Growing tree's - from the nut

[DonE911]

I have a fence line that was removed by hurricane Francis... its not going back up so I'd like to plant some tree's along the line.  I have another line I have already transplanted in dozens of water oak's. ( lots of work )

I thought I'd like to put in some Pecans on this line.  I've heard people "say" they have grown the tree's from the nuts you can buy in the bulk bins from the grocery store...

Is this true?? Is there some type of secret to make it happen...   I know Pecans will grow this far south, so I thought I'd give it a shot ...      any tips??

I know I can buy little pecan trees from lots of places in GA, but I can plant alot of nuts for the same money.

Thanks for your thoughts

[CHARLIE]

I know of a nut that's up in Jacksonville.  All seriousness aside though, why not try it with three pecans in a pot of good soil and see if they sprout. You can plant one pointy end up, one with round end up and one sideways. Give 'em plenty of water and see what happens.  Or......do a search on the internet for a Pecan Grove in Georgia. Give them a call and ask them your question. Most people are glad to help others as long as they aren't gonna be competition. Or......call the Georgia Forestry Service, or whatever they call themselves. They should know too.  Maybe there is a Georgia State Pecan Growers Association you can call. Might be fun to do a search.

[beenthere]

Depending on what you want in the end, but if production of nuts then this source of information implies that seed isn't the way to go, as the result from seed isn't like the parent tree.

http://nueces-co.tamu.edu/publications/pecans.pdf

There were several sources of information when searching on "pecan tree horticulture".

[DonE911]

My purpose for the tree's is property improvment....  nuts would be nice, but a nice tree would be the objective.  The hurricane took out alotof the oaks I planted along with some other types...  the property was a pasture at one time so I only have one large oak on it.  

My kids may enjoy the tree's one day or maybe my grandkids will enjoy them and maybe use some of the lumber they would produce.

Thanks for the web site.. not what I was looking for but still good information.  I was kind of hoping that someone had already done this and had some tips on what I should do for best chance at getting tree's.

I'll do a search on the www and see what I can get also.

[Tom]

That area used to be noted for its abundance of tropical fruit.  I would stick with that.   A Poinsianna makes a huge, shade tree and produces pretty flowers too.  Haden Mangos have mostly been cut down along with all the turpentine and peach mangos that used to be in everyone's front yard.   Haden mangos would not only be a childs play pen but the fruit sells for high dollar too.   We used to have big red and yellow guavas everywhere, Florida cherry's too.  You can grow oranges. tangerines and grapefruit at the drop of a hat.  

Man I long for those days when Ft. Pierce was just a canopy of fruit trees.

A man up here in Jacksonville has Walnuts.  He said that all he does is step on the nut and forget it.  That puts it in firm contact with the soil and buries it some.  Maybe that would work with pecan too.

Where is the property? 

[Furby]

I've wondered about this ? for a few years myself.
I couldn't find much, but I gather that some suppliers do some kind of heat treatment to the nuts, some don't. I don't know if it's true or how hot they get the nuts, not enough to split the shells though.

[DonE911]

Tom...  I'm tired of fruit tree's.... mango's are still fairly common in yards, but they get stolen as soon as they start to get ripe... oranges, g-fruit, navel's...  blah  

I'm ready for something that not everyone has... just to be different.    

[Ianab]

I dont know if it applies to Pecan, but some tree seeds / nuts require Stratification before they germinate.
This simulates the process of the seeds laying on the forest floor over winter.
To achieve this artifically the seeds can be packed in damp peat and kept in a fridge for a few months. When they are taken out and planted they 'think' it's spring and germinate. I guess it's a survival thing to prevent them germinating in the autumn as soon as they hit the ground, then getting killed off over the winter.
As I say this may or may not apply to your trees, but it seems to be important with many species

ian

[SwampDonkey]

Depending on your source of tree seed, they may need stratification as Ian suggests. I've stratified red oak by freezing them in water for 2 weeks. But, this can also damage the embyro of some species. Its best to place them in a tupperware tray with layers of moistened paper towels and place them in the fridge for 2 or 3 weeks. Don't put the cover down tight on the tray, as the embryos in the seed need air to respire. Some species require more time, some less. I've picked some wild walnut and pignut hickory from woodlots in Georgia and Tennesee. I simply made a 2-3 inch hole and dropped the seed in and covered it. If you lay the seed on the ground it will be food for rodents and may not survive the heat before being able to germinate in spring. In  my garden I burried a couple palefuls of red oak and covered them with maple leaves in fall to stratify them over winter and to keep them moist the following spring. Very good germination. Skunks and coons seem to have a type of acorn radar though and will dig up the acorns if they find your patch. I'm actually too far nother for hickory or walnut, but I have found germinants. I beleive once the seedlings get above the winter snow line they will have frost damage to the buds and stems. Hardwood seed does not store well as softwood seeds and if you don't use the seed collected in the previous fall then germination success becomes diminished.

cheers

[bitternut]

Since these nuts are to be planted in Fort Pierce Florida I have serious doubts about any stratification being necessary if a Florida variety of pecan's were planted. I would look around for some native pecan's to get some nuts from and just plant them in a bed where they can be cared for and covered with screening to keep the squirrels and other critters away. With the sandy soil in Florida it should be pretty easy to transplant any seedlings that sprouted when they reached proper size.

I have had good luck stratifying Red Oak acorns by filling up a glass jar with them and covering the top with screening. Then I place the jar upside down in the ground and cover the area with a good thick layer of leaves. Works for me. Good luck with your planting.

[SwampDonkey]

If you harvest those pecan hickory in Tennesee this fall and try to grow them in Florida I have my doughts that they will germinate. They need stratifying to break dormancy. Doesn't matter how warm it stays in florida. Do they have wild hickory in Florida?

[Tom]

Not many Hickories are found south of Gainesville.  That makes their natural limit North Florida.

I'm not aware of a natural Pecan growing south of Orlando.

Black Walnut (Juglans nigra) grows in extreme North Florida but I think it was imported and was just able to survive.  They don't make much of a tree here.

Pignut Hickory(carya glabra) grows in North Florida and is fairly prolific in some swampy areas.

Pecan Hickory(Carya Illinoensis) grows well in Northern Florida and has been grown commercially, in groves, in the extreme Northern areas.  It is seldom seen south of Ocala and I don't remember any trees south of Orlando.  Perhaps one could be made to grow, but it wouldn't be at home.

Mockernut HIckory (Carya tomentosa) is another North Florida tree that is fairly prolific in hardwood swamps.  I've seen it south of Orlando but only in the middle of the state and occasional trees.

Water Hickory or bitter Pecan(Carya aquatica) grows south of Orlando but in the middle of the state.  I'm not aware of any south of Okeechobee but they probably would grow.

Bitternut Hickory(Carya cordiformis) is a North Florida tree,

I have trouble differentiating Mockernut, Water Hickory and Bitternut.  I do know that they fill the swamps in North Florida but I've seldom seen them in the Southern end.  

Papershell pecan would have to be a rare item south of Orlando.

[SwampDonkey]

Well there ya have it.

I like pignut hickory, as I picked some as stated earlier. I like the bark color and the tree form and the leaves. Not many trees I'de complain about anyway. I think we all complain more about the critters that harm them.

[DanG]

Don, spend the extra $ and put in the nursery trees. Pecans won't produce dependably if planted from nuts. The nuts will be small, if they show up at all.  The nursery trees have been grafted to ensure the exact hybrid that you want. Do a little legwork to find out what variety does well in your area, then buy your trees. You will be 3-4 years ahead of the seedlings in tree size, too. You can't plant them too close together, so a few trees will go a long way.  Your future harvests will pay for the planting expenses, many, many times.

[DonE911]

I haven't checked this post in a while.....

Thanks for all the good info guys...

Tom, Pecans will grow down here but I don't know what exact type...  I've eaten some that were growing in Palm City at my friends former Bosses house...  fairly good sized tree's and the nuts seemed the same type you'd buy along I75 in GA and Northern FL alothough they are probably a different type.

DanG,  I'm cheap and just wanted to try some from the seed to see if it would work...

I don't think I'll be trying it anyway since the Hurricanes did a number on the place since I first posted this question.  The wife wants out of FL and into norther GA.  Looks like I may be moving and would not be around to care for the tree's if the did come up.