Native Plants
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Thursday - November 14, 2013
From: Delano, TN
Region: Southeast
Topic: Edible Plants, Trees
Title: Can I make my large pecan trees produce larger nuts?
Answered by: Guy Thompson
QUESTION:
I have 2 older large pecan trees about 40' tall but the nuts are very small, only about 1 1/2". What can I do to get larger nuts?ANSWER:
Carya illinoinensis (Pecan) is a tree native to the Mississippi Valley. It prefers a deep soil and needs lots of water to produce good nuts. Perhaps your trees are not situated in an ideal spot for producing large nuts. However, I believe that your trees are native pecans, which normally produce nuts about the size you mentioned. Over the years plant breeders have developed pecan varieties with much larger nuts , and these so-called papershell pecans are probably what you were hoping to have. This description gives you more information about the differences between native and papershell pecan nuts. In my own opinion and that of many others, the native pecans, though small and hard to crack, have a taste superior to many papershell varieties.
More Trees Questions
Removing and replacing juniper bushes
June 20, 2008 - Hi! I'm pulling up juniper bushes. (just don't like it)
I'm getting down to the roots now on one side and I'm having a hard time getting them up. Any recommendations. They are near my drive...
view the full question and answer
Can oak pollen be composted?
April 28, 2015 - I have quite a few live oaks in my backyard and my flower beds are filled with pollen stuff. Can I compost and mulch over this or is it a good idea to rake as much as I can out first?
view the full question and answer
Pruning lower branches of Cordia Boissieri from San Antonio
December 08, 2013 - My Texas Wild Olive Tree is about 6 feet high now. I bought it at the 2012 plant sale. This past summer it put on new branches near the base of the tree which I would like to cut off (to encourage u...
view the full question and answer
Recently planted Chinquapin Oak with browning leaves in Marlin, TX.
July 31, 2012 - We planted a Chinquapin Oak this in March 2012. As of July 21, 2012, the tips of the leaves on the lower branches are turning brown. We cannot see any insects. There does not appear to be any fungu...
view the full question and answer
Cherry laurels next to retaining wall in Austin
September 18, 2010 - My neigbors have 2 cherry laurel trees in their back yard planted within 4 feet of my retaining wall and fence. I am worried the root system will damage my retaining wall. The branches are already pus...
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |