When to Plant Pecan in Melbourne — Cool Temperate Guide
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Large deciduous nut tree native to the Mississippi River valley in the USA. Gets very large (15-30m) and needs ample space. Produces thin-shelled nuts with rich, buttery kernels. Needs warm summers, cold winters, and LOTS of water. Cross-pollination between varieties is essential for nut set. Long-lived (100+ years) but slow to reach full production (8-12 years). Pecans do surprisingly well in Australia's irrigated inland zones.
How to Grow Pecan in Cool Temperate Australia
When to Plant
Plant bare root June-August.
- Soil
- Deep, fertile, well-drained alluvial soil. Originally a bottomland/riverbank tree - likes rich deep soil with good moisture-holding capacity. Tolerates some clay better than most nut trees. Deep taproot needs minimum 2m soil depth.
- pH Range
- 6.0-7.0
- Sunlight
- Full sun. Needs high heat units for nut maturity.
Companion plants: Grass (orchards often grassed), Legume cover crops
Avoid planting near: Buildings, infrastructure (massive tree)
Cool Temperate Growing Tips for Pecan
Recommended Varieties
- Wichita
- Western Schley
Key Challenges
- May not have enough heat for nut maturity
- Short season
Pro Tips
- Marginal in Melbourne. Nuts may not fill properly in cool autumns.
- Inner-city heat islands might succeed.
Harvesting Pecan
When ready: Shuck (outer green covering) splits and separates from shell. Nuts fall from tree. Shell colour darkens.
How to harvest: Collect fallen nuts from ground (shake branches to accelerate). Remove shuck remnants. Dry in single layer in shade for 2-3 weeks.
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