Pecan
Pecan is a fruit in the Juglandaceae family. It grows best in full sun with medium moisture, and is listed for USDA zones 6-9.
Varieties
1 · sorted by days to maturity▸Pecan
PROPAGATION CATEGORY: Nut tree (grafted) (not currently in seed catalog). Use: Edible nut. Note: Needs two compatible cultivars (type I and II) for pollination and a long, hot growing season. Very large at maturity.
Pecan (Carya illinoinensis) is a large hickory grown from grafted stock for its rich nuts. Requires a long, hot season and cross-pollination between type-I and type-II cultivars. Hardy zones 6-9 (best production in the South).
Growing notes: Botanical name: Carya illinoinensis|Hardiness zones: 6-9|Propagation: grafting/seed|Sun needs: Full sun|Water needs: Medium|Mature height: 70-100 feet
Plan your pecan planting
Add pecan to a free GardenDraft plan and get sow, transplant, and harvest dates computed for your ZIP code — with a drag-and-drop bed layout and reminders when it’s time to plant.
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Storing & preserving
Refrigerate ripe fruit; ripen firm fruit at room temperature.
- Freeze: Freezes well raw; spread on a tray first so pieces stay loose.
- Preserve: Make jam or water-bath can high-acid fruit.
- Dry: Dehydrate or air-dry, then store airtight away from light.
General home-preservation guidance — for tested processing times and safety, follow the National Center for Home Food Preservation.
Growing timeline
Care & troubleshooting
No curated care & troubleshooting advice for pecan yet. Our extension-sourced library currently focuses on common edible crops; we're expanding it over time.