THE PECAN REPORT
In one of your recent issues (March) there was a bit about pecans ( The Good Life, by columnist Sheryn Clothier).
I planted two different cultivars close together about 12 years ago and at last one is bearing nuts. Last year was about 2kg and it looks to have a heavier crop this year. Normally we get mature nuts around May when the leaves start to fall, that is if I can keep my 7 year old grandson from scoffing the lot.
Note that they are easily damaged by the Manawatu winds. One of the trees struggles to get any height due to wind damage. Russell Lyon, Palmerston North Sheryn replies: Word from Lousiana is that pecans are limb droppers, a bit like gums I imagine, and NZ trees seem eem particularly prone. I personally onally am withholding any nitrogen fertiliser but increasing trace minerals in an attempt to reproduce native Mississippi nutrients.
But at 10 years my pecans are still small. One had flowers on it it last year, so hopefully another one will flower next year and maybe I will be cropping in year 12! Meanwhile, we have collected the most promising varieties in New Zealand and have propagated themathem and are planting th them at Guthrie Smith A Arboretum at Tutira in Hawkes Bay. It will be a long time (12 years) b before they can be evalu evaluated but it is the first extensive collection of NZ pecan genetics to be planted.