Pecan Cultivars Recommended for Planting in Alabama

ANR-0674, Revised April 2003, Bill Goff, Extension Horticulturist, Professor, Horticulture, Auburn University; Monte Nesbitt, Horticulturist, Gulf Coast Regional Research and Extension Center; and Cathy Browne, Research Assistant, Horticulture, Auburn University.

To choose from the cultivars recommended for your region of the state, you should consider these characteristics:

• Pollination type
• Harvest date
• Nut size
• Tree bearing age
• Disease resistance

Pollination type, or dichogamy, refers to the characteristic of pecan cultivars to mature both male and female flowers at different times on the same tree. This tendency prevents self-fertilization and generally impedes nut growth and development. In Type I (protandrous) cultivars, pollen shed occurs before the female flowers (nutlets) are receptive, and the reverse occurs with Type II (protogynous) cultivars. For this reason, trees of both types must usually be planted in an orchard for optimum pollination.

Harvest Date

Early nut maturity often allows nuts to be harvested when the weather is relatively dry. Cloudy, wet, and cool winter weather can delay harvest into January, and by that time nut quality can deteriorate significantly. A cultivar that matures early also gives you a marketing advantage, especially if the nuts are large and of high quality. You can usually retail these as in-shell pecans at higher prices during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday season.

Nut Size and Quality

Nut size is important for growers who retail their own pecans or who specialize in producing large, fancy pecan halves. Two important factors are nuts per pound and percent kernel. Percent kernel is the proportion of the nut that is kernel or meat. Since customers buy pecans for the meat, shellers commonly buy in-shell pecans on the basis of percent kernel or so much per "point. A pecan lot running 50 percent kernel has 0.50 point. If the price is $1.60 per point, the in-shell nuts would bring $1.60 x 0.50 = $0.80 per pound. The higher the percent kernel, the higher the points and, likewise, the price paid to the grower.

Tree Bearing Age

A pecan tree should be precocious"that is, it should begin bearing at an early age. However, it should not overbear as a mature tree to the point that nut quality is unacceptable or that the tree develops a severe tendency to alternate-bear. Older cultivars are generally less precocious than the newer ones, which begin producing as early as the fifth or sixth year.

Disease Resistance

Scab is by far the most costly disease to control on pecan trees. Some orchards require up to fifteen fungicide applications in a season, and many cultivars are too susceptible to scab to be recommended for planting in Alabama.

Susceptibility to scab generally classifies cultivars into western cultivars that are scab-susceptible and eastern cultivars that have varying levels of scab resistance. Some cultivars are genetically almost immune to scab.

The scab organism varies from region to region, and whether a particular pecan cultivar is resistant often depends upon the type of scab present. A particular cultivar may seem to be scab resistant in one location and very susceptible elsewhere.

Descriptions of Major Recommended Cultivars

The cultivars shown in Tables 1 and 2 are recommended for commercial plantings and for home or small plantings, respectively. These tables summarize the characteristics of the recommended cultivars, while full descriptions of each cultivar begin below.

Caddo. The small, football-shaped nut of this cultivar is consistently well filled with bright kernels. The nut has good cracking qualities and is suited to shelling markets. It is a very prolific and consistent bearer. Scab is easily controlled with sprays, but it can be susceptible to fungal leaf scorch and black pecan aphids.

Cape Fear. This cultivar is extremely productive as a young tree and has good nut quality kernels. As tree matures, excess crop load must be corrected because nut quality decreases from overbearing otherwise. Extremely susceptible to fungal leaf scorch, hickory shuckworm, and nut abortion from "water-stage split.

Carter. This cultivar has an estimated harvest date of October 18 and produces a large nut. Veins have been visible on kernels in some years. Kernel quality occasionally poor when trees are stressed.

Creek. Creek is a very productive cultivar with good scab resistance. It is a smaller tree and suitable to higher density plantings. As tree matures, excess crop load must be corrected because nut quality decreases. Should be used as temporary trees.

Desirable. This pecan continues to be one of the most valued cultivars as an established tree or in new plantings. It is recommended for planting in more southeastern states than any other cultivar. It offers uniform production of large, high-quality nuts, and its nut clusters thin naturally each year so that overproduction seldom occurs. The tree has a weak structure, and its limbs break easily. It is Type I pollinator and is often used to pollinate Stuart. Desirable requires a full-season spray schedule for scab control and responds well to irrigation. Only slated for high-management orchards. Success X Jewett.

Elliott. Despite small nut size, market acceptance for this cultivar continues to grow because kernel color and taste are outstanding. It is slow to begin economic production and alternate bears badly. It is a low input cultivar because it has excellent scab resistance. Budbreak is very early and may freeze in northern regions. Yellow aphids and scorch mites can be severe.

Forkert. Consistently produces very high quality kernels with bright color and good taste. The nut is large and thin shelled and may be damaged by some mechanical harvesters. The tree is strong and easy to train. Requires a good scab control program but is an excellent cultivar for retail/in-shell marketing. Very late pollination requirement demands attention.

Gafford. This cultivar produces a good quality nut and has excellent resistance, but little is known on long-term yield potential, although observations are very positive.

Gloria Grande. This cultivar is suited to low-input, minimal spray orchards because it has excellent scab resistance; however, black aphids can be severe. The nut is large and resembles Stuart but ripens much later and is mediocre to poor in kernel quality. Kernel quality has been very poor in Baldwin County, and this cultivar should be avoided by Gulf Coast growers.

Jenkins. This cultivar has a large nut and appears to have excellent pest resistance. Nut quality is outstanding. Nuts resemble Desirable, except a little smaller. Nut quality is usually very good, but the tree sets clusters with several nuts each and quality occasionally is poor when crop load is high and trees are stressed. Estimated harvest date of October 18.

McMillan. This cultivar has been highly productive and consistent. Scab damage on nuts has been light. Harvest is about 3 days after Stuart. Estimated harvest date of October 20.

Moreland. An outstanding cultivar that is productive, but alternate bearing may be severe. Kernel quality is excellent, even in heavy crop years. Believed to be a Schley seedling and, like Schley, is very susceptible to black aphids. Disease problems, including scab, are moderate.

Oconee. A relatively new cultivar from USDA that performed well at Tifton, Georgia. Large, thinshelled nut that resembles Desirable, with excellent kernel quality. Very precocious and productive. Moderately susceptible to scab and extremely susceptible to black aphids. Performance as an older tree is unknown, thus should be used as a temporary tree.

Pawnee. This cultivar ripens before October 1 and should obtain excellent, early market prices. It produces large, high-quality nuts, but kernel color darkens if not dried properly and sold quickly. As trees mature, excess crop load must be corrected because nut quality decreases and alternate bearing is severe. Scab may be difficult to control in high rainfall areas. Resistant to yellow aphids, but susceptible to black aphids and hickory shuckworm. Productivity is questionable. Rated low in yield at Gulf Coast Station.

Stuart. Stuart is the standard cultivar of the Southeast and comprises one-fourth of all commercial orchards today. Stuart trees produce large, thick-shelled nuts with mediocre kernel quality. It is very slow to begin bearing, taking 8 to 10 years but is very reliable as a mature tree. Moderately susceptible to scab and highly susceptible to downy spot.

Surprize. This cultivar originated in Baldwin County, Alabama, and is a vigorous tree with strong branches. Nut size is extremely large, making it a good choice for in-shell/retail marketing. Kernels may not fill out well in some years if not irrigated properly. Production from year to year is very consistent. Scab is moderate.

Syrup Mill. This cultivar has produced good yields, is extremely vigorous, and retains foliage well. Kernels are bright. An excellent, vigorous, yard tree with outstanding pest resistance and acceptable production and quality.

For more information, contact your county Extension office. Visit http://www.aces.edu/counties or look in your telephone directory under your county's name to find contact information. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work in agriculture and home economics, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, and other related acts, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M University and Auburn University) offers educational programs, materials, and equal opportunity employment to all people without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, veteran status, or disability.