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If I plant a pecan nut, will I get a tree that bears nuts?

Last Updated: October 29, 2011

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Probably, but if you plant nuts of a particular cultivar, you will not produce a tree of that cultivar. Pecans are self-sterile because pollen is not mature and does not shed when the female flowers are receptive. Therefore, cross-pollination (planting at least two different pecan cultivars) is important for crop set. This cross-pollination results in a nut that is a cross (hybrid) between the two cultivars. Planting a pecan nut will not give you the same nut quality as the mother plant. Most nut tree cultivars are propagated by grafting the scion (grafting wood from the desired plant) onto seedling rootstock.

Browse related Faqs by tag: horticulture, propagation, kentucky, pecan, hybrid, fruits and nuts, rootstock, grafted, cultivar, northern pecan


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