The only nuts native to North America , pecans are also the only nuts grow commercially in the U.S. for exportation to other parts of the world . Today , America ’s pecan crop amount from 15 states and supply more than 80 percent of global yield . Most of the remaining 20 per centum issue forth from six other countries with strong summers and extended growing season .
Where Do Pecan Trees Grow Best?
Pecan trees ( Carya illinoinensis ) grow wild across a across-the-board belt of the central and southern United States , from northern Illinois south to the Gulf Coast and from southwestern Ohio west to Texas ’ Edwards Plateau . They thrive in the rich , abstruse soils of the Ohio , Illinois , Mississippi and Missouri river bottoms .
Commercial pecan growing operation spread across USDA industrial plant hardiness zone 6 through 9 . States with the 200 - plus frost - free days pecans necessitate between their spring prime and fallharvestinclude :
Five of these state – Georgia , New Mexico , Texas , Oklahoma and Arizona – report for almost 40 per centum of the worldly concern ’s commercial-grade pecan output .
Pecan Growers around the World
Pecan Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree now find themselves growing many K of miles from their native North American forests . Mexico , Peru , Brazil , Israel , South Africa and Australia all spring up them commercially . Australia , South Africa and Mexico in particular are regarded as the bounteous competitors to America ’s cultivator . Their yield is require to increase as Asia ’s pulmonary tuberculosis of pecan rises .
Expert nurseryman ’s tip : The Carya illinoensis scabdiseasethat affects so many American , Mexican and South African trees is non - real in Australia . This allow Australian growers to grow pesticide - free harvests – a prominent advantage when competing for the organic market .
Growing Your Own Pecan Trees
Provided with the right website and grow conditions , pecan trees answer with speedy growth and the short time to glean of all hickory family trees .
Room to Grow
For trees aslargeas these , distance is a prize consideration . And most pecan cultivar need cross - pollenation by a unlike cultivar to raise nuts . Unless you want to plant one stringently as an cosmetic shade tree , you ’ll need two .
Soil and Sun
Pecan tree diagram execute best with moist , hommos - rich well - drain grease and six or more hours of unfiltered day-after-day sun . With the right weather condition and a compatible crabby - pollinator , a greenhouse - started tree diagram yields its first harvest five to seven years after imbed .
