Re: [nafex] Northern pecan seedlings(commercial)

[Lucky Pittman <lucky.pittman@murraystate.edu>]

At 12:23 PM 02/08/2001 -0500, you wrote:
>I didn't know you could grow pecans this far north (zone 6).  I don't
>really have room, but I'm intrigued. ..  Do you need two for
>pollination?  Do they need full sun?  Do they need deep soil for a
>taproot?  (Can they compete with oaks and pines. . .will squirrels eat
>any nuts. . .silly of me to even ask.)

Ginda,
There are folks growing pecans as far north as Ontario.  The 
'northern/midwestern' and 'far northern' selections produce smaller nuts 
than the big Southern papershell types, but they're just as tasty, if not 
more so.
"Major" originated in a 400 acre block of native pecans in the Green River 
delta, near Henderson/Owensboro, KY.  "Posey, Peruque, and Hodge, the 
likely pollen parents of these seedlings, originated in IN, MO, and IL, 
respectively.
Usually, two or more trees are necessary to ensure compatible pollen 
shed/nutlet receptivity patterns to assure setting good nut crops.
Full sun certainly would enhance cropping.
They do best on bottomland soils, but the taproot is a moot issue in my 
opinion - most of the grafted trees I've purchased, as well as seedlings 
I've grown and transplanted, have their taproot severed, which initiates 
development of a more lateralized fibrous root system.  I do have some 
planted on upland sites, but it's too early to really compare their 
performance to those planted in the creekbottom areas.
Squirrels will absolutely be a problem.

Lucky