How long does a pecan tree take to bear nuts and what spacing for an orchard?

Pecan is a slow, long gestation tree. Grafted plants usually take several years to begin bearing, often around 5 to 8 years for first useful nuts and considerably longer to reach full commercial yield, while the trees grow very large over decades. Because of the big canopy, spacing is wide, commonly in the range of about 8 to 12 metres between trees depending on variety and management. Cross pollination between compatible varieties improves nut set, so plant more than one type. Given the long wait, plan intercropping or other income in the early years. Get grafts of named varieties from a recognised nursery and confirm exact spacing, pollinizer pairing and management with a horticulture research station experienced with pecan.