Almost all pecan fruit and leaf diseases, including scab, overwinter on parts of plants infected in the previous year. Variety vigor is important for scab control, as some pecan varieties are very susceptible to pecan scab.
Pecans fall between September and November. Ripening pecans appear green, and their shells start to brown and crack as the fall months approach. When the pecans are ready to be gathered, some may still remain in their pods and attached to the pecan tree. Thes pecans are safe to pick and eat.
On susceptible cultivars, pecan rind can result in total yield loss, especially in wet and humid conditions. Pecan skin disease is much more common in rainy years and causes dark lesions that can form on leaves, twigs, and nuts.
Shallow problems with soil nutrition or poor fertilization can cause pecans to shed throughout the year. Nutrient deficiencies, especially during fruit development, can cause pecans to drop, especially on heavily loaded trees. This can cause the pecans to drop at any point in their development, but is most common in August and early September when the pecans are growing and filling up quickly. In most cases, pecan trees shed their nuts in the fall when they are fully mature and ready to harvest.
Nuts Fall in the Fall
Nuts that fall from trees in September or early October (or earlier) are often green and their shells are still firmly attached to the nut. In most cases, trees shed green pecans when overloaded with fruit to maintain balance. In most cases, green pecans are removed from trees when many fruits are piled together to create a balance problem.
Green pecans left on the ground can attract pests and make selection difficult if good, fully ripened pecans fall off later. Nutrient deficiencies can cause pecans to fall to the ground, especially if the tree contains a lot of fruit at the time. There is an option to eat the pecans that have fallen the day before and those that have turned green, but you need to be careful when peeling them.
If you prefer to pick pecans before they hit the ground, you can still get good quality pecans if you store them for a few weeks in a cool, dry place. Pecans keep good quality for at least 6 months in the pantry and about a year in the refrigerator. Properly stored in-shell pecans can last up to six months, while in-shell or unshelled pecans can last up to 9-12 months.
Clean the Pecan after Picking It Up
As soon as the pecans fall from the tree, provided the soil is dry, the pecans begin to dry out and ripen, improving their quality. The growers or workers then peel the pecans, removing all dirt, debris, and leaves from the pecans.
To collect the pecans that were ready to drop but not yet dropped, they used a tractor with heavy claws to grab the tree trunk and shake it for about 15 seconds, which encouraged the pecans that were about to fall from the ground. Pecan growers use mechanical machines or mixers to gently shake the tree without loosening its roots, causing all the nuts to fall.
Not all pecans will fall to the ground, so you may want to gently shake the branches of your pecan tree to get the most out of your harvest. Before the pecan shell starts to fall, clear the area around the pecan tree of debris to make harvesting the pecan easier.
If you are picking pecans by hand, they will be easier to see and collect if you spread a tarp or tarp under a tree. Although pecans are quite expensive, they are easy to collect for free if you have access to a forest where pecans grow. Pecan trees require a lot of maintenance, but their beautiful appearance, plentiful shade, and annual harvest of fresh nuts make them one of the best native trees in Texas.
When to Look for Pecans
Pecan trees will start shedding pecans under their shady undergrowth from early to late fall. Pecans will fall continuously for weeks or more, so check often to make sure squirrels and deer don’t get to them early.
If you’re having an unusually hot autumn, the shells can be removed from the nuts before they’re completely brown, but it’s wise to delay harvesting the pecans until the shells are completely brown to allow the nut to fully develop. Longer walnuts soaked in water will have a richer flavor, so you can soak them in the refrigerator for up to three days. During the summer or late spring, you may find that most pecans find moisture to ripen satisfactory nut crops.
A severe drought before the pecans are ripe can reverse the ripening season or cause the pecans to drop before they even ripen. While pecan trees can produce a crop every year when they begin to grow, bountiful nut crops are produced every two years. Variable production of pecans means that one tree produces a relatively large nut crop one year and a lighter pecan crop the next.
Numerous Factors Contribute to Pecan Frequency
Factors that can contribute to branch breakage in pecans (as well as gummies) are a bountiful harvest of pecans (or sweet gummies), many new spring shoots due to heavy rains, and very long branches. Harvesting pecans is, of course, incredibly easy if you let them fall naturally from the tree.
If you decide to buy in-shell pecans, look for nuts that feel heavy for their size, don’t have cracks or damage to the shell, and don’t move when shaken. Knowing how to tell if pecans are good or bad can help you choose nuts that can last longer if stored properly.
When the pecans are ripe, usually from September to November, the shell turns green or brown and cracks, releasing the nuts, which then fall to the ground. Pecans are usually harvested from mid-October to November, and these tasty nuts are a great addition to muffins, cookies, cakes, and other baked goods. A thin pole can be used to remove the nuts from the tree, and a tarp can be placed under it to catch the nuts.
