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The common pecan remains an exotic crop for Russia. The tree is popular in North America and its fruits have nutritional value. To grow pecans in the middle zone, choose winter-hardy varieties and provide the plantings with good care.
Where do pecans grow in Russia?
The common pecan is native to the southeastern United States. On the territory of Russia it grows in Crimea, subject to abundant watering. The tree is also found on the Black Sea coast from Sochi to Batumi. It has no industrial significance in Russia.
Gardeners cultivate common pecans in other southern regions. The nut needs moist, hot air and plenty of sun. There are known cases of successful cultivation in the middle zone and the Moscow region.
Description of pecan
The common pecan is a member of the nut family. A deciduous tree with a height of 25 to 60 m. In hot climates it grows up to 40 m, in the middle zone - up to 15 m. Fruiting period is up to 300 years.
The crown is spreading, wide, tent-shaped, reaching 40 m in girth. The trunk is 2 to 3 m in diameter, straight, with brown-gray bark.There are numerous cracks on the surface of the trunk. The shoots are brown, bare. Leaves are 5 cm long, bright green in color, alternate. The leaf blade is shiny, smooth, compacted.
Photo of a common pecan tree growing in its natural environment:
Flowers of male and female type. Male flowers drooping, in the form of earrings, appear at the base of the shoots. Women's - collected in 3 - 10 pieces. into spike-shaped inflorescences that grow at the ends of young branches. Flowering begins in May and ends in June.
The fruits are oblong, 7 cm long and 3 cm wide. Average weight is 20 g. They are covered with a leathery shell, which becomes hard and cracks as it ripens. The fruits grow in bunches of 3-10 pieces, have an oval shape, a pointed apex and a length of 2 cm. The nuts are wrinkled, brown, and contain a kernel. They differ from walnuts by the absence of partitions and less pronounced convolutions.
Common pecan nuts are rich in vitamins, minerals, folic acid, and tannins. They also contain cholesterol-lowering ingredients. The kernels are useful for vitamin deficiency, anemia, physical exhaustion, heart and vascular diseases.
Popular varieties
There are more than 150 varieties of common pecan. Most of them were bred in the USA and Canada. Northern pecans are chosen for cultivation in Russia. They are highly winter hardy and adapted to temperate climates.
The best varieties of common pecan for Russia:
- Indiana (Indiana). The oldest hybrid, obtained in 1830 in America. Fruits weighing up to 16 g. The variety has a good taste, reminiscent of chocolate.The taste improves a month after collection. Fruiting in mid-October. The tree tolerates frosts down to -35 °C.
- Carlson 3 (Carlson 3). The hybrid was bred in Canada. This is one of the most northern varieties of pecan nuts. According to the description it produces small elongated nuts. The kernel is light brown in color and of good quality. Blooms and bears fruit early.
- Stewart (Stuart). A large variety of common pecan, produces nuts 45 mm long and 20 mm wide. The kernel is yellow, dense, with a slight sweetish taste. The fruits ripen at the end of September. Growth vigor is moderate. The nut is disease resistant. Tolerates frosts down to -35 °C.
- Bousseron (Busseron). French hybrid, bred in 1890. It is characterized by productivity and ease of care. Fruit weight is 12 g. The taste is pleasant, chestnut. The variety has high immunity to diseases. Frost resistance down to -35 °C.
- Major (Major). In early October, the tree bears wide, round fruits. The color is grey-brown, weight up to 12 g. The kernels are easily extracted and have a unique piquant taste. The hybrid is widespread. Frost resistance down to -36 °C.
- Green River (Green River). The famous American pecan. Within 2 years after planting, the tree grows slowly and expands quickly. Fruits with a thin shell, light brown in color. Weight of nuts is 15 g. The harvest ripens in early October. The Green River variety can withstand frosts down to -36 °C.
How to Grow Pecans from Seeds
Material for growing pecans from seeds is collected in late autumn. In warm climates, they are immediately planted in the garden. In the middle zone, it is recommended to germinate the seeds first. The strongest seedlings are transferred to the ground.
For autumn planting, beds with furrows are prepared. The seeds are buried 5-7 cm.When the shoots appear, they are thinned out and the strongest plants are left.
Seedling method of growing ordinary pecans from seeds:
- In December, the seeds are placed in damp sand and kept in the refrigerator or cellar.
- At the beginning of March, the material is poured with warm water and left for 2 - 3 days at room temperature.
- The seeds are then poured into a container and kept warm. They are washed with water every day. It is important to ensure that the seeds remain moist and mold does not form on them.
- When the rotki appear, they are transplanted into containers with soil.
In the first year, the nut forms a root. Such plants reach a height of 20 - 30 cm. Seedlings require constant watering. In autumn they are planted in open ground.
Planting and caring for pecans
When growing common pecans, it is important to choose the right location. Plants are provided with care throughout the season. In autumn, the nut is prepared for wintering.
Preparation of planting material and site
Typically, gardeners buy seedlings or grafted pecan seedlings. When choosing a plant, it is assessed visually. Choose a specimen without mold, cracks or other damage. The work is carried out in spring or autumn, when the sap flow of the trees slows down.
To obtain a high yield, it is recommended to plant at least two types of this nut. For cross-pollination, 8-10 m are left between seedlings. It is possible to graft different varieties onto one rootstock.
Walnut is undemanding to the composition of the soil. The main condition is to avoid wetlands. It grows best in fertile, loose soils. Before planting, the beds are dug up, humus and mineral fertilizers are added.
Landing rules
Pecan planting procedure:
- First, dig a hole 50 cm deep and 60 cm in diameter.
- Fertile soil is prepared to fill it. Humus and mineral fertilizers can be added to the soil.
- The hole is filled with earth and a support is installed, then a small hill is formed.
- A seedling is placed on top, its roots are covered with soil and compacted.
- The plant is tied to a support.
Watering and fertilizing
The soil in the tree trunk circle is regularly moistened. Watering is especially important for young seedlings. At the same time, moisture stagnation is not allowed, which leads to the death of the tree.
Common pecan responds positively to fertilizing. In the spring, mullein or urea solution is added. When the ovaries are formed, the nut is fertilized with potassium salt and superphosphate. The consumption of each substance per 10 liters of water is 35 g.
Trimming and shaping
Every year, weak, dry and frozen shoots are pruned from common pecans. Treatment is carried out in spring or autumn. For young plantings, formative pruning is performed. The shoots are removed completely. The branches are not shortened, since inflorescences form on them.
Preparing for winter
Most varieties of common pecan are highly winter hardy. Insulation is required for young seedlings. Their trunk is wrapped in agrofibre to protect against frost and rodents. In late autumn, the nut is watered abundantly. Then the trunk is hilled up and a layer of humus mulch is poured.
Features of growing pecans in the Moscow region
To grow northern pecan nuts in the Moscow region, it is important to take into account a number of nuances:
- select a winter-hardy grafted variety;
- when growing from seeds, they must be stratified;
- allocate an open sunny place for the tree;
- Nitrogen fertilizers are applied only in the spring; be sure to feed the tree in summer and late autumn.
Pecans are not susceptible to spring frosts due to their early flowering. However, it is recommended to carefully prepare trees for winter, especially young plantings.
In the conditions of the Moscow region, pecans do not always have time to produce a harvest over the summer. An alternative planting option is heart-shaped hazel. It is a wild relative of the pecan and can withstand winter cold without any problems. Its fruits have a bitter taste.
Harvest
Common pecans ripen in September-October. Ripe fruits fall to the ground. The harvest is formed annually. When grown from seeds, fruiting begins in the 9th year. If grafted, the tree produces a harvest for 4 years. A young plant produces up to 5 kg of nuts, an adult – about 15 kg. Maximum yield – 200 kg.
Nuts are consumed raw, dried and roasted. Pecans are stored in shell for no more than a year at a temperature of 10 - 14 °C. Cleaned kernels are kept in the refrigerator for 6 months, in room conditions - no more than 3 - 4 weeks.
Reproduction
To propagate common pecans, the following methods are used:
- Seeds. Pecans are propagated by seedlings or seeds are planted directly in open ground. Planting material is processed to increase its germination. The strongest seedlings are selected for cultivation.
- By cuttings. Several young shoots are selected from a young tree and cut to a length of 15 cm. The cuttings are rooted in a greenhouse or at home. They are constantly looked after: watered, fed with mineral fertilizers, and the soil is loosened.
- Vaccination. Common pecans are grafted in July or February. Two-year-old winter-hardy seedlings are used as a rootstock. Healthy cuttings obtained from annual shoots are grafted onto the tree.
Diseases and pests
The most common diseases of common pecan are scab and spot. These are fungal diseases that spread in cool weather with high humidity. Scab looks like a brown coating that spreads throughout the tree. Signs of spotting are dark spots on leaves and shoots.
To combat diseases, special preparations are used: Bordeaux mixture, copper sulfate, Topaz, Oksikhom, Fundazol. Treatments are carried out no more than 2 times a month.
Common pecan nuts grow in a dense shell, which reliably protects the kernel from pests. In North America, the tree suffers from black aphids, scale insects, and pecan weevil. In Russia, the plant does not have ethnic pests, so it is rarely attacked by insects.
Conclusion
The common pecan is valued for its nuts that contain a complex of nutrients. The tree prefers humid and warm climates. Northern varieties are able to grow in Russia. Caring for nuts includes watering, fertilizing, pruning and covering for the winter.
