When to Plant Macadamia in Canberra, Cold / Highland Guide
What this month normally looks like in Cold / Highland
In October the Cold / Highland zone normally runs 20°C by day and 7°C overnight, with about 58 mm of rain over 7 or 8 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was -6.4°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 15 postcodes, SILO.
Jump to section
This Macadamia guide is written for the Cold / Highland zone, which takes in Canberra, Cooma and Bright. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Alice Springs Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade
- Soil pH
- 5.0–6.5
Australia's only commercially significant native food plant. Large evergreen tree native to QLD/NSW rainforest. Two species: M. integrifolia (smooth shell, commercial) and M.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Best Planting Window for Cold / Highland
Macadamia is not recommended for Cold / Highland.
Not suitable.
Want a nudge when it is sowing time?
One email a week with what is worth planting in the Cold / Highland zone right now, Macadamia included, plus which veg has jumped in price at the supermarket. Free, and you can stop it in one click.
How to Grow Macadamia in Cold / Highland Australia
- Soil
- Well-drained, slightly acidic, volcanic or basaltic soils ideal (reflecting native habitat). Can grow in sandy soils with organic amendment. Cannot tolerate waterlogged conditions.
- Salt
- Moderately sensitive. Copes with a little salt, but the harvest drops on salty bore water.
- pH Range
- 5.0-6.5
- Sunlight
- Full sun for best production. Tolerates light shade.
- Good companions
- Native understorey plants, Coffee (traditional intercrop in Hawaii)
- Keep away from
- Buildings too close (large tree)
Cold / Highland Growing Tips for Macadamia
Key Challenges
- Frost kills trees
Pro Tips
- Do not plant macadamias in cold highland zones.
Pests and problems for Macadamia in Cold / Highland
Harvesting Macadamia
When ready: Nuts fall from tree when mature (natural abscission). Husk splits or starts to brown. Harvest from ground. Do not pick from tree. Harvest every 2-3 weeks during drop season.
How to harvest: Collect fallen nuts from ground. Remove husk within 24 hours (prevents mould). Dry in-shell nuts in single layer in shade for 2-3 weeks.
Storing and preserving macadamia
How to keep it
- Freezing (kernel). Crack, vacuum seal or zip-lock bag kernels. Keeps: 12-24 months.
- In-shell storage. Dry husked nuts for 2-3 weeks in shade. Store in hessian bags in cool, dry, ventilated area. Keeps: 12+ months in-shell.
- Roasting. Crack shells (vice, hammer, or dedicated cracker, very hard shell). Roast kernels at 130°C for 15-20 minutes until golden. Keeps: 1 month room temp, 6 months refrigerated.
- Oil pressing. Cold press kernels for premium macadamia oil. Requires press equipment. Keeps: 12 months sealed, refrigerate after opening.
What members get
- Soil and weather from your nearest station
- An email when it's time to sow
- Your own garden plan, including planning from a photo
- Price history and price alerts
- Pest risk alerts for your area
- Full salt and canning detail
Common Questions About Macadamia
When do you plant macadamia in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Jan, Nov to Dec
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Sep to Nov
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Sep to Nov
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Mar to Apr, Oct to Nov
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): not recommended
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): not recommended
- Mediterranean (Perth): Sep to Nov
When should I plant Macadamia in Canberra?
Not suitable.
How do I know when Macadamia are ready to harvest?
Nuts fall from tree when mature (natural abscission). Husk splits or starts to brown. Harvest from ground. Do not pick from tree. Harvest every 2-3 weeks during drop season.
What grows well with Macadamia?
Good companion plants for Macadamia include: Native understorey plants, Coffee (traditional intercrop in Hawaii).
Are macadamia salt tolerant?
Only a little. Macadamia are moderately sensitive to salt, so the harvest drops on salty bore water. Mix salty water with rainwater, and mulch the bed.
Which zone am I in?
Type your postcode into the box near the top of the page and it tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Cold / Highland zone, Canberra is its reference city.