferior nuts when
crowded by other trees. Disease problems are worse in crowded
conditions. Having only a few trees is better than having many crowded
trees.
3.
Fertilize in Spring and Lime in Fall. Take
leaf and soil samples to know your tree's nutrition.
4.
Give your trees extra water in September. Use mulch around trees to
conserve water.
5.
Encourage beneficial insects. Ladybeetles, lacewings,
trichogramma wasps, spiders, and other
insects help control pecan insect pests. Grow clovers and other
groundcovers under pecan trees to provide natural habitats. Use
selective insecticides. Purchase and release beneficial insects in your
pecan trees.
