More Pecan Tree Research…
Okay, I know I said I was onto Walnut in my last blog post, but after reflection I thought I should finish my Pecan research before I moved onto the Walnut!
While reading an article on Planting Candy Pecan trees by Jessica Westover, I notice a lot of varieties seemed to be named after Native American tribes. As I have a huge respect for the Native American Nations and their views and respect for Nature and Mother Earth, this piqued my curiosity and I decided to do some digging into the history of the Pecan tree! Once this brief detour is finished, I will get back to my practical research on the tree with a focus on our Boutique farm… until then:
Brief Pecan Tree history
By Cane River Pecan Company
1.88.692.3103
http://blog.caneriverpecan.com
The history of pecans can be traced back to the 16th century. The only major tree nut that grows naturally in North America, the pecan is considered one of the most valuable North American nut species. The name “pecan” is a Native American word of Algonquin origin that was used to describe “all nuts requiring a stone to crack.” The Algonquins were a North American tribe located on the Ottawa and St. Lawrence rivers where pecans were a food staple during the winter months. Today hundreds of pecan varieties are still known by their given Native American names like Cheyenne, Sioux, Choctaw, Kiowa and Creek. Popular modern pecan cultivars include the Pawnee, Cheyenne, Mohawk, Kiowa, Choctaw and Wichita.
Mystery solved regarding names! Moving beyond the pecan cultivars, United States Presidents George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were known to be early promoters of pecans. After a trip south, Thomas Jefferson returned to Virginia where he shared his possession of pecan nuts and seedlings with George Washington. Both men planted and grew the trees on their personal property. Thomas Jefferson once wrote home from Paris for a supply. At the conclusion of the Civil War, it was well documented that Union soldiers carried pecans back from the front to their families, once again promoting this great American nut throughout the Nation. So there you have it… if George Washington and Thomas Jefferson can grow Pecan trees I think I should definitely give it a go! And… now back to the Palisade Posh Boutique Farm:
Planting the Candy Pecan Tree
Information provided by Jessica Westover
Candy Pecan trees grow best in full sunlight, requiring at least eight hours of bright, direct sunlit per day. They need soil that is nutrient rich and fast-draining, moist, with a pH of 5.5 to 6.5 to promote the best growth. These trees have a large vertical taproot and should have soil at least 5 to 10 feet deep. Its mature height is 70ft heigh with a 50-foot spread.
The planting site should have 3 – 5-inch-deep layer of compost mixed into the top 8 – 10 inches of soil, break up the large dirt clods and loosen soil for easier digging and root penetration. Dig a hole twice the width and equal in depth to the root ball. The best time to plant the Candy Pecan tree is in the fall or winter dormant season, at least 30 days before leaf emergence in the spring – this gives the tree time to establish its roots before it begins to actively grow. Remove all mushy and dead roots before planting. Cut through circling roots to encourage outward growth and NEVER let the roots dry out during the planting process (it is helpful to either soak the roots in water or spray them periodically). The top of the tree’s root ball should sit level with the surrounding ground when sitting in the hole. Do not overfill the hole or plant the pecan tree deeper than it was previously growing.
Once planted, build a 3-4-inch-tall ring of soil around the perimeter of the buried root ball to create a water reservoir to direct the moisture directly to the pecan’s roots. Mulch is helpful to reduce weeds and moisture loss, but it should never be touching the Pecan’s trunk as that will cause the bark to rot. Candy Pecan trees require 1 – 2 inches of water per week.
Planting the Mahan Pecan Tree
Information by Nancy Wagner
and Isons Nursery & Vineyards
and Sammy’s Plant World
The Mahan Pecan trees range in size from 70 to 150 feet in height with dark green foliage and a spreading canopy, ideal for providing shade. Although Mahan self-pollinates, the tree produces more crops when cross-pollinated with another pecan cultivar. Since Mahan sheds its pollen in mid- to late-season, it should be pollinated with an early to mid-season pollen-producing tree.
The Mahan Pecan tree produces large crops of tasty pecans in late fall; however, the first crop of nuts will not appear until 4-6 years after initial planting. The first crop will be small with production increasing in quantity as the tree matures. It produces large crops in alternating years.
The Mahan Pecan should be planted in full sun and requires approximately 250 chill hours. Similar to the Candy Pecan, the bare-root Mahan has long taproots and requires a deep planting hole. When planting, the hole should be at least 3 feet deep and 12 – 24 inches wide so all side roots can be properly positioned as the hole is refilled.
Planting the Pawnee Pecan Tree:
Information provided by https://www.plantmegreen.com
and https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu
The Pawnee Pecan is a medium sized tree reaching a height of 30 feet with a width between 15-25 feet. It can be planted in full sun (6-8 hours) or partial shade and can tolerate a variety of soil types. It tolerates clay and sand if well drained but does best in loam soils with a pH of 6.0-6.5. It has high drought tolerance.
This pecan tree has a chill time of 300 – 350 hours with a moderate growth rate. It takes 7-9 years to bear fruit. It is very popular throughout the Western and Northern growing regions. 'Pawnee' is noted for its large nut size and early harvest (usually early September)
Other things to take into consideration regarding Pecan trees:
Information provided by: https://www.nola.com
Pecans are wind pollinated, and the pollen can travel some distance. Pecan trees are large trees, easily growing over time to reach 60 feet tall with a spread of 40 feet. Small urban lots are not large enough to accommodate these trees. So first make sure your site is large enough. The wood of pecan trees is somewhat brittle. When a tree is heavily loaded with nuts, the weight and stress can cause branches to break and fall. You should not plant a pecan in a location where branches might fall on your house or other structures. Pecan trees should be planted at least 20 feet (preferably more) away from homes, garages, driveways, etc.
Insect, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems relating to pecan trees: Pecan weevils, stink bugs, twig girdlers, and fall webworms can cause some issues. Scab can infect both nuts and foliage, but scab-resistant cultivars are available.
