Pecan Growing Guide
Pecan is a great next step in your growing journey. Follow this guide from planting to harvest and you'll do great.
At a Glance
Difficulty
Moderate
Category
Nut
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Frost Tolerance
Frost Hardy
Cold Hardiness
Survives to -20°C
Plant Family
Juglandaceae
Growing Season
Warm Season
Plant Lifecycle
Perennial
Also grows well as
How to Start It
★ Recommended for beginners
Plant two named grafted trees of complementary pollination types (Type I and Type II) while dormant. They need space, full sun, deep soil, and a long warm season to crop well.
A huge, long-lived tree (a relative of the walnut) that needs a LONG, hot summer to fill its nuts — best in warm-temperate regions. KEY: pecans are wind-pollinated and shed pollen and become receptive at different times, so you plant TWO trees of complementary types (Type I + Type II) for reliable nuts. Plenty of room and patience required.
When To Start
First Chance to Plant
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Last Chance to Plant
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When should you plant Pecan?
Your planting dates depend on your local climate. Sign up and add your location to unlock personalized dates.
Your Pecan Planting Window
Start planting
May 15, 2026
Last chance
Sep 10, 2026
The Journey Ahead
Pecan's Lifecycle
Seedling
Mature Plant
Seed Production
Step 1
Prepare Your Space
1200 cm
Plant Spacing
1400 cm
Row Spacing
Vertical Growing
No.
Succession Planting
No.
Good Companions
Bad Companions
Step 2
Planting & Sprouting
Growing Tips
- 1Pecans are a long game for warm climates: give them deep soil, full sun, lots of room, and steady summer water (drought during nut-fill gives empty shells).
- 2Plant two complementary types for pollination.
- 3They're slow to start — 6–10 years to a real crop — but then produce for generations.
Seedling Phase
Step 3
Growth & Maturity
2000 cm
Mature Height
1200 cm
Mature Width
Pests to Watch For
Diseases to Watch For
Mature Plant
Step 4
Harvesting
Harvest Window
30 days
When to Pick
Gather in autumn as the husks split open and the nuts drop
How to Harvest
- 1Harvest in mid-late autumn when the green husks dry, blacken and split to release the nuts — gather the drops, or shake the limbs onto a sheet.
- 2Dry the in-shell nuts for a couple of weeks before storing or shelling.
Step 5
Saving Seeds
Seed Production
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