Growing Macadamias Hidden Valley Plantations started growing Macadamias in 1965. We have about 40 ha of orchards. Macadamias require a sub-tropical environment with a good rainfall to do well. In order to produce crop, night temperatures during winter need to fall below 15C, but at the same time they are not frost tolerant. During summer the trees will be stressed if temperatures go above 35C. Rainfalls of 1500 - 2000mm are desirable with the bulk of it in summer, or supplemental irrigation will be required.
High altitudes can detrimentally affect quality.
The flowers appear in Spring and nuts form up over Summer. Macadamias can take up to eight years to bear commercially, and this waiting period is is one of the major costs associated with growing them. There can also be a large labour component, as well as other inputs. Hidden Valley Plantations continues to investigate many areas of cultural practices with the aim of reducing these costs and increasing yields per hectare. Macadamias Hidden Valley Plantations started processing Macadamias in 1978.