Can macadamia nuts be grown in China? A detailed guide to growing conditions
Are macadamia nuts grown in China? Yes, there are. Yunnan's macadamia planting area reaches 75,150 hectares, 5 times that of Guangdong Province, which ranks second, with an output of 4,200 tons, 7 times that of Guangdong Province. China's macadamia output accounts for 3% of the world's total output.
How to grow macadamia trees
Site selection: Macadamia belongs to the tropical and subtropical premium cash crops, has strong adaptability, and is suitable for planting on hills or flat land below 1,200 m in altitude. Because the tree has a dense canopy, a shallow root system, and is not wind-resistant, the orchard should be chosen in places with few localized strong winds throughout the year; in areas prone to typhoon impact, windbreak belts must be built, and during the young tree stage bamboo or branches are needed as supports to resist wind damage.
Field planting: Field planting should avoid drought, rainy and high-temperature seasons; plant in the early or late rainy season to help the plants recover their growth. Planting density varies with soil conditions and variety type.
Young tree management: After the seedlings are planted, water them frequently to keep the soil moist; after 2 months, fertilize according to the growth of the seedlings, following the principle of frequent light applications, mainly with water-soluble fertilizer; once the seedlings' first new shoots have flushed and matured, fertilizer management can begin. In the first 3 years after planting, apart from topping when the terminal bud grows especially vigorously and cutting off low-hanging branches, the trees are allowed to take shape naturally without pruning.
Management of trees in production: They enter the production period at 4-5 years, and the tree body consumes a large amount; carry out winter orchard clearing and green manuring, and apply decomposed farmyard manure to each tree; for pruning, focus on cutting back excessive vegetative shoots and removing low-hanging branches, while also thinning overly dense branches and diseased and pest-damaged branches to keep the tree well ventilated and exposed to light.
Notes: It is extremely sensitive to water and should not lack water from flowering to maturity, especially during the nut oil accumulation period; a lack of water will seriously reduce nut quality and yield. When young leaves wilt and the tips of mature leaves lose their luster, these are signs of water shortage, and irrigation should be carried out promptly.