How to Harvest, Dry & Store Pecans in Texas

So you’ve found your pecan tree — and this fall, it’s dropping a bounty of brown shells across the yard.

Now what?

Collecting and curing backyard pecans isn’t hard, but doing it right preserves flavor and freshness.

Here’s how to handle harvest season like a pro, using guidance from Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and local growers across the state.

🍂 1. Wait for the Right Time

Most Texas pecan varieties ripen between October and December, depending on weather and region (Path to the Plate: Pecans, 2024).

You’ll know they’re ready when:

1. Green husks split naturally into four sections.
2. Nuts fall freely to the ground with a light shake or breeze.

Avoid picking green pecans — they won’t finish maturing once separated from the tree.

🌳 Not sure what kind of pecan tree you have? Start here: Found a Pecan Tree in Your Yard? Here’s What to Do Next →

🧺 2. Gather Daily During Peak Drop

Once nuts begin falling, collect them every day if possible. They can absorb moisture or attract pests quickly — especially after rain.

Tips from Texas growers (Farm Bureau, 2023):

1. Use a nut roller or lightweight rake to keep gathering easy.
2. Store fresh nuts in shallow trays or baskets, not sealed bags, until fully dry.
3. Keep each day’s harvest separate so you can monitor dryness evenly.

🐛 3. Inspect for Damage

Before drying, sort through your haul and remove any nuts that:

1. Float in water (a sign of hollow shells or insect damage).
2. Have small holes or webbing (possible pecan weevil activity).
3. Show visible mold, cracks, or dark discoloration.

Healthy nuts feel heavy for their size and have tight, unbroken shells (Home Fruit Production – Pecans, 2024).

🌞 4. Air-Dry Before Shelling

Proper drying deepens flavor and prevents spoilage.

Spread pecans in a single layer on a tray or screen in a dry, well-ventilated area for 7–10 days.

AgriLife recommends keeping temperatures between 60–80°F and out of direct sun or rain.

If humidity is high, move them indoors and use a small fan to circulate air.

⏱️ Don’t rush the process — even a few damp pecans can ruin an entire batch in storage.

🔪 5. Crack and Shell Carefully

Once shells feel brittle, test-crack a few nuts.

The kernels should separate cleanly and snap when bent.

You can hand-crack with a lever-style nutcracker or use an electric sheller for larger harvests.

Farmers recommend shelling only what you’ll use soon and storing the rest in-shell for maximum freshness (Commercial Pecan Orchards in Texas, Aggie Horticulture).

🧊 6. Store Pecans for Long-Lasting Flavor

Properly cured pecans can last:

1. In-shell: up to 9 months in a cool, dry place; up to 2 years frozen.
2. Shelled: about 3 months at room temperature, 1 year refrigerated, or 2 years frozen (Home Fruit Production – Pecans, 2024).

Keep them away from strong odors — pecans easily absorb smells from onions, garlic, or paint.

Label containers with harvest dates to track freshness.

👩‍🌾 7. Learn from the Pros

Texas farmers perfect these same steps on a larger scale — shaking, sweeping, and curing thousands of pounds each season.

Visiting a working orchard reveals how variety, soil, and water shape flavor and yield (Texas Pecan Production Continues Challenging Cycle, AgriLife Today, 2024).

👉 Explore Texas Pecan Farms → 

You’ll see why Texas leads the nation in native pecan diversity — and maybe find your new favorite pie ingredient.

🥧 8. Enjoy (and Share) the Harvest

Whether you roast, candy, or bake them, homegrown pecans carry a flavor you can’t buy in a bag.

🍠 Try this next: Sweet Potatoes, Pecans & Pies: Texas Ingredients for Your Holiday Table

❓ FAQ: Harvesting, Drying & Storing Pecans

Should I wash pecans before drying?

No — washing traps moisture inside the shell. Simply brush off debris before air-drying.

How do I stop pecan weevils?

Pick up fallen nuts promptly and destroy any infested ones to break the insect’s life cycle (Home Fruit Production – Pecans, 2024).

Can I use an oven to dry pecans?

Avoid it. High heat can cause off-flavors. Stick to air-drying at room temperature.

Why do some years produce fewer nuts?

Pecan trees naturally alternate between heavy and light production years — a rhythm called alternate bearing (Texas Pecan Production Continues Challenging Cycle, 2024).

📚 References

1. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension (2024). Home Fruit Production – Pecans (E-609).
2. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension (2024). Path to the Plate: Pecans.
3. Texas A&M AgriLife Today (2024). Texas Pecan Production Continues Challenging Cycle.
4. Texas Farm Bureau (2023). Growers Share Their Passion for Pecans with the Lone Star State.
5. Texas A&M Aggie Horticulture (n.d.). Commercial Pecan Orchards in Texas.