Canton: An early-ripening, native pecan

  We've been going over some of our yield data and the results for Canton caught my attention (photos below). Canton is an early-ripening cultivar that was discovered as a native seedling growing near Canton Missouri in the Mississippi River floodplain (NE Missouri). What caught my attention was the consistent and increasing productivity of this cultivar ever since the Dec 2007 ice storm.

Canton shuck split, 7 Sept 2012

   Take a look at our recorded yields (lbs/acre) for our Canton trees spaced 42 ft. by 42 ft. apart (or 24 trees/acre). The trees were grafted in 1986.

        Year          Yield (lbs/acre)
        -------        ------------------
        2008                 1184
        2009                 1112
        2010                 1556
        2011                 2108
        2012                 2476

    The nuts produced produced by Canton trees amount to good quality native pecans (80 nuts/lb and 48.7% kernel)(photo at left). Here's the numbers from the last 5 years.
  
      Year      nuts/lb  % kernel
       -----      --------  -----------
       2008      69.4        48.9
       2009      86.2        48.9
       2010      86.2        45.4
       2011      76.0        49.9
       2012      86.7        50.5

    Canton produces a strong tree, resistant to wind and ice breakage. This cultivar is moderately susceptible to pecan scab and should be treated with a fungicide for best yield results. If you are growing pecans in a region were length of growing season is a major limiting factor, I would recommend grafting Canton to provide you with consistent nut production.  In areas with a little longer growing season, we have better cultivar choices such as Pawnee, Kanza, or Lakota.