Our trees have already set their nuts; here’s a detailed look at the process…
The first image shows a healthy spike with six nutlets (five visible and one partially obscured). All pecan nuts form on the terminal end of a branch; we like to see three or four nuts per spike. Six nutlets may be an early indication that this tree will have too large of a nut load.
It is important to note that there is no insect damage on these nuts. The first insect to attack our trees is the pecan nut casebearer; this worm eats its way into the young nutlet, and causes the tree to abort the nut.
At this time, May 9, 2005, all of the trees are fully leafed out. We hope to see eight to ten inches of new growth on each branch over the growing season. We have an extensive fertility program to improve the quality of our soil. This year, we spread about six tons of cow manure per acre. We also incorporated two rock substances that were mined; a phosphate and a humic acid.
Written on Monday, 16 May 2005 00:00 by Bob Ackerley