Macadamia Nut Growing 101: The Process Explained
Have you ever wondered how long it takes for Macadamia nuts to grow? If so, you’re not alone! Growing nut trees can seem like a mysterious and time-consuming process. But with some basic knowledge about the life cycle of Macadamia nut trees, you’ll be able to impress your friends with your newfound expertise.
The Growth Cycle of a Macadamia Nut Tree
First things first – let’s talk about the growth cycle of a macadamia tree. Unlike many other types of fruit trees, macadamias take several years to produce their first crop of nuts. In fact, it can take up to seven years for a macadamia tree to reach full maturity!
During the earliest stages of growth (the first two or three years), the focus is on developing roots and establishing strong branches that will support future yields. It isn’t until year four or five that flowers begin to appear on mature branches.
How Long Until Harvest?
Once these flowers bloom and are pollinated by bees or other pollinators, they begin to form into tiny green fruits known as “drupes”. These drupes slowly grow in size over several months as they develop into mature nuts with hard shells.
Typically, it takes around six months from flowering until harvest-time arrives when the large woody fruits are collected after they have fallen from the tree naturally. Once harvested from May through August depending on location and cultivar finishes out its growing season letting go of all leaves prior winter dormancy sets in.
So there you have it! While growing macadamias may require patience since these precious little nuggets won’t come overnight; once they’re ready for harvest after seven years – well worth waiting around for!
