How long does it take for a macadamia tree to produce nuts?

The first step to learning how to grow macadamia trees is to align with the climate appropriate for the trees. These evergreens thrive in a subtropical climate for USDA zones 9-11, which rarely sees temperatures drop below 25°F (-3°C). Frost will kill the flowers and young nuts, so do not plant in an area that has sustained winter cold. Grafted macadamia trees produce nuts 5-7 years faster than seedlings.

Young trees should be watered 20 gallons once a week in dry weather, and trees that are older than the young trees should be watered deeply once every two weeks. Overwatering can lead to root rot; check soil moisture at a depth of 4 inches. A drowned orchard belonging to one of my clients forced me to consider drainage before frequency, - something I should have known.

Use 0-0-50 NPK forms of fertilizers to encourage nut development over foliage. Apply 1 pound per diameter inch of trunk size in the spring and fall. When I applied this regimen, I reported an average of 25% larger kernels than when applying the same amount of nitrogen-heavy blends.

You can effectively control nut borers if you release Trichogramma wasps in early spring. For stink bugs, you can apply neem oil (at dusk, to keep from harming bees) and need to address the issue in the first 48 hours of spotting them. A neighbor who does not use any pest control suffered losses of 60% in his orchard.

Collect the harvest when the husks are splitting open and the nuts are falling on their own. Dry nuts for three weeks in a low-temperature range of 95-104°F (35-40°C). Store the nuts in vacuum-sealed bags or airtight containers to prevent rancidity or exposure to air. Last season's crop remained crisp for 18 months.

Read the full article: How to Grow Macadamia Trees: A Complete Care Guide