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ORGANIC PECAN AND FRUIT TREE PROGRAM UPDATE - 2009
Pecan trees and most other fruit trees can be grown organically with great success. Pecan trees and other fruit trees should never have bare soil. The root zone should always be covered with mulches and/or native grasses and legumes. The trees should be planted high with natural organic techniques. Root flares should be easily visible.
SOIL FEEDING SCHEDULE
Round #1 February 1-15: Apply organic fertilizer @ 20 lbs. per 1,000 sq. ft., lava sand or other volcanic sand at 80 lbs. per 1,000 sq. ft., decomposed granite at 80 lbs. per 1,000 sq. ft., whole ground cornmeal at 20 lbs. per 1,000 sq. ft., dry molasses @ 20 lbs. per 1,000 sq. ft., and zeolite at 20 lbs. per 1,000 sq. ft.
Round #2 June 1-15: Organic fertilizer @ 10 lbs. per 1,000 sq. ft. and greensand @ 40-80 lbs. per 1,000 sq. ft. Use soft rock phosphate at the same rate if in acid soils.
Round #3 September 15-30: Organic fertilizer @ 10 lbs. per 1,000 sq. ft. and sul-po-mag @ 20 lbs. per 1,000 sq. ft. Clean wood charcoal can also be used. See Terra Petra on DirtDoctor.com.
Notes: Once soil health has been achieved, round #3 can be omitted. Rock powders are optional after the first 3 years.
Large pecan orchards can use livestock manure or compost at 1-2 tons/acre per year along with establishing green manure cover crops. Lava sand and other rock powders can be applied any time of the year. Foliar feed with compost tea, liquid compost or Garrett Juice twice monthly.
ALTERNATE PROGRAM
Round #1 Feb – Mar: Organic fertilizer with mycorrhizal fungi per label directions.
Round #2 June: Zeolite laced with mycorrhizal fungi and bacteria or the products applied separately. Spray compost tea, liquid compost or Garrett Juice monthly.
FRUIT AND NUT SPRAY PROGRAM
Spray Garrett Juice or Garrett Juice Plus at least monthly. Add garlic tea and/or Bio Wash if pest insects appear. These products can be used as preventatives if problems have occurred in the past.
SPRAY SCHEDULE
1st spraying: At pink bud. Use additional sprayings as time and budget allow.
2nd spraying: After flowers have fallen. For best results spray every two weeks, but at least once a month.
3rd spraying: About June 15th (later in northern locations).
4th spraying: Last week in August.
PRUNING
Very little pruning is needed or recommended. Maintain cover crops and/or natural mulch under the trees year round. Never cultivate the soil under pecan and fruit trees.
INSECT RELEASE
Trichogramma wasps: Weekly releases of 10,000 - 20,000 eggs per acre or residential lot starting at bud break for 3 weeks.
Green lacewings: Release at 4,000 eggs per acre or residential lot weekly for one month.
Ladybugs: Release 1,500 - 2,000 adult beetles per 1,000 sq. ft. at the first sign of shiny honeydew on foliage.
Fruit trees and ornamental flowering trees will benefit from the same organic program.
Typical Pecan Fall Color |
