The macadamia nut has recently grown in popularity as a cash crop all over the world though it is indigenous to Australia. The first horticultural propagation are reported to have been set up in the islands of Hawaii. It is only in the 1960s when it was spreading to the north American region that macadamia nut farms were established in Australia.
The yields obtained from a macadamia orchard are highly dependent on the average temperature experienced in the respective zones of cultivation. Blossoming will be initiated only if the night temperatures get to fall below 19 degrees Celsius. Frost ridden regions are inappropriate for macadamia cultivation since the low temperatures kill off young trees and developing blossoms on older trees.
The macadamia tree is an evergreen hardwood that is resilient enough to thrive in the midst of stiff competition. The soil should be of a fine texture with good aeration and drainage to promote the establishment of a good root network to support vigorous plant growth. In areas prone to strong wind gusts, experts recommend planting windbreak trees to cushion young plants from adverse gales.
It should be noted that the trees can grow up to heights of twenty meters with far reaching branches. For this reason, the planting holes should be designed in a grid pattern across the orchard, with a spacing of between 30 and 50 meters. If you lack the expertise to conduct a thorough soil sampling, you could estimate the drainage rate during rainy seasons by drilling an auger hole to the hardpan layer and pouring in some water to record how long it takes for it to drain away.
A large farm will have to be worked over with machinery, so stony zones or stretches of land with a high gradient must be avoided. Instead of doing site selection on your own, consider hiring a landscaper to help you with the task. Choosing the wrong site may make you unpopular with your neighbors or hamper access to the farm by machines.
Row placement should be tuned to the north south direction for better sunning of the trees at all stages. Choose the variety you intent to grow with care as it may determine the quality and cost of your produce. Consult widely with neighbors and state agriculture officers but you should learn to differentiate facts and unsubstantiated beliefs.
Bear in mind that the processor to whom you intend to market your nuts may be particular about the variety he buys. If you intend to blend the crop for improved quality, mix varieties during planting since all species reproduce by cross pollination. If your farm produces many kinds of nuts, you may want to sort them before delivering to the market.
While windbreak trees may be a good inclusion in macadamia nut farms, the farmers must weigh the pros and cons of planting them on their property. They have the capacity to compete with the main crop for nutrients and sunshine. Planting the wrong species may also result in alternative habitats for rodents that are a nuisance to the farmer. Moreover, windbreaks are only necessary during the initial four years, after which removing them may come with a range of demerits especially if they are grown within the orchard.
The yields obtained from a macadamia orchard are highly dependent on the average temperature experienced in the respective zones of cultivation. Blossoming will be initiated only if the night temperatures get to fall below 19 degrees Celsius. Frost ridden regions are inappropriate for macadamia cultivation since the low temperatures kill off young trees and developing blossoms on older trees.
The macadamia tree is an evergreen hardwood that is resilient enough to thrive in the midst of stiff competition. The soil should be of a fine texture with good aeration and drainage to promote the establishment of a good root network to support vigorous plant growth. In areas prone to strong wind gusts, experts recommend planting windbreak trees to cushion young plants from adverse gales.
It should be noted that the trees can grow up to heights of twenty meters with far reaching branches. For this reason, the planting holes should be designed in a grid pattern across the orchard, with a spacing of between 30 and 50 meters. If you lack the expertise to conduct a thorough soil sampling, you could estimate the drainage rate during rainy seasons by drilling an auger hole to the hardpan layer and pouring in some water to record how long it takes for it to drain away.
A large farm will have to be worked over with machinery, so stony zones or stretches of land with a high gradient must be avoided. Instead of doing site selection on your own, consider hiring a landscaper to help you with the task. Choosing the wrong site may make you unpopular with your neighbors or hamper access to the farm by machines.
Row placement should be tuned to the north south direction for better sunning of the trees at all stages. Choose the variety you intent to grow with care as it may determine the quality and cost of your produce. Consult widely with neighbors and state agriculture officers but you should learn to differentiate facts and unsubstantiated beliefs.
Bear in mind that the processor to whom you intend to market your nuts may be particular about the variety he buys. If you intend to blend the crop for improved quality, mix varieties during planting since all species reproduce by cross pollination. If your farm produces many kinds of nuts, you may want to sort them before delivering to the market.
While windbreak trees may be a good inclusion in macadamia nut farms, the farmers must weigh the pros and cons of planting them on their property. They have the capacity to compete with the main crop for nutrients and sunshine. Planting the wrong species may also result in alternative habitats for rodents that are a nuisance to the farmer. Moreover, windbreaks are only necessary during the initial four years, after which removing them may come with a range of demerits especially if they are grown within the orchard.
