Pecans are not very common in Europe, although our climate is suitable for them and their cultivation is no different from walnuts. Their characteristic sweet taste even surpasses walnuts. However, the greatest advantage of growing pecans is that their harvest is not damaged by the walnut borer (Rhagoletis completa), a feared pest of walnuts originating from North America, introduced to Europe at the end of the last century. The tree is very decorative, it can serve as an ornamental solitaire in the garden, but for fruit production it is recommended to plant two different varieties for cross-pollination. The Lucas variety tolerates frost well, bears fruit regularly and abundantly, its nuts have very good quality and excellent taste.
Origin: the Lucas variety was discovered in the wild near Goshen, Ohio, in 1965. Pecans are native to North America, growing from the Gulf of Mexico to southern Canada. Vigour: the tree has a strong upright growth and a very attractive appearance. At the age of 7-10 years it grows to a height of 6-9 meters and a width of 3 meters. The crown is dense and spreading. The leaves are deciduous, dark green, pinnately compound, 30-50 cm long. Blossom: there is no need to worry about damage from spring frosts, as it blooms only from mid-May. Its flowering is protogynous, the female pistils of the flower ripen before the male stamens of the same flower release pollen. This means that pollen from another plant is needed for fertilization and fruit production. Pollinators: suitable cross-pollinators are Hirschi, Campbell NC4, Canton, Peruque, Snaps, Warren 346 Nut: medium-sized, on average 4.1-5.1 g, elongated, oval-shaped, with a pointed tip. The shell is thin, smooth and opens easily. It forms bunches of 3-5 nuts. The fruits are harvested when the fleshy pericarp begins to open. Kernel: he kernel fills the shell well, the ratio of kernels to shell is 50-56%, the quality of the kernel is very good, crispy, with a high oil content, the color is golden brown Taste: mild sweet Harvest season: the nuts ripen in late September to early October Yields: provides high and regular yields Resistance to diseases: resistant, vital tree Frost resistance: northern Pecan trees (Carya illinoinensis) are known for their cold hardiness. They can tolerate winter temperatures as low as -29°C. However, while they can handle cold winters, they still require a sufficiently long growing season (around 180 days) to properly mature the nuts.
