Help with pecan varieties for Northern Ghana, African savanna climate

General Gardening
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I have embarked on introducing pecans, to the Northern Ghana savanna climate. I am familiar with pecans in Sonora, Mexico, and with Georgia, USA. I believe there are some similarities to Sonora, Mexico, and New Mexico, USA, to northern Ghana with the difference in cold levels in winter, however, I still believe there should be some varieties that could do well in the north of Ghana.

I’d appreciate recommendations on which varieties may do well in that climate.

The location is as below.

Thanks for your recommendations.

2 Likes
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Your climate is very close to tropical equatorial which means there will be problems with chilling hours.

Western Schley is noted for ability to produce a crop in low chill areas.

Ukulinga is a long season variety that works pretty well in South Africa.

Elliott is a possibility given origin in Northern Mexico.

Nortena is a seedling selection from Northern Mexico that might be worth investigating.

Pecans grow all the way down into southern Mexico which suggests there may be some useful germplasm in the southernmost populations. I don’t know of any selection or breeding work done with them.

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Thanks a bunch, I’ll take a detailed look at those varieties and see which of them I better start with. Due to it being a whole new project, would you recommend where I could get some of the seeds (not plantlets) of those varieties to purchase and start from seeds? I am in the US so it’s mostly easier to get things from here and ship them over.

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Elliott seed nuts are readily available in the southeastern U.S. Web search for a vendor. There are plenty sold in the area around Tifton Georgia.

Western (synonymous with Western Schley) is available from some parts of Texas and New Mexico. Search a bit and call around, these are readily available.

Ukulinga to my knowledge is only available in South Africa. There is one nursery listed online that sells plants. You might find a source of seed nuts by contacting them.

Nortena to my knowledge is only grown in few places in northern Mexico. I don’t know of anywhere that sells either grafts or nuts. There are a couple of nurseries in the region that might know where to locate them.

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Sincerely grateful.
Thanks a bunch!!