Elliot is pollen receptive early in the mating season, and pollen producing late in the season. That is also the case with Stuart, so they aren't very good partners. There are many cultivars that would be better mates. And, if you find a good mate for one (Elliot), it will also be a good mate for the other (Stuart), because their needs are very similar. It sounds like you may want to add another tree or two.

When it comes to fruit and nut trees (or any tree for that matter), it's always best to do some research before diving off in the deep end. Especially with fruit and nut trees, there are many important considerations. Every cultivar has advantages and disadvantages which need to be considered. Here is one document that may be of help for choosing pecan cultivars for your area: Pecan Cultivar Recommendations from the Alabama Pecan Growers Association. I would spend at least a few hours researching before making a final decision on what to get. Pecan pollination charts are easy to find online. Here are two examples: Pecan Pollination Chart - Example 1 and Pecan Pollination Chart - Example 2.

that is not to say ... you should return what might be late fall bargains ...

just shop the internet to find one or two.. that will help you pollinate those which you already have ... and plant them upwind ... unless they are insect pollinated.. i am too lazy this morn.. to do the research for you ...

there is a fruit forum.. i think those sperts might also know their nuts ... but you never know ... lol ...

ken

Elliott is the old 'gold standard' for pecan scab resistance in The South; Stuart, not so much - but, there are more acres of Stuart planted in the USA than any other cultivar. I even have a Stuart tree here, grafted from the old tree at my family home at Auburn (WDE!).

That said, I'd certainly recommend looking long and hard at the AL Pecan Growers article linked earlier in this thread. For home/low-input plantings, you really need cultivars with good to excellent scab resistance. Elliott is one.
If there's any chance of 'unplanting' two of those Stuarts and returning them, replacing with more scab-resistant varieties with proper pollen-shed/nutlet receptivity to pollenize the Elliotts, I'd do it.

We bought both the elliotts and stuarts on clearance. I was actually told they made good partners by a man who owns a nursery in Moody

If I have 3 elliotts and 3 stuarts (total of 6) then how many partners (mate/pollinators) do I need? Would just one work to be the partner for all 6? And how far apart can they be? Is 300 feet too far?

Thanks
Granny DP

I would plant 2 "partners". Partly, just in case one fails, and maybe to be able to plant them in different directions for maximum pollen distribution. One would do in a pinch.

I'm not sure there is any real magic distance. The closer they are, the better chance there is of successful pollination. 300' upwind shouldn't be a problem.

1 mile is the maximum distance.

I would look into planting (1) more cultivar for pollen shed to Stuart. Elliot will pollinate Stuart, but Stuart will not pollinate Elliot. (Chart from link above shows this)

'Caddo' and 'Oconee' are both great mates for both Stuart and Elliot. (Chart from link above shows this)

Professor Bill Reid at KSU is the pecan extention specialist for the lower mid-west. Where pecan scab is prevalent in his fields it is not for myself (often times) living further north. Bill recommends Oconee as a very scab resistant cultivar & Caddo as being intermediate. Link below.

Good luck choosing & do more research for other cultivars if you aren't satisfied with these recommendations. Lord knows there are so many more cultivars, available.

Dax

Here is a link that might be useful: Pecan Cultivar Reviews

Thanks everyone.

One Mile?!!? That is wonderful. I believe it because my grandfather had a pecan tree that produced and we never found its mate (pollinator)

I just ordered from a feller in Texas 10 lbs of Oconee. A friend of mine says it's a great nut. I'd plant that if I were you.

My same friend was the president of the Iowa Nut Growers association for a number of years and he's the one that told me of the 1 mile distance during conversations.

If I were in your neck of the woods I'd of planted 'Kanza' as one of my choices. I'd not of planted Stuart. Elliot is a good one though. The poster above, Lucky, is pretty well an expert when it comes to pecans and hickories. From the get-go of your post I thought the same thing about Stuart... to get rid of them.

I apologize to end on a negative.

My best regards,

Dax

This would be my recommendation after looking things over and just has luck would have it, all three (mentioned) are ideal for receptivity and pollen shed:

Elliot
19th - 28th of April is receptive
27th April - May the 4th it sheds pollen

Kanza
18th - 27th of April is receptive
30th of April - May the 6th it sheds its pollen

Oconee
25th of April - 29th of April is receptive
20th -27th of April it sheds its pollen

Therefore Elliot is getting pollinated very heavily from Oconee; Kanza also is also being pollinated heavily from Oconee; And Oconee is being pollinated very well from Elliot.

These three will provide you with superior pecans and Kanza will provide an early harvest (late Sept.). Oconee (Oct. 12th) & Elliot (a few days after Oconee).

Dax

"1 mile is the maximum distance."

ForumDog, that doesn't mean you want to depend on a tree from that or near that distance to mate with your trees! Like being able to survive on 500 calories per day, it's not ideal.

No, gardener, I'm not an expert; just an enthusiast who's had mixed successes and failures.

While I'll defer to Dr. Reid on all matters pecan here in the northern/midwestern pecan belt, Granny DP would be well-advised to heed any advice coming from Dr. Bill Goff and associates at Auburn University (WDE anyway!), with regard to which varieties are best suited for home/low-input planting in her area. Don't believe Caddo & Oconee make the top tier for that purpose in that very special part of the world.

Here is a link that might be useful: pecan cultivars for AL

O.k.

Dax

Well, hurry up and plant them. I was just at Wallyworld this morning and noticed that the sad little bags of chopped pecans have gone up another few cents to $5.69. Their price is skyrocketing because Asians and Chinese in particular have apparently developed a taste for them...saw an article about it somewhere.

I assume mine get pollinated by all of the wild pecan trees that are growing everywhere around here. The squirrels make sure there's plenty of those.

Got my pecan order:

Nothing like coffee and pecans in the morning.

Cheers,

Dax

{{gwi:470595}}

ath,
I'm sure that there are plenty of 'wild' and cultivated pecans in your area - pollenation not a problem. And, even up into north central AL, they're pretty common - I see 'em in pretty decent numbers, fairly well-distributed, as far north as Hartselle. But once you get north of the Tennessee River, distribution gets spotty, and one has to be a little more cognizant of making sure that appropriate pollenizing varieties are present in the vicinity.

Thanks

Thanks