Major & Posey bear for me on an annual basis. Other cultivars may tend toward alternate bearing, but irrigation might offset that, to some degree, if i had that capability.
2023 was a bumper crop for pecans, hickories, walnuts, with almost no nuts produced in 2024, but Major & Posey produced light crops.
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A Pecan trees inclination is to alternate bare. Especially once they get up in age. If they put forth too much energy on this years crop, it will affect the following years crop. Fertilizer helps, but even experts disagree on the exact science behind it.
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I talked with 3rd generation pecan farmers about it in SE GA with a long growing season (which may contribute) and they stated with confidence they could out fertilize alternate bearing
I believe they fertilized some after harvest and multiple times in spring
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While fertilizer helps, it can’t overcome the nature of alternate bearing. UGA has an index that rates each cultivar for alternate bearing. By the way, I’m third generation on our pecan farm in SE Georgia.
https://pecanbreeding.uga.edu/cultivars/recommended-list/alternate-bearing-information.html
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Alternate bearing is a complex trait with links to current year crop, last year crop, disease and pest status, nutrient availability, and several other concerns. While adjusting nutrient status can significantly reduce alternate bearing, it comes with several gotchas that can cause trouble. The first is that late season nitrogen fertilization can seriously reduce uptake of potassium, zinc, and nickel. This can disrupt nut formation the following year. With expert care, it is a very valuable tool. However, if you read university recommendations, all of them emphasize either shaking off part of an excessive crop or using some form of hedging to limit crop size. With diligence, it is possible to maintain yearly production. But it is not easy! And yes, a really good nutrient/fertilizer program is a huge part of the process.
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I had noticed a cluster of pecans on Sumner a few weeks ago. Today I found a single nut on Creek. This is the 3rd growing year for Creek and the second growing year for Sumner. With good care, they should have a handful of pecans each next year. I also expect about 30 more varieties to produce a few nuts next year.
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I grafted 3 trees with Seneca a few months ago. Today I confirmed one of them was accepted and has several inches of growth.
I was worried about these grafts as the scionwood was collected in Texas outside of the best time for gathering scions. So long as this tree makes good growth, I’ll have more scions available next spring.
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I also grafted Seneca but sadly got no takes. The scion wood was noticeably and uniformly brown when I grafted it, I think from time spent out of the fridge, but I gave it a shot anyway. Hoping it becomes more available next year or the year after.
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Had to break out the nets. Deer broke off some branches on one of my pecans. I finally after years of trying got Kanza and Lakota grafts to take and I’ll be damned if they are going to destroy them.
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It is a pleasure to find that a few of my pecan trees decided to set a few nuts this year.
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How old?
The tree was planted 5 years ago, grafted last year, and has a single pecan this year. I have pecans on Creek (3rd growing season from graft), Nacono (2nd growing season), and Sumner (2nd growing season). I have been aggressively fertilizing the trees plus we have had very good rainfall this year. My trees here at the house are looking excellent.
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If you have soybean fields near (like I do) you may find stink bugs damage on the pecans consisting of bitter black spots on the kernel. The stink bugs may migrate between soybean fields and pecan orchards. Something else to look out for.
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anyone have northern variety seeds they could send me this fall? Barkslip sent me some “meat” variety a few years ago and I lost about half of them while they were establishing, Id like to fill those spots back in, if possible. I think hes still boycotting the forum so no chance to get seeds from him again.
I would offer some Kanza seed, but it is not a very good choice for zone 4a. You really need something like Warren 346. I don’t know if Bill Reid would sell some seed, but he might be a source. Earlton and Warren 346 are varieties he could probably supply. https://northernpecans.blogspot.com/
Dax probably sent OC-6 aka “Meat” which is an ultra-northern variety.
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What spacing do you recommend? I’m in zone 6a in PA so eventually grafting to northern varieties what will in theory grow at a slower pace with the shorter season.
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PA zone 6A could grow northern and ultra-northern varieties. Earlton, Hark, Lucas, OC-6, Oswego, Seneca, and Warren 346 would be some varieties to graft with very high probability they will be adapted and productive. Hark, Seneca, and Warren 346 are type 1 while the rest are type 2.
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What spacing would you use?
45 feet between trees will work for about 25 to 30 years. After that, they will have to be thinned.
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If your looking for a standard, I’ve read that 60 feet is it. My 0.02 cents.
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