Pecan nut trees need 285 days a year for growing with warm nights. The crop can tolerate frost as the cold ensures that the trees under go dormancy which ensures even growth when the environmental temperatures become warm again.
Growth requirements
Pecan nut trees prefer warm environmental conditions and are well adapted to sub tropical areas. Pecans also thrive in areas having short cold winters and very long summers.
The crop requires 8 to 9 months’ growing period with a mean temperature of above 27 degrees.
For good flowering and budding, it requires low temperatures.
The crop requires medium to low rainfall during its growing period.
Pecan nuts can be grown in a wide variety of soils however, they prefer fertile well drained, aerated deep sandy loamy soils rich in organic matter.
A soil pH of 6.2 to 6.5 is ideal for its growing the pecan nuts.
Integrated pecan farming
As pecan trees have a lot of inter tree space and bear fruits late, farmers can use the space to cultivate a variety of crops including cowpea, soybeans, tomatoes, peas, pulses, beans, and any low growing food crops.
Cover crops improve the soil’s nitrogen levels and prevent soil erosion.
Harvesting should be done when the pod has separated from the nuts. Early harvesting should be avoided for better quality of the nuts.
