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Fruits, Nuts & Perennial Crop CalendarsMacadamia Calendar
Macadamias are tropical and subtropical evergreens with long flowering and a slow nut cycle. Harvest relies on nuts dropping to the ground, and drying is key to quality.
Key points
- Macadamias need frost-free or nearly frost-free climates.
- Nuts drop when ripe, so collect them often.
- Drying promptly protects quality.
- Check quarantine and food safety rules before selling.
- Keep the ground clean of old husks and fallen nuts.
Where can macadamias grow?
Macadamias grow in warm, frost-free or nearly frost-free regions. Hawaii is the best known United States producer, with smaller plantings in California and Florida. Young trees are especially vulnerable to cold.
Hardiness zones describe winter minimums only, so ask your extension office about frost history and local experience. CTAHR in Hawaii publishes much of the technical guidance.
Trees that are healthy in a mild year may fail in the first freeze. If your area gets frost in some winters, ask extension whether macadamias have survived locally over many years.
What does the macadamia flowering cycle look like?
Trees produce long clusters of small flowers, and only a small share set nuts. Flowering extends over weeks, and weather during bloom affects set. Bees visit the flowers, so protecting them matters.
Some varieties set better with a second variety nearby. Ask your nursery or extension office about pollination notes for the variety you choose.
Heavy flowering does not guarantee a heavy crop. Wind, rain and temperature during bloom determine set, so expect variation among years. Observe the trees every few days during bloom and write down what weather came with it.
- Protect bees during bloom
- Check variety pollination notes
- Record bloom dates yearly
How long does it take for nuts to mature?
Nuts develop slowly over many months. The husk matures and splits, and the nut drops to the ground when ripe. Trees may carry nuts at different stages, so harvest spreads across a long window.
Rather than going by dates, use the signs on the tree and the ground: husk splitting, nut drop and shell color.
Keep a simple log of the date you first see husks splitting and the date you start gathering nuts each season. Over several years, these notes tell you when your own trees are ready.
- Look for husk splitting
- Note the first nut drop
- Gather often once drop begins
How do you plant and care for macadamia trees?
Plant young trees in well drained soil with sun and wind protection. Young trees need regular watering and mulch, and protection from cold in marginal climates. Trees grow large, so plan spacing carefully.
Feed by soil or leaf test and local advice. Nutrient management rules vary by state. Prune lightly to open the canopy and remove dead wood.
Weed control around young trees matters. Use mulch and hand weeding or mowing to keep competition down without damaging shallow roots and bark.
- Use mulch around young trees
- Protect from cold and wind
- Plan generous spacing
How and when are macadamias harvested?
Growers collect nuts that have fallen, rather than picking from the tree, and they gather often to keep nuts from molding or being eaten by pests. Frequent collection protects quality.
Remove the husk soon after harvest, since husks hold moisture. Wet nuts can spoil quickly, so keep them ventilated.
Wear gloves when handling husks, and discard moldy nuts rather than mixing them with sound ones. Clean harvest containers between loads.
- Wear gloves for husks
- Discard moldy nuts
- Clean containers between loads
How do you dry and store macadamias?
Drying is important to quality. Nuts are dried in the shell in a ventilated place and then stored cool and dry. Poor drying leads to mold and off flavors.
Follow extension guidance for drying methods and storage. If you plan to sell nuts, check food safety and labeling rules.
Cracking the shell takes a special tool because macadamia shells are extremely hard. Ask extension about options for home cracking and about food safety if you sell kernels. Whole nuts in the shell keep better than cracked kernels, so crack only what you plan to use soon.
- Dry nuts in a ventilated place
- Store cool and dry
- Check food safety rules before selling
What pests and rules should you know about?
Nut borers, stink bugs, rats and rot can affect crops, depending on region. Sanitation, such as removing old husks and fallen nuts, reduces problems. Some regions have quarantine rules on plant and nut movement.
This guide gives no product names or rates. Follow your extension guide, apply only labeled products as directed, observe pre-harvest intervals and protect pollinators.
Keep the ground clean of fallen nuts and husks, since they harbor rodents and pests. A weekly cleanup in season pays off in cleaner nuts.
Sources and further reading
Last reviewed: November 2026. Educational information, ranges only. Confirm timing with your county extension office.