When you look at the 26 unique varieties of pecans we grow here at Pearson Farm, it's amazing to think they all originated from just one tree. But how does that happen? Each variety has its own distinct shape, disease and insect resistance, ripening time and nut quality. So how did one tree give rise to over a thousand types of pecans?
The answer lies in genetics. When a pecan nut is planted it grows into a genetically unique tree. Take our beloved Elliot pecan, for example. If we planted only Elliot nuts, we'd end up with an orchard of entirely distinct trees-similar to the parent, but each bearing its own type of nut. By grafting cuttings from a known Elliot onto seedling rootstock, we can grow acres of identical nuts, ensuring consistency across the orchard.
Pecans are especially fascinating because they can self-pollinate, but produce bigger and tastier nuts when cross-pollinated. We grow 26 different varieties because, like you, we love exploring the unique flavors, crunch and textures each variety offers. There's also a practical reason: growing different varieties protects us against crop loss and extends the harvest window, allowing us to ship more pecans to those who love them.
Most of our newer varieties come from breeding programs run by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) or the University of Georgia (UGA). Many of the older USDA varieties are named after Native American tribes (such as Kiowa, Wichita, Pawnee and Lakota), while more recent UGA releases include crosses like Pawnee X Wichita (Byrd, Treadwell, Morrill) and Pawnee X Desirable (Whiddon, Huffman). Interestingly, most of the varieties you'll find in orchards and yards across he Southeast weren't developed in labs but were discovered as wild seedlings with desirable traits (like Stuart, Schley and Elliot).
Nothing in the world of pecans moves quickly-especially when it comes to breeding. One of the first controlled cultivars, "Desirable," was developed around the turn of the last century, and yet it remains one of Georgia's most important varieties.
And we like that slow pace. It gives us time to test, taste and cultivate varieties that excite us-and you. So when you order our pecans and fall in love with the way a specific nut cracks, tastes or bakes, you can be sure it'll be back next year for you to enjoy all over again.
