So, your pecan trees are coming along nicely, but now you notice these little blister-like bumps on many of the leaves. What’s up with that? The bumps on pecan tree leaves are actually galls caused by the leaf’s response to small insects called pecan phylloxeras (Fill-OX-er-ahs). These are true bugs (order Hemiptera), an aphid like […]
Pollination is the transfer of pollen from the male part of a flower (the stamen) to the female part of a flower (the pistil). Fertilization then occurs in the ovary when a sperm cell from a pollen grain unites with an egg to produce an embryo. This then develops into a seed. After fertilization, the […]
A viable pecan seed (the nut) is the product of cross pollination (sexual reproduction) between two pecan trees. It has a genetic makeup that is different from either parent, and the potential to grow into a pecan tree that differs in unpredictable ways from either parent. If you want to grow a pecan tree with […]
Nut trees are often overlooked by the backyard orchardist. They shouldn’t be. Of course nut trees take longer to reach maturity than most fruit trees, but once they start producing, nut trees will continue to reward for decades, even centuries. Most make handsome shade trees in addition to providing delicious and healthful nuts. The best […]
When you plant trees, you’re not just beautifying your landscape — you’re also investing in your property value anywhere from 7-19% (source); this study from the University of Michigan states that for every $1 you invest in landscaping your yard, you’ll see a 109% return in home value! Homes with well-landscaped yards and beautifully-grown […]
There are more than 500 named pecan cultivars, but just a handful are widely planted. For the homeowner or small scale orchardist, the important differences between pecan cultivars include: pollination type; timing of flowering; size of the nut; shell thickness; tendency to bear in alternate years; age at first bearing; season of nut maturation; and […]
Pecans play a huge role in fall and winter holiday traditions and cuisine, especially in the South. Whether it’s a classic pecan pie (or even pecan pie truffles), pralines, banana bread or other savory dishes, pecans can have their place at every meal, and make a great snack in between. While some in-store pecans are nice to […]