Pecans

[PlantSwap]

I've got a Pecan tree in my yard that has it's first bumper crop going right now. The nuts are looking huge!

Any advice on how and when to harvest them? Do I need to do anything special to dry/process them before eating?

[Yadda]

Check out the TAMU website for more information on pecan harvesting. Since pecans are a huge favorite in Texas there is tons of information. Let me know if you have more than you need. I love pecan pie and my better half uses pecans in lots of things. Yadda out.

[PlantSwap]

Aha! Got it:

Pecans are mature and ready to harvest anytime after the shuck begins to open. It is easier to wait and harvest nuts by shaking or thrashing branches after shucks are wide open and partially dried. However, the longer you wait, the more pecans that may be lost to predators. Squirrels, crows, bluejays, wild turkeys, raccoons and deer all can cause serious yield reduction.

Nuts harvested early in the season have a high moisture content and need to be dried before storage. Dry them in the shell in thin layers on elevated screens or hang them in small mesh bags in a well-ventilated area at room temperature out of direct sunlight. Within 2 weeks the nut meats should be dry enough to snap when bent, an indication they are ready for storage or immediate use.

To retain nut meat quality, store pecans in the freezer. Pecans retain good quality for up to 6 months in the refrigerator, but the freezer ensures much better quality when storing shelled pecans. Pecans readily absorb odors from almost any material, including other fruits and vegetables, so be careful to protect them from possible contaminating odors.

Home Fruit Production - Pecans. Our Desirable tree in the back yard has some huge nuts growing on it this year. I haven't sprayed the tree at all, but I'm hopeful that the bugs will leave a few for me. The tree is still young though, so I don't expect a "bumper" crop for the next few years.

[weddy]

The only thing I know about pecans is to gather them off the ground before they get wet, because we had lots of moldy ones before we figured that out.

Do you know of a place that has a shelling machine? I don't think the Pasadena place is there anymore. Someone thought a farm in Alvin that starts with a P might have a shelling machine.