Pecan (Stuart)
Carya illinoinensis 'Stuart'
One of the most reliable and widely planted pecan varieties, Stuart has been a Southern favorite since the early 1900s. This self-fertile variety produces large, plump nuts with excellent flavor and good cracking quality, making it perfect for both commercial and home orchard use. The tree is known for its consistent annual production and relatively early bearing age.
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 (Stuart) in USDA Zone 7
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Pecan (Stuart) · Zones 5–9
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
Complete Growing Guide
Stuart pecans need 210–240 frost-free days to mature properly, so plant in USDA zones 5–9 where winters won't kill young trees and springs arrive reliably. This self-fertile cultivar thrives in deep, well-draining soil with full sun and excellent air circulation to prevent fungal issues like scab and powdery mildew, which plague humid regions. Unlike some pecan varieties, Stuart bears relatively early and produces consistently, but watch for pecan weevils and aphids, especially in stressed trees. The main quirk is that Stuart's heavy nut load demands consistent summer irrigation—skip watering during kernel-fill stages (late July through August) and you'll get shriveled nuts or early drop. Prune only in late winter to avoid canker diseases, and thin competing scaffold branches early to establish a strong framework that can support the tree's eventual 70–100-foot spread.
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. Maintenance: Medium. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.
Harvesting
Stuart pecans are ready to harvest when the outer hull turns brown and begins splitting naturally, revealing the darker shell beneath, and when nuts feel firm rather than spongy when gently squeezed. Peak harvest typically occurs in late October through November, with nuts dropping continuously over several weeks rather than all at once, allowing for multiple collection passes. Rather than waiting for all nuts to fall, begin harvesting when approximately 75% of the hulls have split, as this signals optimal maturity and prevents premature ground loss to wildlife and weather damage. Shake branches or use mechanical harvesters during the driest part of the day for easiest hulling and processing.
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
Edibility: Nuts are edible.
Storage & Preservation
Store freshly harvested Stuart pecans in a cool, dry location between 32–50°F with humidity around 65–70% to maintain crispness and prevent rancidity. A mesh bag or breathable container works well to allow air circulation. Under these conditions, in-shell pecans remain fresh for 6–12 months, while shelled kernels keep 3–6 months. For longer storage, freeze shelled nuts at 0°F or below, where they'll hold quality for up to two years. Vacuum-sealing extends shelf life significantly. Roasting at 350°F for 10–15 minutes intensifies flavor and helps preserve kernels for later use. Drying in a food dehydrator at 130–140°F for 6–8 hours is also effective. Stuart's higher oil content makes it especially prone to oxidation when exposed to light and heat, so store away from both and consider freezing for optimal flavor retention in baking applications.
History & Origin
The Stuart pecan emerged in the early twentieth century as a selected cultivar from the native pecan germplasm of the southern United States, though detailed records of its specific breeder and exact origin year remain sparse in horticultural documentation. The variety likely arose through either deliberate selection or chance seedling discovery within the broader wave of pecan improvement that characterized the early 1900s, when commercial cultivation intensified across Texas, Louisiana, and adjacent regions. Stuart's development reflects the era's emphasis on identifying naturally superior trees with reliable production and quality nuts, establishing it as a foundational cultivar in modern pecan breeding lines and commercial orchards throughout the South.
Origin: Central & E. Central U.S.A. to Mexico
Advantages
- +Self-fertile variety eliminates need for cross-pollination partner trees
- +Consistently produces large, plump nuts with excellent cracking quality
- +Early bearing age means harvesting nuts sooner than most varieties
- +Rich, buttery flavor makes Stuart pecans ideal for culinary use
- +Reliable annual production reduces year-to-year yield variability
Considerations
- -Highly susceptible to pecan scab in humid climates
- -Extended 210-240 day season requires warm growing regions
- -Vulnerable to multiple pests including weevils and case bearers
- -Requires moderate care and fungicide applications in disease-prone areas
Companion Plants
Comfrey and clover are the most practical companions under a Stuart pecan. Comfrey's deep taproot — sometimes 6 feet down — pulls up calcium and potassium that shallow-rooted covers can't reach; chop it 3 or 4 times a season and lay the leaves as mulch directly under the drip line. Clover fixes nitrogen in the top 12 inches of soil, which matters for a tree that needs roughly 1 lb of actual nitrogen per year of age to size up its crop. Marigolds and nasturtiums draw predatory wasps and lacewings that keep aphid colonies from establishing in the upper canopy. Black walnut is the one to avoid — juglone accumulates in the root zone and pecans show documented sensitivity to it, so keep any Juglans species well outside the drip line.
Plant Together
Comfrey
Deep taproot brings nutrients to surface, leaves make excellent mulch for pecan trees
Clover
Fixes nitrogen in soil and provides ground cover to retain moisture
Marigold
Repels nematodes and other soil pests that can damage pecan roots
Elderberry
Attracts beneficial insects and birds that control pecan pests
Nasturtium
Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles, protecting pecan trees
Chicory
Deep roots break up compacted soil and improve drainage around pecan trees
Wild Bergamot
Attracts pollinators and beneficial predatory insects
Yarrow
Improves soil fertility and attracts beneficial insects that prey on pecan pests
Keep Apart
Black Walnut
Produces juglone which is toxic to many plants and can inhibit pecan growth
Pine Trees
Creates acidic soil conditions that pecans prefer to avoid, competes for nutrients
Eucalyptus
Allelopathic properties inhibit growth of nearby plants including fruit and nut trees
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #2346395)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Moderate resistance to scab, susceptible in high humidity areas
Common Pests
Pecan weevil, aphids, case bearers, hickory shuckworm
Diseases
Pecan scab, brown spot, downy spot, powdery mildew
Troubleshooting Pecan (Stuart)
What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.
Black, sunken lesions on shucks, leaves, and developing nuts — appearing mid-summer and spreading fast in wet years
Likely Causes
- Pecan scab (Venturia effusa) — the single most destructive pecan disease, thrives in humid conditions above 60% relative humidity
- Planting a susceptible variety like Stuart without a spray program in a high-rainfall climate
What to Do
- 1.Apply a protectant fungicide (copper-based or myclobutanil) starting at bud break and repeat every 10-14 days through shell hardening — timing matters more than product choice
- 2.Prune out crossing branches to open the canopy; better airflow won't eliminate scab but slows spread between leaf surfaces
- 3.Stuart is rated moderately susceptible to scab — if you're losing most of your crop in wet years, top-working to 'Elliot' or 'Kanza' is worth serious consideration long-term
Wormy, prematurely dropping nuts with small entry holes in the shuck, or grubs found inside the shell at harvest
Likely Causes
- Pecan weevil (Curculio caryae) — adults puncture nuts in August and September to lay eggs; grubs feed inside and exit through a round exit hole
- Hickory shuckworm (Acrobasis juglandis) — earlier-season larvae tunnel into shucks and sometimes the nut itself, causing early drop
What to Do
- 1.For pecan weevil, apply a pyrethroid such as bifenthrin to the trunk and scaffold branches when adults first emerge — typically when soil at 4 inches reaches 75°F in late summer
- 2.Collect and destroy all dropped nuts immediately; weevil larvae overwinter in soil beneath the tree and emerge as adults the following year
- 3.Kaolin clay applied to shucks can reduce shuckworm damage without insecticide, though getting adequate coverage on a 70-100 foot tree is a real logistical challenge
Frequently Asked Questions
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Growing Guides from Wind River Greens
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Sources & References
External authority sources used in compiling this guide.
See the Methodology page for how this data is sourced, what's AI-assisted, and known limitations.