Pecan Cultivar Recommendations for Homes and Low Input Plantings
Bill Goff and  Cathy Browne
Dept. of Horticulture, Auburn University

General Recommendations

            Disease and insect pests of pecan trees are difficult to control without the aid of costly chemical pesticides and an “airblast” pecan tree sprayer.  Pecan trees can be productive and enjoyable to homeowners or low input farms if the correct cultivar (variety) is chosen.  Resistance to pecan scab disease is the primary concern when selecting cultivars for low input or non-spray plantings.  Pecan scab is a fungus that is prevalent throughout the southeastern U.S., and can devastate the leaves and nuts of unsprayed, susceptible cultivars.  Consideration should also be given to a cultivar’s susceptibility to downy spot disease, fungal leaf scorch (FLS), and black pecan aphids.  Each of these pests severely defoliate susceptible trees in some years.

            Growers who do not plan to provide supplemental irrigation to pecan trees should generally avoid cultivars which bear very large sized nuts.  Small nut size is an advantage in dry years, because the tree requires less water and energy to completely fill its kernels.

            Generally, the more different cultivars in the planting, the greater the chance for cross-pollination. Also, build-up of pests is slower within a diverse planting of many cultivars. Therefore if a planting is planned to have four trees, it is recommended to plant four different cultivars.   

Table 1.  Pecan cultivars recommended for homes & low input plantings.

           Most of the cultivars in Table 1 are propagated currently by only a few nurseries at this time.  Contact nurseries one year in advance of planting to place orders.   

Pecan Nurseries which may have trees listed in Table 1.

Underwood Pecan Nursery, Foley, AL; (334) 943-8056
Dellwood Pecan Tree Nursery, Foley, AL; (334) 943-8693
Andy or Chris Clough (hold the patent on the Excel cultivar), Blackshear, GA, (912) 449-4585
Tom Vogel, Colfax, LA 71417 318-793-8254 fairmount@mailspeedgate.net
Southern Heritage Nursery, Bastrop, LA 71220, 318-281-0681
 

Cultivar Descriptions

Amling (Seedling) - (seedling of unknown origin) has produced nuts of very good quality with minimal care and no sprays.  Nuts are moderate to small.  Scab resistance is excellent, and harvest date is early.

Carter (MS Seedling) - This cultivar has an estimated harvest date of October 18, and produces a large nut.  Veins have been visible on kernels in some years.

Excel (GA Seedling) - The kernel has a bright golden color with an attractive shape.  Kernel color holds very well in storage.  Is reported to shell out well. 

 Gafford (AL Seedling) - This cultivar produced a good quality nut, and has excellent resistance, but little is known on long-term yield potential. 

McMillan (AL Seedling) - This cultivar has been highly productive and consistent, and scab damage on nuts has been very light.  Estimated harvest date of October 20.