Pecan (Desirable)
Carya illinoinensis 'Desirable'
One of the most popular pecan varieties for home orchards, living up to its name with exceptional nut quality and reliable production. Desirable produces large, plump pecans with thin shells that crack easily and yield beautiful halves perfect for baking or snacking. This variety is particularly valued for its consistent bearing habits and excellent disease resistance in humid climates.
Harvest
210-240d
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun to partial shade
Zones
5–9
USDA hardiness
Height
70-100 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Pecan (Desirable) in USDA Zone 7
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Pecan (Desirable) · Zones 5–9
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
Complete Growing Guide
Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day), Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours). Soil: Clay, Loam (Silt), Sand. Soil pH: Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist, Occasional Flooding, Occasionally Dry. Height: 70 ft. 0 in. - 100 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 40 ft. 0 in. - 75 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: 24-60 feet, more than 60 feet. Growth rate: Medium. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.
Harvesting
Sweet edible nuts with a husk that splits into four sections when they ripen in the fall. Husk begins green and dries to brown. The nut is oval to round, 1-3" long, tan to brown with darker streaking. Wind pollinated.
Color: Brown/Copper, Cream/Tan, Green. Type: Nut. Length: 1-3 inches. Width: 1-3 inches.
Garden value: Edible
Harvest time: Fall, Summer
Bloom time: Spring
Edibility: Nuts are edible.
History & Origin
Origin: Central & E. Central U.S.A. to Mexico
Advantages
- +Disease resistance: Drought, Wet Soil
- +Attracts: Moths, Pollinators, Small Mammals, Songbirds
- +Wildlife value: Fruits feed small mammals and some birds. Larval host plant to the Luna moth. This plant supports Hickory Horndevil (Citheronia regalis) larvae which have one brood and appear from May to mid-September. Adult Hickory Horndevil moths do not feed.
- +Edible: Nuts are edible.
Companion Plants
Plant Together
Comfrey
Deep roots mine nutrients from subsoil and leaves provide potassium-rich mulch
Clover
Fixes nitrogen in soil and provides ground cover to retain moisture
Marigold
Repels nematodes and other soil pests that can damage pecan roots
Chives
Repels aphids and other insects while improving soil with sulfur compounds
Nasturtium
Attracts beneficial insects and acts as trap crop for aphids
Wildflower Mix
Supports pollinators and beneficial insects for pest control
Mint
Deters ants and rodents that may damage nuts, but plant in containers
Yarrow
Attracts predatory insects and improves soil with deep taproot
Keep Apart
Black Walnut
Produces juglone which is toxic to pecans and inhibits their growth
Pine Trees
Acidify soil significantly, while pecans prefer neutral to slightly alkaline conditions
Large Shade Trees
Compete for sunlight and nutrients, pecans need full sun for optimal nut production
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #2346395)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Good resistance to scab and other fungal diseases
Common Pests
Pecan weevil, aphids, fall webworm, pecan nut casebearer
Diseases
Pecan scab, brown spot, downy spot, crown rot