Lexi Webster
Australia is home to a variety of nuts, with almonds, macadamias, pistachios, walnuts, and chestnuts being some of the most popular. Growing your own nuts can be a rewarding experience, but it's important to consider the specific requirements of each type of nut tree. For example, pistachios and walnuts thrive in long, hot, dry summers and cold winters, while macadamias are relatively pest-free and can be propagated by grafting or seeding. Almonds, on the other hand, prefer temperate or warm temperate climates and can grow in various types of soil as long as they are not frequently waterlogged. With the right care and attention, you can enjoy the fruits of your labour—literally!
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Nuts that can be grown in Australia | Almonds, Pistachios, Walnuts, Pecans, Macadamia, Hazelnuts, Pine Nuts, Chestnuts |
| Climate required for Almonds | Temperate or warm temperate with long, warm, and dry summers and cool and moist winters |
| Climate required for Pistachios | Long, dry, hot summers and cold winters |
| Climate required for Walnuts | Long, hot, dry summers and cool winters |
| Climate required for Pecans | Temperate and subtropical |
| Climate required for Macadamia | Subtropical, frost should not be too deep |
| Climate required for Hazelnuts | Temperate, free from hot winds and salty water |
| Climate required for Pine Nuts | Stony ground |
| Climate required for Chestnuts | Cold with well-drained soils |
| Time to fruit for Almonds | 3 years, significant crop in 8 years |
| Time to fruit for Pistachios | 4-5 years |
| Time to fruit for Walnuts | 4 years |
| Time to fruit for Pecans | 3-4 years |
| Time to fruit for Macadamia | 5-10 years, full production in 15-20 years |
| Time to fruit for Hazelnuts | N/A |
| Time to fruit for Pine Nuts | N/A |
| Time to fruit for Chestnuts | N/A |
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What You'll Learn
Growing almonds in Australia
Almonds are a popular choice for home growers in Australia, as they can be grown in an average-sized garden. They are also Australia's most valuable horticultural export product, with around 61% produced in Victoria's growing regions.
Almonds grow best in temperate or warm temperate climates. They can also grow in cold areas, provided they are protected from cold winds and late frosts, which can damage the flowers. The perfect climate for almonds is a warm, dry area with mild, wet winters, dry springs, and hot, dry summers. Almonds can be grown in large pots or planter boxes, but look for dwarf, self-pollinating forms such as 'All In One' or 'Dwarf Self-Pollinating Almond', which can grow up to 2m tall and wide. Choose a pot at least 600mm wide. Position in full sun and partially fill with a quality potting mix. Remove the shrub from the container, gently tease the roots, and cut away any circled or tangled roots. Position in the pot and backfill with potting mix, gently firming down. Water well. Mulch with an organic mulch, such as bark chips, sugarcane, or pea straw, ensuring it is kept away from the trunk.
Water regularly and deeply during the growing, flowering, and fruiting seasons, keeping the soil moist but not wet. While almond trees are drought-tolerant, they produce more almonds when they are well-watered. Feed your tree at least twice a year, in autumn and spring, with a balanced fertiliser. For an added nutrient boost, feed fortnightly during the flowering and fruiting seasons with a liquid plant food. After 2-3 years, harvest the almonds when the outer, fleshy hull starts to split open. You can spread a tarp under the canopy and knock the tree to collect the nuts. Almonds can be stored in the shell for months. Once shelled, store them in an airtight container.
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Where to grow walnuts
Walnuts are grown more widely across Australia than some other tree nuts, particularly thriving in cool-temperate and semi-arid regions. They grow best in climates with long, hot, dry summers and cool winters. They are native to Central Asia and can grow up to 25 to 30 metres tall, living for hundreds of years.
When planting, choose an open, sunny site with deep and well-drained soil enriched with organic matter. Protect young trees from strong winds. In spring and summer, feed with a complete fertiliser and water in well. Trees will also benefit from a fortnightly liquid feed during the growing season.
In terms of where to grow walnuts in Australia, the major production areas are largely in southeast Australia. In New South Wales, the Riverina near Griffith and Leeton are key areas. There are also small-scale orchards in the Southern Highlands and Central Tablelands. In Victoria, the Goulburn Valley near Shepparton, the Murray Irrigation area near Kerang and Swan Hill, and the Ovens Valley, Gippsland and Central region are all important for walnut production. In South Australia, the Adelaide Hills and Riverland regions are key, and in Western Australia, the southwest of the state is a smaller production area.
Tasmania is also a region where walnuts are planted, from the state's northern areas to Moree in northern New South Wales. There are small production regions scattered throughout northern Victoria and southern New South Wales.
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How to grow pistachios
Pistachios can be grown in an average-sized garden, and while they are a little finicky, they are rewarding. Pistachio trees have specific climate needs and thrive in hot, dry climates with long, hot summers and cold winters. They are native to the Middle East and Central Asia, where the climate perfectly suits their needs. In Australia, they grow well in arid and semi-arid inland areas, as well as in cold and warm temperate areas with hot summers (above 38°C) and cold winters (with at least 6 weeks at 7°C, but no colder than –9°C).
To grow pistachios, you need two trees—one male and one female—as they need both to produce nuts. One male tree can pollinate up to eight females, so a 50/50 split is not necessary. Plant them with enough room for airflow, as these trees do not like cramped quarters. Plant in full sun, preferably in a windy area to improve pollination. Pistachio trees are quite hardy and will tolerate poor soils, provided they are planted deep enough to accommodate their lengthy taproot. They are drought- and wind-tolerant once established. Water at least once a week, more often in dry weather, for the first couple of years, until the tree establishes. After the third winter, water only as required, especially during flowering and nut development.
You can either grow pistachio trees from seeds or buy a grafted tree. If growing from seeds, buy raw pistachio seeds from a nursery or health food store. Avoid seeds from grocery stores, as they may be salted or roasted and will not germinate. To germinate seeds, place about five seeds in a resealable plastic bag with holes and keep at room temperature for at least a week. Once sprouts appear, transfer each seed to a plastic cup filled with soil, drilling a hole at the bottom for drainage. Keep the soil damp, but be careful not to overwater. It is challenging to grow trees from seeds as it could take years for them to bear fruit, and the seeds may not be true to type. Alternatively, you can buy grafted saplings from a nursery, which will save time and ensure a fruit-bearing tree.
Pistachio trees are prone to fungal diseases such as Verticillium wilt and Botryosphaeria blight. Regularly inspect your trees for signs of pests or disease, and prune properly to improve air circulation. Keep the area around the trees free of fallen leaves and nuts. Use neem oil or insecticidal soaps for pest control.
Pistachio trees take a long time to bear fruit, requiring patience. On average, they start bearing fruit when they are about eight years old, and a full harvest will only come fifteen years into the tree's life. Harvest in autumn when the hulls begin to split. Remove hulls as soon as possible and dry nuts (still in their shells) in the sun or oven.
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Macadamia nuts: planting and harvesting
Macadamia trees are native to Australia and can grow up to 20 metres tall in the wild, though they tend to reach heights of 8-10 metres in gardens. They are a fast-growing, medium-sized evergreen tree with heavy, dark green foliage. Their leaves are blunt-tipped, oblong, and generally over a foot long, developing in whorls of twos, threes, or fours. Macadamia flowers are small and whitish, growing on long spikes, while the nuts have a leathery case that is one inch in diameter, containing either a spherical nut or two hemispherical nuts. The nuts ripen throughout the year, though they primarily ripen in the fall and spring.
To plant macadamia trees, ensure the soil is moist, well-drained, and enriched with organic matter. The trees require full sun exposure and warm, moist weather with at least 50 inches of rain annually. Amend your soil to reach a pH level of 5.5-6.5. If you are using the tree for nut production, choose a grafted plant to shorten the time to maturity. Grafted trees will fruit in as little as three to four years, whereas seedling trees can take up to seven years.
To harvest macadamia nuts, pick the nuts from the ground when they are ripe and have fallen from the tree. This usually occurs in the fall and winter. Remove the husks as soon as possible, then air dry the nuts in the shade for at least two weeks. The nuts have a moisture content of up to 30% at harvest, so drying is critical to maximise the quality of the end product. This process can take up to three weeks and reduces the moisture content to around 1.5%. The kernel will then shrink away from the inside of the shell, allowing the shells to be cracked without damaging the kernel.
Macadamia shells have a variety of uses, including as mulch, fuel in macadamia nut processing, and as a planting medium for anthurium cultures. Macadamia husks can be used as mulch or compost for fertiliser.
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Pecans: Australia's most successful commercial crop
Pecans are one of Australia's most successful commercial crops. They are native to America and are well-suited to the Australian climate, particularly in temperate and subtropical regions. Pecan trees are large, deciduous, and can tolerate a wide range of conditions, including harsh frosts and hot summers. They require very little chill time, only needing 200-300 hours, and thrive in the dry spring weather of the east coast, which enables effective pollination.
Pecan trees are beautiful, hardy, and productive, making them an excellent choice for parks or large gardens. They can tolerate a range of soil conditions, though they prefer deep, free-draining soil and will still produce in heavy soils as long as they are not waterlogged. Pecans have very few pests in Australia, making them an easy tree to grow for food and shade. They can take several years to begin producing nuts, but once established, they are a valuable and long-term investment.
In Australia, pecan trees can grow to be quite large, providing ample nuts for commercial harvesting. They are also grown in the USA, Mexico, and South Africa, with the American and Mexican crops accounting for over 90% of the world's pecans. Australia currently produces around 2,800 tonnes of pecans (in-shell), with a kernel equivalent of approximately 1,600 tonnes.
Pecans are a versatile nut, used in a variety of dishes, and their trees provide both food and shade, making them a popular choice for commercial growers and home gardeners alike. With their ability to adapt to different climates and growing conditions, pecans have become one of Australia's most successful commercial nut crops.
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Frequently asked questions
Some nut trees that can be grown in Australia include pistachio, walnut, almond, macadamia, pecan, hazelnut, and chestnut trees.
Pistachio trees grow best in areas with long, hot, dry summers and cold winters. They can be planted in most sunny places in southern Australia, except for some mild coastal areas. Plant male and female trees close together, with the male tree upwind of the female, to help promote pollination. Pistachio trees are best planted in the cooler months and can produce nuts after four to five years. Harvest in autumn when the hulls begin to split.
Almond trees are well-suited for the Mediterranean climate of the bottom third of the Australian continent. They can be grown in a wide range of soils, except those that are frequently waterlogged. Plant in full sun in moist, well-drained soil and water well, especially during summer. Feed the trees in autumn and late winter with a complete fertiliser. Almond trees can grow quite large, up to eight metres high, so they should be pruned to a smaller size. Almonds will be ready for harvest after about three years, but a significant crop can be expected after eight years. Harvest the nuts when the outer coating splits and the fruit drops.
