Candy

Average nut quality of test trees.

History

'Candy' was a seedling selection made by Theodore Bechtel of Ocean Springs, Mississippi in 1913 (Kenknight, 1970).

Comments

'Candy' trees are extremely attractive, leafing out quickly in the spring and producing a very full and lush canopy. 'Candy' is an extremely precocious and prolific cultivar, ranking #1 in kernel yield in years 1-10 and remaining a top producer in years 11-20. 'Candy' does begin to alternate as a mature tree, but percent kernel does not decrease as it does in many other cultivars. Unfortunately 'Candy' produces a nut that is too small (78 nuts / lb.) to bring a good price in the Georgia marketplace. Percent kernel in 'Candy' is low at 45%, but this is due more to the nut being small, than to the kernel being poorly developed. Note the very high specific gravity, a sign that the kernel fills out well in most years. 'Candy' kernels are very attractive, and a high percentage of them grade as fancy. Kernels are oily and have an exceptionally good taste. Scab resistance is good to excellent in most locations. 'Candy' is a popular cultivar in Louisiana, and 'Candy' would make an attractive backyard tree, but the nuts are too small for commercial acceptance in Georgia. However, with the high speed Quantz cracker, small nut size might not be as much of a disadvantage as it once was.

• Compare kernel yield of 'Candy' to some other cultivars
  
• Pollen shed and pistil receptivity

Production record of test trees beginning in year planted

'Candy' production from the Ponder Variety Grove test. Each colored line represents the yearly production in pounds of nuts from an individual tree beginning the year planted.

Alternate Bearing Intensity = 0.62