Prized as shade trees with golden brown autumn color and often interesting shagbark, hickory and pecan trees are of the carya genus.
Varieties adapted to the climate bear delicious nuts to Zone 4. Pecans, however, require a growing environment that's not only frost-free but fairly warm 180 to 220 days.
Hickories reach a height of 120 feet and need five to 10 years before bearing nuts. Pecans can reach 100 feet tall, and will bear about 10 pounds of nuts when 10 years old and 100 pounds of nuts when mature. .
Planting and care
Plant 30 to 50 feet apart. Planting holes must be deep enough to hold 3- foot-long taproots without bending them. It is safer to plant the nuts. If you buy a tree, set it 2 to 3 inches deeper than it grew at the nursery. Water as you fill to settle soil. At planting time, cut the tree back one-third to one-half to compensate for root loss. Mulch well.
Hickories will need little more care. Don't prune pecan trees again until the top can shade the trunk. Then remove lower limbs, one each year. Until then, keep these lower branches headed back and secondary to the main trunk.
Pollination
Needs more than one variety.
Harvesting
Gather nuts as they fall, or shake the tree. Pecans keep better unshelled. Refrigerate after shelling and use soon. Properly dried, hickory nuts and pecans will keep for several weeks at room temperature, for several months in a cool and dry place, and for more than a year in a freezer.
