Q&A for How to Harvest Pecans

Wind, rain or animal action may have caused them to drop. More than likely, most will be okay (though some may be wormy). If you look closely at the husk, you will see 4 lines/ridges where the husk would normally split. If you make a slice with a knife along a ridge and then twist the knife, it will usually split off a section of the husk. Continue removing sections of the husk just like you were slicing a peach. If the husk is fairly loose, that will remove the husk.

It's not recommended. The best way to prepare your pecans for use, is to boil your pecans in shells for 20 minutes. This will get rid of any worms that are inside. They will float to the top. Then drain and bake at 350 until dry and then cool down. They are ready to shell after that.

Yes. Normal harvesting season begins in early September, so late August wouldn't be too far off from that.

Using a knife, score down one of the four ridges and pry open. The other three sides should remove easily.

Soak them overnight in water, then pour them out to dry in the sun. Many are easy to husk right away, but let them dry in the sun first.

Make sure you pick them off the ground as soon as possible. There's greater risks of bug infestation if they're left on the ground.

Do what you need to harvest them, perhaps even before the husks split. Use a knife along the larger ridged areas to slice and spread the husks while they are still moist. It’s much easier to get them off while green then when dried (to a point).

Using a knife, score down one of the four ridges and pry open. The other three sides should remove easily.

If the hulls do not remove easily, then soak them overnight and remove them in the morning. They may or may not be any good. Only after cracking will you know. Allow your pecans to cure a couple of weeks before cracking.

On Amazon, there are a number of identical "heavy duty" models sold under different brand names and pricing ($12-$20). A really heavy duty unit that's suitable for walnuts runs around $45 and up.

A processor will request that you remove all debris like twigs, leaves and dirt. But other than that, the nuts are pretty clean to begin with and you shouldn't need to wash them.

Pecan trees like good soil conditions, hot days, and lots of water. If the tree does not get sufficient water, the meat will look shriveled up.

If your trees are bearing fruit, then your pecans will fall every year. Some might be stubborn, but you can just knock them down with a stick. Weather conditions play a huge part on production though. If the trees don’t get much water, there may not be enough nuts to notice.

Depending on the variety of the pecan, the color of the meat can vary from a light walnut color to a medium dark brown.

Yes, that is fine.

You may not have any pecans the first year, and the first few crops may not be worth the effort of harvesting. Some crops will not be as good as others depending on weather conditions.

Yes, remove the green hull and allow them to cure a couple of weeks before cracking.

If you see web worms in your trees, you need to get rid of those by whatever means you feel safest. Picking up pecans as soon as possible will help keep bugs out as well.

Yes. Pecans can be frozen to allow them to last longer; therefore, a winter freeze will not harm them. They should look plump and meaty when cracked. If not, discard and crack another one.

It is best to allow your pecans to cure for at least two weeks in an area that gets good airflow.

Yes. You can also dry them in the oven, set at its lowest temperature, for 45 minutes.

No, you can't. You should be patient and let them cure in the shell.

You should also inspect your nuts for cracks and holes. This would definitely be a red flag, and you should probably toss the whole lot of them. However, you could also try boiling them and then drying in them in the oven at the lowest temperature for 45 minutes. This should kill any eggs or larvae that remain.

I never worry about this, as I know that there are not that many of last years mixed in. Prevent this by cleaning under your tree before harvest, insuring that none from last year are still on the ground.

When pecans are not cured, they tend to be without a crunchy feel when eaten. You might even notice that the pecans are rubbery when you try to break the meat. Be patient and allow them to cure.

Personally, I have mixed dry pecans with plump pecans for my personal use in pies, but if they are completely dry and shriveled, I just toss them.

When you see them start to split, then it is a good time to begin harvesting while green. Pecans are usually mature by the end of the summer (mid September).

You can eat them right away, but are much better if you allow them to cure a couple of weeks.

Pecan tree limbs break off easily. Are you finding limbs on the ground, or have they been broken by other means? Unless your tree shows signs of dying, don’t be too concerned. Save the wood for your smoker.

The leaves are about a half an inch to an inch wide and can get several inches long, tapering and slightly curving from the stem to the tip. The fruit begins as clusters of tassels, and when those fall off, you will see a cluster of small, thin, deformed-looking pods.