How to grow Pecan in Australia
Pecan is a large, long-lived deciduous nut tree that needs a long, hot summer to fill its nuts and a modest winter chill to crop. It suits warm inland areas and the subtropics with dry springs, and needs plenty of space: mature trees are very big. Plant two compatible varieties for a good crop.
📖 Our full guide: How to Grow Pecan in Australia
At a glance
When to plant by region
| Region | When to plant | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| South East Queensland | June to August | |
| Northern Rivers NSW | June to August | |
| Sydney & Coastal NSW | June to August | |
| Melbourne & Victoria | June to August | Marginal. Plant bare root Jun to Aug with a second variety for pollination. Pecans want a long hot summer to fill nuts, so crops are light near the coast; warm inland Victoria does better. |
| Adelaide & SA | June to August | |
| Perth & WA | June to August | |
| Tasmania | Not suited | Not suited. Pecans need a long hot summer to fill their nuts and Tasmanian summers are too cool. Grow hazelnuts or walnuts instead. |
| Canberra & ACT | Not suited | Not suited. Pecans need about 200 to 220 frost free days to fill the nut and Canberra has about 160. Grow walnut, chestnut or hazelnut instead. |
| North Queensland | Not suited | Not suited. Pecans need 200 to 300 hours of winter chill and a dry spring. Grow macadamia instead. |
| Darwin & Top End | Not suited | Not suited. Pecans need 200 to 300 hours of winter chill and a dry spring. Grow macadamia instead. |
Where to plant
Plant pecans in full sun in deep, fertile, well-drained soil, where the deep roots can grow down freely. They grow into very large trees, so they suit acreage or large yards, well away from buildings, pipes and other trees.
Pecans need a long, hot growing season, about 200 to 220 frost-free days, to fill the nuts, plus some winter chill, around 200 to 300 hours, and a dry spring. Humid weather encourages pecan scab.
- South East Queensland, the Northern Rivers, Sydney, Adelaide and Perth: can be grown where there is room; inland and warm districts with dry springs give the best crops.
- Melbourne: marginal. Crops are light near the coast; warm inland Victoria does better.
- Canberra: not suited. The frost-free season is too short to fill the nuts.
- Hobart: not suited; summers are too cool. Hazelnuts or walnuts are better choices.
- North Queensland and Darwin: not suited; there is not enough winter chill. Grow macadamia instead.
Choosing a variety
Buy grafted trees of named varieties. Pecan varieties shed pollen either before or after their own female flowers are receptive, so a single tree often sets few nuts. Plant two varieties whose pollen and flowering times overlap.
Wichita, a productive variety with good kernels, is often paired with Western Schley, a reliable cropper that is a common pollination partner. Ask your nursery for a suitable pair for your area.
How to plant
- Plant in winter while the tree is dormant.
- Dig a hole deep and wide enough for the roots to sit without bending.
- Plant at the same depth as before, with the graft above the soil, and backfill firmly.
- Water in deeply and mulch widely, keeping mulch off the trunk.
- Stake against strong wind while young and water regularly through the first summers.
Watering and feeding
Water young trees deeply and regularly through their first few summers. Mature trees need deep, regular water from spring through nut fill in late summer; drought in this period drops nuts or leaves them poorly filled.
Feed with a balanced fertiliser in spring as growth starts and mulch the wide root zone.
Pruning and care through the year
- Shape young trees in winter while dormant. Mature trees need little pruning beyond removing dead, damaged or crossing wood.
- Pecans often crop heavily one year and lightly the next. Steady water and feeding help even this out.
- Rake up fallen leaves and husks in autumn to reduce scab carryover.
Harvesting
Nuts are ready in late autumn to early winter, when the green husks split open and the nuts fall. Collect them promptly from the ground, before birds and moisture get to them.
Remove any husk still attached and dry the nuts in their shells in an airy place before storing. In-shell nuts keep for months somewhere cool and dry; shelled kernels are best frozen.
Using it
Eat pecans raw or toasted, or use them in pecan pie, baking, salads and muesli.
Pests and diseases
Pecans have few pests in home gardens. Scab in humid weather is the most damaging disease.
Pests to watch for
- Aphids Small sap-sucking insects under the leaves in summer, with sticky honeydew and sooty mould.
- Nutborer Caterpillars tunnelling into green nuts, which drop early or have damaged kernels. Collect and destroy fallen nuts.
Diseases to watch for
- Scab Small dark spots on leaves, shoots and the green husks, which can blacken and cause nuts to drop. Worst in humid, wet weather.
Common questions
How long does a pecan tree take to produce nuts?
Pecans are slow. A grafted tree often takes 5 years or more to start bearing, and longer to crop well. Seedling trees take longer still.
Do I need two pecan trees?
Usually, yes. Many pecan varieties shed pollen at a different time from when their own female flowers are receptive, so plant two varieties whose timing overlaps for a good crop.
Can I grow pecans in Melbourne?
It is marginal. Pecans need a long, hot summer to fill their nuts, so crops near the coast are light. Warmer inland Victoria suits them better.
How big does a pecan tree grow?
Very big: mature trees are commonly 10 to 20 m or more tall and wide, so they need a large yard or acreage.
When do you harvest pecans?
In late autumn to early winter, about May to July, when the husks split and the nuts fall. Collect them promptly and dry them before storing.
Why are my pecans empty or poorly filled?
Usually water stress during nut fill in late summer, a season too short or cool for the nuts to fill, or poor pollination. Water deeply through summer and make sure a compatible second variety is nearby.
Sources we checked: Wikipedia: Pecan (pollination groups, alternate bearing, chilling, pecan scab).