Nut Trees on the Farm
Maxie and Charlie, Jackson MI c. 1970’s
Growing up in Michigan as a child, I have wonderful memories of going nut collecting in fall with Maxie and Charlie, family friends who were like a third set of grandparents to me. As an only child, I often found myself having adult friends in addition to my mates from school and the neighborhood. Maxie and Charlie were a huge part of my life during this time, and I remember them fondly. I mention this piece of family history because it is the inspiration and motivation for why I want to grow nut trees on the Palisade Posh Boutique farm! While reading through numerous property descriptions, I discovered that both Pecans and Walnuts can grow in our dry Palisade climate!
Palisade Colorado is a Hardiness zone of 7a (0 degree to 5 degrees Fahrenheit)
There are small areas within Palisade that are a zone 6a and 6b
Average first frost: October 1 – 10
Average last frost: May 11 – 20
Note: Before doing any planting, landscaping, and purchasing of plants, trees, or shrubs, we need to get our soil tested to identify what type of soil we have on our property.
Pecan Trees Overview:
Trees may reach 70 – 100 feet in height and 40 to 80 feet in width
Pecan trees are a member of the Hickory family
In orchard plantings, Pecan trees heed to be spaced 40 to 60 feet apart (no closer than 40 feet in home plantings). Spacing is important for pollination.
To ensure production of nuts, you must plant two varieties, however it is highly recommended that you plant three varieties together for maximum pollination and production. Pollination periods of each tree are classified as Protandrous (Type 1) or Protogynous (Type 2). You should mix Type 1 and Type 2 varieties for best pollination and highest yields of nuts.
When planting Pecan trees:
Dig a hole at least 2 feet wide and 3 feet deep; and back will with well drained soil. *
Do not apply fertilizers for first two years. After that time, in the Spring, apply 1 lb. of 10-10-10 with micronutrients around the root zone of the tree. Next in July, apply 1 lb. of Zinc Sulphate and another pound of fertilizer. Zinc is especially important for Pecan trees so you will need to continue to apply 1 lb. of Zin Sulphate each year. You should also increase your fertilizer by 1 lb. each year.
*For those unfamiliar with the term ‘Backfill’ it is the soil used to fill in around the root ball of a newly planted tree or shrub. The best backfill will be loosened original soil from the planting hole mixed with 10 to 20 percent compost. It is best if you loosen and break up any colds of soil before backfilling.
Willis Orchards/ 1-866-586-6283/www.willisorchards.com
This orchard also sells fruit trees, berry plants, grape vines, flowering trees, shade trees and bamboo plants.
(All information below comes from Willis Orchards and relates specifically to their Nut Trees)
Willis Orchard Pecan trees for sale grow in a variety of soil types, except poorly drained soils. They sell their trees bare-root and recommend pruning 1/3 to ½ of the top of the new tree to encourage vigorous growth and rapid establishment (they will also assist prospective buyers with making their Pecan tree selection, etc…)
Type 2 Pecan Tree Varieties include:
Candy Pecan Tree
Curtis Pecan Tree
Elliot Pecan Tree
Mahan Pecan Tree
Moreland Pecan Tree
Stuart Pecan Tree
Sumner Pecan Tree
Type 1 Pecan Tree Varieties include:
Cape Fear Pecan Tree
Desirable Pecan Tree
Pawnee Pecan Tree
Ships: 12/01/2022 - 05/01/2023 (shipping dates are subject to change)
Grows in Zones: 6-9
6-7’ Grafted) 12/01/2022-
05/01/2023 $79.95
7-8’ (Grafted) (***Call for Delivery Options***) (Ships via 12/01/2022-
(Freight) 05/01/2023 $99.95
Pecan Trees
Type 2 Pecan Tree Varieties
Candy Pecan Tree
1-2' (Grafted)
The Candy Pecan tree is an older variety that was named for its intended use in sweet treats. However, it is an excellent all-round pecan for cooking and fresh eating purposes. The nuts are of medium size and the trees are highly productive.
Curtis Pecan Tree
1-2' (Grafted)
The Curtis Pecan tree is a good late season pollinizer, producing consistent high yields of a small nut, with a medium-thin shell and dark, speckled look. It grows well in the south due to adaptation, and has a low chill requirement, and high heat requirement for budbreak. The tree is of moderate vigor with upright growth and slight spread. Curtis Pecan tree is resistant to pecan scab and leaf diseases.
Elliot Pecan Tree
1-2' (Grafted)
The Elliot Pecan tree originated in the northwestern region of Florida, producing vigorous, strong trees, with deep taproots. Producing a moderate sized crop, it had nuts which are generally small, normally around 82 per pound, that feature a medium-think shell, and light colored, excellent flavored kernel. The Elliot Pecan tree is very resistant to scab and other leaf diseases, and has a low chilling requirement, making it a perfect pecan tree for southern states, complimented by the Desirable Pecan tree for a pollinizer.
Mahan Pecan Tree
1-2' (Grafted)
The Mahan Pecan tree features a very large, soft shelled, rich flavored kernel. It will bear heavily, even when young, and is good for planting to provide shade for your home and yard. Mahan Pecan trees prefer arid climates and does well in warm winter locations, and Mahan Pecans ripen around November 10th to 25th.
Moreland Pecan Tree
1-2' (Grafted)
The Moreland Pecan tree has proven to be a disease-resistant cultivar, resisting scab and other leaf diseases, which can produce high yields consistently. Originating from Louisiana, the Moreland Pecan, is a moderately vigorous tree producing a dense canopy of leaves and nuts which produce around 55 nuts per pound. The Desirable Pecan tree proves to be a good pollinator for Moreland, helping to produce the medium thick shelled nuts that are delicious.
Stuart Pecan Tree (no… takes too long to produce fruit!)
1-2' (Grafted)
The Stuart Pecan tree is one of the most common cultivars of pecans grown in the southeastern United States, and even in the world. The trees are strong and upright, requiring less training and pruning compared to other cultivars. One of the limitations of the Stuart Pecan is that it may take 8-10 years for it to come of bearing age, from a 1-year tree. Stuart Pecan trees are a late-season pollinator, which is recommended to be planted with an early season pollinator. Nuts of the Stuart Pecan trees are medium sized, producing normally around 52 nuts per pound, with a thicker shell than some of the other paper shell pecan varieties. The Stuart Pecan growing range can reach a little more northern than most other paper shell pecan varieties.
Sumner Pecan Tree
1-2' (Grafted)
The Sumner Pecan tree originated in Southern Georgia, being a late season pollinizer, producing large nuts that net around 48 nuts per pound, with good quality, sometimes darker colored kernels. With its high resistance to scab and other leaf diseases, plus strong upright growth and semi-open canopy, the Sumner Pecan tree is an excellent, though often overlooked, pecan tree for planting in the yard.
Type 1 Pecan Tree Varieties
Cape Fear Pecan Tree
1-2' (Grafted)
The Cape Fear Pecan tree originated in North Carolina. It is protandrous (Type 1) and typically starts bearing at a young age. Pollen shedding in ‘Cape Fear’ is very early. ‘Elliott’ or ‘Stuart’ are fair pollinizers for ‘Cape Fear’ and vice versa. Cape Fear Pecan trees are vigorous and upright with an opened growth habit. It is a strong tree with a deep taproot. ‘Cape Fear’ has been a consistent producer at the North Florida Research Center in Monticello. Nut weight is typically 7.5 to 8.2 g (58 nuts per pound) with a 55% kernel. Kernel color is light and attractive. Nut shape is broad oval to oblong. Shell thickness is medium-thin. Resistance to scab is good, and resistance to other leaf diseases is fair.
Desirable Pecan Tree (No…. not recommended for the dryer Western States)
1-2' (Grafted)
The Desirable Pecan trees feature medium-large soft-shelled pecans, and are very productive, being a consistent bearer. The Desirable Pecans are noted for their good eating quality, and the large sizes of the trees, which make it a leading variety in the Southeastern United States (Note: these soft-shell pecan trees are not recommended for the dryer Western states). These Desirable Pecan trees are also disease and scab-resistant and ripen around October 25th to November 10th.
Pawnee Pecan Tree
1-2' (Grafted)
The Pawnee Pecan trees are an excellent choice for people with limited space due to its relatively small size, as dwarf pecan trees like these only grow 30 feet tall and wide. Pawnee grows well from Georgia to Texas and is an exceptional pollinator. The nuts are large and sweet. The Pawnee Pecan has recently become one of the most popular paper-shell varieties for home and commercial orchards do to its numerous fine qualities.
Other Orchards that sell Nut and Fruit trees include:
(It should be noted that I’ve not research all the orchards and farms on this list – not yet! All the above information comes from the Willis Orchard who appeared first in the good search engine)
https://www.burntridgenursery.com
https://onlineorchards.com/collections/nut-trees
As of right now I think I’m leaning toward the Type 2 Candy Pecan and Mahan Pecan combined with the Type 1 Pawnee Pecan tree. Now that I’ve narrowed that down, I will continue to do research to make sure all three can grow in zone 7 Colorado!
Next up… Walnut tree research!
