I put about 100 pounds of 13-13-13 on my @50 pecan trees here at the house earlier this year. As a result, average growth was 5 feet or more per tree. I also have the first handful of pecans produced. It will be interesting to see what they do next year. At minimum, I expect to have nuts on 20 or 30 of the trees.
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I read this thread on a whim- are there crackability ratings somewhere?!? Or could you recommend some pecans or walnuts for me? Or point me in the direction of where to look for these ratings and info?
I love walnuts and pecans - even the wild ones. I have all but given up on my black walnuts though, due to the difficulty of cracking them. I would plant something instead of just scrounging around, if you thought it would grow here (zone 6b in VA, humid summer, cold winter).
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You could easily grow grafted walnuts or pecans. Some pecan varieties that should work in your climate are Hark, Kanza, Lakota, Greenriver, and Oswego. For black walnuts, Thomas, Neel #1, Sparrow, and S127 should work very well. Check with Rock Bridge Trees and/or Grimonut if you want to purchase.
If you want to try planting some seed, I have an offer for Lakota and Kanza pecans for planting and I have a good supply of Thomas, Neel #1, Cranz, and a few Farrington black walnuts which could be planted. Drop a message if you want some, I request you pay for shipping.
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Found another handful after leaves dropped. Iāll try and stratify them in the fridge and plant in spring. Learn to graft them in a few years if Iām lucky.
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@Fusion_power I just saw these recommendations. Thank you!
Just to check: For pecans I need a type I and type II?
And the pecans should be planted in full sun? (I saw somewhere you recommended either 45ā apart or planting them closer with plans to remove some)
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Yes, you need at least 1 of each type 1 and type 2 for pollination. Hark is type 1, the other 4 are type 2. I highly recommend Hark plus Lakota and Kanza as three varieties that will cross pollinate well and have excellent disease tolerance and very good production.
Yes, 45 feet between trees and even then will have to remove some after about 40 years. If you can go 50 to 60 feet they will benefit long term. The in between spaces can be planted with shorter lived plants such as blueberries or grapes.
If you want some of the walnuts for seed, drop an address by DM. Iāll ship them in a few weeks.
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I did 60ft between rows and 30 feet between trees in the rows. Can thin every other tree in the future but weāll see if necessary
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Man plants 2 acres of pecan trees and now he is worried about cost per nut. I know how to make a small fortune! Start with a large fortune and then plant some nut trees. In a few years, you will have a small fortune!
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Iām already Eating into my profits
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Squirrels, crows, and turkeys will all help you eat into the profits. By the way, what exactly is a āprofitā? Iām a little hard of hearing and my eyesight is a tad weak. I might miss one if it slips up on me.
On the other hand, when my grandson takes the nut wizard out and uses it to pick up a bucket of pecans, I might just have found one of those rare "profit"s.
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@Fusion_power thank you for the advice and offer of walnuts. I think I need to choose a bigger area and clear some stuff out this year before I get anything.
Whereād you purchase your pecan trees? I was going to plant some chestnut near our seasonal creek, but I think Id rather try some cold hardy pecan
There are several sources though not many carry northern tier varieties.
There are a few others but most are southern varieties only.
Most of my trees came from Rock bridge. I had a few from stark brothers
Iām getting plenty of falling pecans now. Only problem is that they are all rotten.