SELECTING AND PLANTING
PECAN TREES

By: Kevin D. Starr
County Extension Director
N.C. Cooperative Extension Service

By all indications, there is a bumper crop of local pecans this fall. We normally plant bare-root trees in late winter. But some folks are already looking for trees. Let's look at some of the keys to success with this crop.
As always, it's important to take a soil sample prior to planting. This test will tell you whether the soil pH is at the optimum 6.0 to 6.5. If the pH is too low, you'll be able to add needed lime at planting time. The soil test will also reveal whether the soil needs phosphorus. If needed, it's essential that this nutrient be added to the soil prior to planting. Plant the trees in the best soil you can, being careful to avoid poorly drained sites. A pecan tree takes a long time to reach a productive size. Make sure you take the time needed to select a good site and get the soil ready.

When purchasing plants, you will likely buy a four to six foot “whip” (unbranched tree). The tree will probably be bare-root and should be planted as soon as possible after taking it home. You will sometimes find pecan trees sold in containers but these are also likely bare-root trees that have been recently potted up. You can hold these trees a little longer prior to planting but they still need to be planted while they are dormant during the winter.
With a long-term crop such as pecans, one of the most crucial decisions you must make is variety selection. Varieties differ greatly in factors such as nut size, thickness of the shell, disease resistance, and how early in its life it will bear. Pollination is a very important factor in choosing pecan varieties. There are two distinct groups of pecan varieties with regard to pollination. With Type I varieties, the male flowers (catkins) shed their pollen before the female flowers are receptive. Type II varieties release their pollen after the female flowers are receptive. In order to obtain good nut production, at least one variety from each group must be planted close to each other and three varieties are better.

Recommended Type I varieties for North Carolina include 'Cape Fear' and 'Pawnee'. Type II varieties are 'Stuart' (the major variety in N.C.), 'Sumner', 'Forkert', 'Chickasaw', 'Elliott', 'Kiowa', and 'Gloria Grande'. Varieties which are not recommended include 'Desirable', 'Mahan', 'Schley', and 'Success'. There are important differences even among recommended varieties. For more information on varieties and the general culture of pecans, check out Extension's website at www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/hil/ag81.html. If you don't have internet access, you can contact the Extension Service and ask for “Growing Pecans in North Carolina” (publication AG-81). Our telephone number is 704-736-8452.