how far apart do you plant pecan trees

Pecan Planting Guide: Location and Preparation Hilltops are ideal. Space the trees 60 to 80 feet (18.5-24.5 m.) apart and well away from structures and power lines. Pruning the tree and the roots before planting will encourage strong growth and make pecan tree care much easier.

Do I need to plant 2 pecan trees?

Pecans have both male and female flowers, but they do not bloom at the same time. This basically means that a single pecan tree cannot pollinate itself, and will not produce nuts. To get around this problem, you have to plant at least 2 trees and they cannot be the same “type”.

How long does it take for a pecan tree to bear fruit?

A grafted pecan tree 4 to 6 feet tall planted in a good site and properly maintained will generally begin production in 6 to 7 years. The more precocious varieties may sometimes start production in 4 to 5 years. The less precocious varieties may take 8 to 10 years to bear.

How much is an acre of pecan trees worth?

Land is valued at $10,000 per acre and total investment in the orchard is fully paid off in 15 years. All cost estimates assume an average nut production of 3,000 pounds per acre, a $3.25 selling point, and an average 55 percent kernel, or $1.79/pound.

When's the best time to plant a pecan tree?

November through February is the best time to plant pecan trees. But before you decide to add a pecan tree to your landscape, there are some things to consider. Pecan trees grow to be quite large – 60 feet tall with a spread of 40 feet – so make sure your site is large enough.

Where is the best place to plant a pecan tree?

Pecan Planting Guide: Location and Preparation

Plant the tree in a location with soil that drains freely to a depth of 5 feet (1.5 m.). Growing pecan trees have a long taproot that is susceptible to disease if the soil is soggy. Hilltops are ideal.

What is the fastest growing pecan tree?

The Pawnee Pecan (Carya illinoinensis 'Pawnee') has recently become one of the more popular pecan producing trees around. It tends to produce nuts much more rapidly than other species of pecan trees do.

Do pecan trees bear fruit every year?

While pecan trees may produce a crop each year once they get started, heavy crops of nuts get produced in alternate years. The phenomenon, called alternate bearing, means the trees produce light crops in the other years.

What is the best fertilizer for pecan trees?

If you are growing an orchard of pecan trees, and looking to make a profit, you'll probably want to use a fertilizer containing ammonium sulphate, which is typically accepted as the suitable fertilizer by most pecan tree farmers. Ammonium sulfate can be bought in bulk form, or in bags.

Can you eat pecans off the tree?

Pecan trees are actually in the hickory family. ... Most importantly, if you've found a pecan tree and it's harvest time, you're likely to find pecans on the ground or to spot them among the leaves of the tree. All varieties of pecans are edible, so you don't need to worry about which kind of pecan you've found.

What is the average lifespan of a pecan tree?

Pecan tree fun facts:

Pecans reach maturity at about twelve years old and can live as long as 300 years! Non-grafted seedlings and native pecan trees often take 10 to 15 years to begin to produce fruit. Grafted varieties produce fruit in 5-10 years depending on variety.

How much is a 5 gallon bucket of pecans worth?

Pecan grower Bucky Geer estimates a single 5-gallon bucketful is worth about $38.

Is a pecan farm a good investment?

“Pecans offer more profit potential than a typical row crop enterprise, a cow/calf farm or a stocker operation, even at peak cycles,” Locke says. ... But it takes good yields to make good money. “We set a target of 2,000 pounds per acre,” Rohla says.

How deep are pecan tree roots?

Root Features

Feeder roots can extend to a distance two to three times the diameter of the tree's leafy crown. The taproot of a mature pecan tree grows to a depth of more than 10 feet, according to the University of Florida Extension Service.

Can you plant a pecan tree from a pecan?

A viable pecan seed (the nut) is the product of cross pollination (sexual reproduction) between two pecan trees. ... Of course, you CAN grow a pecan tree from pecan nut. That's how commercial growers get their rootstocks, and it's also how new and different pecan varieties are discovered.

Why are pecans so expensive?

Pecan farmers say bad weather and demand from China are forcing prices up. The price of pecans is going up, up, up, which may mean that if you're planning a pecan pie for Thanksgiving, the time to buy them is now. The reasons behind that escalating price all come down to natural forces: supply and demand and weather.

What are the best pecan trees?

Choctaw is a good yard tree because of its beautiful foliage, scab resistance and high yields of large, high-quality pecans. Unfortunately, Choctaw requires the very best soil and management; otherwise, it will fail. Nuts/lb - 38; percent kernel - 59. Tejas is a good yard tree for west Texas.

What is the smallest pecan tree?

About Pawnee Pecan Tree...

The Pawnee pecan tree is 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.

Are coffee grounds good for pecan trees?

Pecan trees also require full sun throughout the day, so they should not be planted in an area that experiences any shade. Sprinkle coffee grounds around the base of Holly Shrubs and Holly Trees for dense foliage growth and improved berry production.

How much money can you make from a pecan tree?

Now when it is harvest time, a pecan tree can produce up to 50 pounds of pecans. The average retail cost for pecans is $3 per pound. After multiplying 50 X 3, we have $150 which is the profit. To calculate the net profit, we deduct $63 (cost of product) from $150 (total profit) which is a net profit of $87.

Do all pecan trees bear fruit?

All the flowers play a necessary role, but only the female flowers will produce a fruit. The Missouri Botanical Garden notes that pecan trees must be about eight to 10 years old before they start producing pecans.

Why are my pecan trees not producing?

Usually, there is no single reason why a pecan tree fails to produce a crop or produces poor quality nuts. ... Inadequate lime or fertilizer- Lack of lime, nitrogen fertilizer and zinc are common limiting factors in pecan production. Fertilize according to soil and leaf sample recommendations.

Why are my pecans so small?

Small nut size is often the result of small leaf size. Small leaf size is the result of deficiency in micronutrients like zinc, magnesium, manganese, iron and the macronutrient nitrogen. Sample soils in the fall and winter and leaf sample in mid-July for micronutrients and take corrective action as necessary.