Wichita variety pecans

According to the University of Georgia’s Pecan Breeding Program, which was established in 1998, ‘Wichita’ is a selection from a cross between ‘Halbert’ and ‘Mahan‘ made in 1940 by L.D. Romberg at the Pecan Field Station in Brownwood, TX. In 1949, scion wood from this selection was distributed to growers for trial studies. It was named and released by Romberg in 1959 (Sparks, 1992).

If you decide to grow the Wichita variety in your home garden you should be aware that it has serious scab problems in humid areas.  In addition it can be susceptible to freeze issues.  The tree is very vigorous, productive and begins to bear in only 5 to 7 years. Wichita develops “V” limb angles that split and require careful training. It tends to be a poor-bearing, unattractive tree if it is not well managed.

The Wichita pecan tree is a late pollinating variety.  This means it sheds its pollen later in the season. To ensure good pollination its important to plant within 300 feet of another tree that might pollinate earlier (for example, a Pawnee or Cheyenne pecan variety).  Other trees nearby can also provide pollination assistant to a lone Wichita tree.

Expected nut size and yield: 61 nuts/lb., 59% kernel