Fruit and Pecan CultureMaster Gardener Program

Dean McCrawExtension Horticulturist

Oklahoma State UniversityStillwater, OK

Time (Years) Required to Bear

• Fig 2• Plum 2• Peach 3• Nectarine 3

• Persimmon 4• Apple 4• Pear 5• Apricot 5• Pecan 7

Pollination

• Fruit– Usually by insects– Cross pollination may be required

• Pecan– Pollen moves by wind– Cross pollination needed– Protandrous vs Protgynous

OCES F-6229 Pollination requirements for fruit and nuts

Pecan Male Flower• Catkin is male

flower• Produces pollen• Borne at end of last

season’s growth• May release before

female flower is receptive

• Variety selection– OCES F-6201

Pecan Female Flower• Borne at end of

current season’s growth

• Must be pollinated by male flower (catkin)

• Develops into the nut

• Variety selection– OCES F6201

Soils For Fruit & Nut Trees

• Depth– Effective rooting depth– May be limited by rock, water– minimum of 3 feet in most cases

• Drainage– Internal: berm, perk test – External: slope to open areaRefer to OCES F-6216 Soils for Fruit Trees

Tree Spacing

• Fruit trees– About 400 square feet per tree

• Pecan– No closer than 40 feet apart

Tree Root System

• Tap root– Nut trees e.g. pecan– Generally require deeper soils– Taproot essentially for anchorage only

• Fibrous root systems– Tree fruits e.g. peach, apple– Tolerate more shallow soil

Peach Tree Planting• Do not prune root

system• Do not let dry• Keep from freezing• Plant before buds

break• Hole big as the root• Bud at ground level

Pecan Rootstocks

• Important to cold hardiness• May impart some characteristics to

scion– Bud break– Vigor

• Recommendations– Adapted native– Northern variety e.g. Giles

Pecan Root System

• Tap root for tree stability

• Feeder roots near surface

• Severed taproot re-establishes

• Expansive root system

Pecan: Bare Root Tree Planting• Plant in Spring• Cut tap root to 18”• Plant in hole large

enough to accommodate roots

• Graft union at or slightly above ground level

Bare Root Pecan Tree Roots: Two Years After Planting

• Roots regenerate at cut surface

• Tap root re-establishes its self

Top Pruning of Bare Root Trees

• Cut pecan about half

• Cut peach to about 18”

• Balances top and root

• Can force bud growth

Container Pecan Trees

• Plant in fall• Graft if seedling• May have air

pruned root system

• Remove any circular roots

• Do not prune top

Non Air Pruned Container Grown Pecan Trees

• May have taproot• Remove taproot

at planting• Remove any

circular growing roots

Pruning

• Reasons to prune– Control tree size or shape– Correct injuries– Control bearing

• Types of cuts– Heading– Thinning

Training Fruit/nut Trees

• Peach - OCES F-6228– Open center

• Apple– Modified leader

• Pecan – OCES F-6245 – Central leader

• Many other specialty methods

Time of Pruning

• At or after flowering if time allows

• Can alter pruning to account for freeze damage

• Heavy crop, prune more; light crop, prune less

Peach Tree Pruning

• Remove wood to establish open center structure

• Remove upright, crossover, branches

• Refer to OCES F -6228

2nd Leaf Pecan Tree Prior to Pruning

• Vigorous growth• Many shoots• Objective is central

leader• Refer to OCES F

6245

2nd Leaf Pecan Tree After Pruning• Central leader• Temporary scaffolds

spaced along leader• No

– narrow crotches– crow’s feet

• Emphasis on structure

• Refer to OCES F 6245

Preventative Maintenance

• Pruning to eliminate narrow crotch angle

• Outward pressure with growth forces split

• Proper cut to prevent split and aid wound heal

Major Pruning Cut• Three point cut

with final outside “collar”

• Pruning paint not necessary

• Callus formation and “healing” or over growth

• Refer to OCES F 6245

Micro-sprinkler Water Application• Broader pattern

than in line emitters• Apply more water• Subject to wind

blow of pattern• Diameter and gph

varies with type• Mature tree 50

gal/day in August

Tree vs. Turf• Competition for

– Moisture– Nutrients

• Fescue or Bermuda• Chemical inhibition• Greater grass free

area means better growth

OCES CR-6242 Weed Control in Pecans, Apples, and Peaches

Mulch Effect on Pecan Tree Mulch Effect on Pecan Tree GrowthGrowth

• Mulch– None– 3 ft square– 6 ft square

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

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1.2

1.4

1.6T

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dia

. (in

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)

1996 1997 1998

None3 ft6 ft

Tree Nutrition Monitoring

• Soil test (F-2207)– Generally useful for pre-plant needs only– Soil content and tree content usually not

same– Nutrients not always available

• Leaf tissue analysis (F-6232)– Sample collected in July– Measures tissue content– Sample must reflect lab criteria

First Year Fertilizer Application

• One pound (pint) of complete fertilizer (10-10-10) in band about 6” from trunk

• Apply half at bud break, remainder in May/June

Sample Fertilizer Schedule (10-10-10 per tree)

• Pre-plant - soil sample, adjust pH, P, K, Mg, Ca, Fe, Mn as needed

• Year 1 (apply after bud break)– Apple, peach, pecan 1 lb – water and control weeds

• Year 2 (apply before bud break)– Apple, peach 2 lbs– Pecan 2 - 3 lbs

Sample Fertilizer Schedule (10-10-10 per tree)

• Year 3– Peach - 1.5 lbs March, 1.5 lbs May– Apple 3 lbs in March– Pecan - 3 lbs in March

• Zinc as needed • 36% zinc 1 lb per 50 gallons water

• Year 4 and up– fertilize IAW leaf analysis

Bearing Pecan Tree General Fertilization

• Complete fertilizer e.g. 10-10-10– 1 lb/inch of diameter up to 15”– 2 lb/inch of diameter up to 25”– 3 lb/inch of diameter over 25”

• Zinc– 2 lbs 36% zinc sulfate in 100 gallons– 2 to 4 applications from bud break to mid

July– OCES F-6232

Peach Half Bushel Carton

Common Rootstocks

• Peach: Lovell, Halford• Pear: P. calleryana• Plum: P. besseyi• Apple

– M-111 85% of standard– M106 70% of standard– M9 or M27 30% of standard

Variety Selection

• Fruit quality• Season of maturity• Pest resistance• Tree characteristics e.g. size• Bearing habit• Climatic adaptability • OCES F-6210 Apple and Peach Varieties for

OK

Peach Variety Selection

• Many choices– flesh color– pit adherence– maturity– disease resistance

• Individual preferences are key factor

Peach Variety Ripening Season

• Start in early June• Can continue

through September

• Early are cling, freestone later

• All bloom about the same time

Peach Variety Selection• White flesh

varieties e.g. ‘Indian Red’, ‘Georgia Belle’, ‘Summer Pearl’

• May be red streaked

• Little disease resistance

• Soft fruit

Bounty ripens late July,Loring Early August

Peach Fruit Thinning

• Remove fruit before pit hardens inside the fruit

• Usually about 4 weeks before ripening

• Thin to average 4-6” between fruit

Peach Fruit Size

• Most common size in OK is 2 1/4 - 2 1/2 inch diameter

• Larger size may be uneconomical for grower

• Larger fruit have more edible peach per bushel

Apple Variety Selection

• Color• Shape• Use

– Cooking– Dessert

• Clone selections

Apple Varieties• Good eating

quality • Often have poor

color• Strains of ‘Gala’

and ‘Fuji’ are usually good

• Delicious types are hard to grow in OK

• OCES F-6210

Specialty Pruning of Apples

• “A frame”, or other shapes

• Require more time

• May require special rootstock e.g. dwarfing

Dwarfing Apple Rootstocks• Affects only tree

size• Fruit

characteristics remain same

• The most dwarfing stocks (e.g. M-26) require support to prevent lodging under load

Asian Pears

• Well adapted to Oklahoma

• Susceptible to fire blight

• Shape like apple• Good as dessert

fruit• Not grainy as

common pears

Early Peach Flowers

• Snow may not be damaging

• Snow can insulate • Usually greatest

chance of injury the day after the snow

Peach Critical Temp: Shuck Split

• 10% kill @ 31F

• 90% kill @ 29F

• 30 minutes or more

Peach: Healthy Flower

• Freeze can damage only parts of flower.

• Anther, style,

Peach: Freeze damaged flower

• Petals intact, ovary dead

Freeze protection

• Plastic cover• Irrigation prior to

freeze• Irrigation during

freeze• Supplementary

heat

Propagation

• Sexual– Accomplished through the seed– Variability prevents use on orchards

• Asexual– Without seed– Eliminates variability– Results in clones with identical members

Pecan Scion Wood

• Good wood must have viable buds

• Primary and secondary buds are visible

• Has two more buds for emergency use by the plant

F-6217 Collecting and Storing Pecan Propagation Wood

Bark Graft

• Use on stock up to 4 inches

• Top working larger trees

• Put on two, remove one if both take

• F-6204 Bark Grafting Pecans

Four Flap Graft• Use on stock up to

size of scion wood• Use to convert

seedling trees to variety

• Remove wrapping in late summer and apply brace to prevent blow out

• F-6230 Four-Flap Grafting of Pecans

Shuck Split

• Nut is mature and ready for harvest

• Nut is released from shuck

• No longer susceptible to freeze

• Nut begins to dry• Time varies with

variety (F-6201)

Excellent Kernel Quality• Harder to achieve

with large nuts• Requires persistent

management• Usually requires

crop load management

• Usually related to nut load and stress

Pecan Nut Thinning in Home Situation

• Remove with cane pole

• Nuts at 50% kernel expansion

• About Aug 3 - 10 in Central OK

• Knock nuts from clusters

OCES F 6251 Pecan Crop Load Management

Home Pecan Harvesting• Wind may cause

drop • Long harvest period

increases loss• Cane pole may be

best option for home owners

• Knock nuts from clusters after shuck split

Pecan: Kernels• 35-55% of in shell

wt.• 70-75% fat

– 92-97% unsaturated– Healthy diet

• Get rancid with age• Storage

– 700 F 3 Month– 320 F 12 Month– 00 F 6-10 years

‘Maramec’ ‘Pawnee’

Latest News on Dietary Benefits of Pecans

Pecan oils (fats)56% monounsaturated29% polyunsaturated

Pecans in diet lower cholesterolLoma Linda Univ.; New Mexico State Univ.

Dietary benefits exceed olive oil

Table Grapes• Non- slip skin

– Jupiter – blue, mid July, hardy, muscat– Neptune – white, Aug, hardy, fruity & pleasant– Saturn – red, late July, mod hardy, sweet & fruity

• Slip skin– Mars – blue, Aug, very hardy, labrusca flavor– Reliance – pink, late July, hardiest, delicate & highest

rated– Venus – blue, mid July, mod hardy, labrusca & muscat– Sunbelt – seeded, blue, mid Aug, hardy, Concord flavor

Peach: :Physiological Disorders

• Split pit caused by rapid growth in cling varieties

• Color splotches can be caused by shade from leaves or can be variety specific

Diagnosing Disorders

• Look for patterns of occurrence

• Look for insects• Lawn herbicides?• Variety?

Beneficial Insects Aid Pest Management

• Lady beetle adult and larva

• Learn what they look like

• Others include– lacewing– assassin bugs

• F-7307 Beneficial Insects

Peach Tree Borer Control

• Trunk drench in early spring

• Use traps to determine when to apply

F-7319 – Home Fruit Tree Production & Pest Management

Peach Tree Borer

• Adult moth lays eggs on trunk

• Larva bores into trunk

• Will kill tree

Peach: Plum Curculio• Larva result from

egg laid on fruit

• Larvae migrate to pit

• Most prominent “worm” in OK peaches

Peach: Plum Curculio Traps

• Use to time spray application

• Screen or pyramid traps

OCES F-7190 – Monitoring Adult Weevil Populations in Pecan & Fruit Trees

Sources: Blarney Toe Enterprises, Stillwater, OK. 405-743-8116

Gemplers, Weevil top only,1-800-382-8473

Peach: Bacterial Spot

• Best control is resistant varieties

• Tree loses leaves in mid summer

• Lesion on fruit prior to harvest

Pecan Weevil Larvae

• Results from egg lay inside nut

• May be in nut at harvest

• Leaves “buckshot” hole at exit

• Must control prior to egg lay

Pecan Weevil Adult

• Overwinter in soil under tree

• Emerge after rain in July-September

• Must treat soon after emergence

• Must get full tree coverage with spray

F-7190 Monitoring Adult Weevil Populations in Pecan & Fruit

Circle Traps for Weevil Monitoring

• Instructions in OCES F 7190

• Trap catches adult upon emergence

• No catch, no spray• May help reduce

population in landscape situation

Sources: Blarney Toe Enterprises, Stillwater, OK. 405-743-8116

Gemplers, Weevil top only,1-800-382-8473

Peach: Spider Mites

• Usually occur in hot, dry summer

• Yellow spots on leaf surface due to mite on lower surface

• Usually associated with broadleaf weeds

Peach: Scale

• First found on twigs

• Heavy infestation goes to fruit

• Control with dormant oil

Peach Leaf Curl

• Fungal disease• Infests leaves at

bud break• Control with

copper fungicide before bud break

• Lesions may be various colors

Pecan Scab

• Black splotches on nuts and leaves

• Results in– leaf drop– poor nut fill– shuck stick

• Treatment– Resistance– Fungicide spray

OCES F 7642 Pecan Diseases Prevention & Control

Pecan Phylloxera• Galls on stem or

leaf• Stem is more

serious• Insecticide must be

applied shortly after bud break in spring

• Resistance in some varieties

Pecan Nut Casebearer Damage• Adult is moth• Damage in

May/June• Time sprays based

on egg lay• Use traps to help

scout for eggs• Use Bt formulations

in home landscape

Pecan Nut Casebearer Trap

• Bait with pheromone

• Hang in tree at convenient height

• Catches adult male moth

• Use along with egg scouting

OCES F 7189 – The Pecan Nut Casebearer