Get It Growing for 02/07/25

There’s nothing quite like pecans. With their rich, buttery flavor, these nuts are a staple of Louisiana culture and cuisine.

If you’d like to produce your own pecans, November through March is an ideal time to plant these trees. There are a few considerations to take into account first.

“Our main limitation to pecan production, especially in the residential setting, is a disease called pecan scab,” said Michael Polozola, LSU AgCenter fruit and nut specialist. “The varieties I like to recommend for residential settings are the ones that have innate disease resistance.”

Scab causes black spots and streaks on pecan husks, and nuts from affected trees do not fill in well. If you’ve ever noticed an older pecan tree that no longer yields good-quality nuts — or produces none at all — scab is likely the culprit.

To reduce the chances of dealing with a scab infection, Polozola suggests planting the Amling, Gafford, McMillian, Jackson, Kanza, Elliot and Woodman varieties.

“Those are going to be very disease resistant and have a proven track record of performing really well in those low-input settings where, if you just give them regular fertilizer and water, they’re going to produce pecans for you year to year,” Polozola said.

Elliot, sometimes spelled Elliott, is especially popular in south Louisiana. Nuts of this variety are tasty and high in oil content.

Another variety that’s common in Louisiana is Stuart. Like many older varieties, it is susceptible to scab. And, of course, there are numerous types of native pecans (as opposed to what are called improved pecans, which have been bred to produce larger nuts). Nuts from native pecan trees tend to be small, flavorful and have high oil content.

Some other things to keep in mind: Pecan trees grow quite large, reaching up to 60 feet tall and 60 feet wide when mature. Because of their brittle wood, branches fall frequently — so you’ll want to plant pecan trees away from houses and other structures.

Pecans are pollinated by wind. Unless you are planting near an existing tree, you’ll need to plant at least two trees to facilitate nut production (ideally two different varieties). But remember that it will take a while for a newly planted tree to get established. This means it may be several years before they produce pecans.

You can purchase pecan trees in containers at your local garden center. To plant them, dig a hole two to three times the diameter of the root ball and as deep as the container. Loosen the roots and prune off any damaged roots before gently lowering the tree into the hole.

Keep newly planted trees well watered for the first couple of weeks and during times of drought. Mulch around them to help retain moisture.

Don’t fertilize in the first year. Starting in the second year, fertilize annually in February.

Pecan trees can be a nice addition to your landscape. Just be sure you have the proper space and select a variety — or varieties — that will work for your needs.

“It’s a long-term investment, and it’s definitely something you need to consult your local AgCenter agent on,” Polozola said. “Or, if it’s a larger planting, feel free to reach out to me, and I can help you pick the variety that’s going to work best for you.”

And if you have an existing pecan tree and aren’t sure what variety it is, you can send samples and photos to Polozola. Contact him at MPolozola@agcenter.lsu.edu.

Michael Polozola and Jason Stagg talk about choosing pecan tree varieties.

Pecan trees for sale in containers at a nursery. Photo by Olivia McClure/LSU AgCenter

Michael Polozola, LSU AgCenter fruit and nut specialist, stands with his large collection of pecans. He is holding a jar containing nuts from an Elliot pecan tree. Elliot is one of the most popular varieties grown in Louisiana and one Polozola recommends for its disease-resistant qualities. Photo by Olivia McClure/LSU AgCenter

Michael Polozola, LSU AgCenter fruit and nut specialist, has a large collection of pecans that he uses to identify samples sent to him by constituents. Photo by Olivia McClure/LSU AgCenter

Stuart and Elliot are two common pecan varieties in Louisiana. Photo by Olivia McClure/LSU AgCenter

Pecans are a flavorful part of Louisiana culinary traditions. Photo by Olivia McClure/LSU AgCenter