We have started harvesting the pecans that have fallen from the tree onto the ground this past week. The normal harvesting time is between mid October thru November. The longer we can wait to harvest the better, but unfortunately we are competing with the squirrels for the mature nuts. They’ve already started chewing up these nuts & spitting the green outer shells onto the ground. So we’ve gathered what has fallen from the tree due to wind or rain. Then we lay them out on some extra window screens we had laying around. This way they can dry out since the outer shell contains quite a bit of moisture. Here is some information I found online from TEXASA&MSYSTEM.
Pecans are mature and ready to harvest anytime after the shuck begins to open. It is easier to wait and harvest nuts by shaking or thrashing branches after shucks are wide open and partially dried. However, the longer you wait, the more pecans that may be lost to predators. Squirrels, crows, bluejays, wild turkeys, raccoons and deer all can cause serious yield reduction. Nuts harvested early in the season have a high moisture content and need to be dried before storage. Dry them in the shell in thin layers on elevated screens or hang them in small mesh bags in a well-ventilated area at room temperature out of direct sunlight. Within 2 weeks the nut meats should be dry enough to snap when bent, an indication they are ready for storage or immediate use. To retain nut meat quality, store pecans in the freezer. Pecans retain good quality for up to 6 months in the refrigerator, but the freezer ensures much better quality when storing shelled pecans. Pecans readily absorb odors from almost any material, including other fruits and vegetables, so be careful to protect them from possible contaminating odors.
