How to Grow Pecan
Pecan At a Glance
Difficulty
Moderate
Category
Nut
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Frost Tolerance
Frost Hardy
Cold Hardiness
Survives to -20°C
Plant Family
Juglandaceae
Growing Season
Warm Season
Plant Lifecycle
Perennial
How to Start It
★ Recommended for beginners
Pecans need two trees to make nuts, since each tree sheds pollen and accepts it at different times, so buy two grafted trees of named varieties with matching pollen types (sold as type 1 and type 2). Plant them in spring while still bare, about 3 weeks before your last frost, 12 m apart in deep soil and full sun. Water them deeply every week through the first summer.
Pecans are huge, long-lived trees that need a long, hot summer to fill their nuts, so in Canada they only crop well in the warmest areas, with northern varieties bred for shorter summers. Grafted trees take about 6 years to give their first nuts, and then they bear for generations. They are not suited to pots.
When To Start
Pecan needs warmth. Wait until your last frost has passed and the soil has warmed before sowing.
We do not have exact sowing dates for this one yet.
When should you plant Pecan?
Your planting dates depend on your local climate. Sign up and add your location to unlock personalized dates.
Your Pecan Planting Window
Start planting
May 15, 2026
Last chance
Sep 10, 2026
Your Pecan Calendar
Set your location to turn these into exact dates and reminders.
Plant two pecan trees of matching pollen types now
3 weeks before your last frost
Gather pecans as the husks split and the nuts drop
2 weeks before your first frost· every year
Water your new pecan plants well while they settle in. Deep and slow is best.
About 1 days after you plant it
Congrats on planting your pecan! Water deeply once a week while it settles, since young trees need steady moisture.
About 30 days after you plant it
How is your pecan doing? Keep the area around the trunk clear of grass so the tree is not competing for water.
About 90 days after you plant it
The Journey Ahead
Pecan's Lifecycle
Seedling
Mature Plant
Seed Production
Step 1
Prepare Your Space
1200 cm
Plant Spacing
1400 cm
Row Spacing
Vertical Growing
No.
Succession Planting
No.
Good Companions
Bad Companions
Step 2
Planting & Sprouting
Growing Tips
- 1Plant pecans in full sun with plenty of room, since they grow into very large trees.
- 2Give them deep soil that drains well, with compost mixed in at planting.
- 3Water deeply every week or two in dry summers, especially late in summer when the nuts are filling, or the shells come out empty.
- 4Spread a wide ring of compost or wood chip mulch around the tree each spring, keeping it off the trunk.
- 5While the tree is young, prune it to one strong central trunk with well spaced branches.
- 6Squirrels and crows love pecans, so gather the nuts as soon as they drop.
Seedling Phase
Step 3
Growth & Maturity
2000 cm
Mature Height
1200 cm
Mature Width
Pests to Watch For
Diseases to Watch For
Mature Plant
Step 4
Harvesting
Harvest Window
30 days
When to Pick
Gather in autumn as the husks split open and the nuts drop
How to Harvest
- 1Pecans are ready in fall when the green husks dry, turn dark and split open.
- 2Gather the nuts from the ground every few days, or spread a sheet under the tree and shake the branches.
- 3Remove any husks that are still stuck, and toss nuts that feel light or have holes.
- 4Dry the nuts in their shells in a single layer in a dry, airy spot for about 2 weeks.
- 5Store shelled nuts in the fridge or freezer, since their oils go stale at room temperature.
Step 5
Saving Seeds
Seed Production
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