When Can You Pick Macadamia Nuts?

Ripen on the Tree

• Don't attempt to pick the macadamia nuts from the tree by cutting or pulling. They need to ripen on the tree and if removed too soon will be unripe. Ideally, allow them to fall from the tree on their own, and scoop the nuts from the ground. If you have a macadamia tree with ripening nuts in your yard, pick the nuts off the ground every four weeks or less, until harvesting period ends.

The Macadamia Tree

• The macadamia nut tree is a tropical plant, native to northeastern Australia. There are thin-shell and thick-shell varieties. A macadamia tree can grow up to 60 feet high and 40 feet wide. Their leaves are evergreen, with prickly edges like holly, which are 6 to 8 inches long. The macadamia tree's flowers are fragrant. Most varieties do not tolerate temperatures below 25 degrees F. The macadamia nut is a significant commercial crop for Hawaii.

Hawaii Crop

• The macadamia nut tree first arrived in Hawaii in 1881. In Hawaii, the macadamia nut harvest is from around July to March. Growers allow the nuts to fall from tree and use mechanical sweepers or other devices to scoop the nuts off the ground. If left for over a month on the ground, the nuts become vulnerable to mold, pest damage and germination. In Hawaii, the macadamia nut tree begins bearing a crop during the fifth year after planting. Yet, it takes up to 15 years for it to reach its full production potential.

Processing the Nut

• Remove the macadamia nut's outer husk immediately after harvesting. After gathering the nuts up off the ground, peal off the outer husk and allow the nuts to air-dry for several weeks. Arrange the husk-less nuts on a screen in a layer, no more than two nuts deep, and set in the shade where they can get plenty of air. Removing the shells requires a vice or special macadamia nut cracker. The nuts are then dried and then roasted. Noted for their buttery flavor, macadamia nuts are high in calories, compared to other nut types.