Kem Ormond’s vegetable garden: How to grow nut trees at home

There’s nothing quite like cracking open your own homegrown nuts. Photo / 123rf

Kem Ormond is a features writer for The Country. She’s also a keen gardener. This week, she’s writing about types of nut trees to grow in your garden.

Fancy growing your own nuts?

They’re not just delicious, they’re a long-term investment in your garden and pantry.

While nut trees often conjure images of towering giants, there are options for smaller spaces, too.

The key is choosing varieties suited to your climate and planning for their size.

Most nut trees tolerate a range of conditions, but it pays to do your homework before planting.

Because nuts are usually harvested from the ground, keep the area beneath trees clear or mowed.

For smaller trees, laying shade cloth can make collection easier, but for wide-spreading giants like walnuts and chestnuts, that’s not practical.

There’s nothing quite like cracking open your own homegrown nuts.

They’re perfect for baking, snacking, or gifting.

Here’s what you need to know about popular nut trees.

Walnuts

Walnuts. Photo / Pexels, Oksana D

Walnuts are one of the giants of the nut world, growing up to 15 metres tall and wide.

They’re hardy and will grow in most regions if planted in a sunny, sheltered spot protected from intense winds.

Plant in late autumn or winter from bare-root or potted trees.

Harvest time is March through April.

Wait for the nuts to fall, remove the husks, and dry them before storing.

A bag of freshly shelled walnuts makes a wonderful gift.

Macadamias

Macadamia nuts. Photo / 123rf

Macadamias are smaller, reaching about eight metres, and prefer warm, moist conditions, making them ideal for northern regions.

They take about four years to start producing and reach their peak at 10 years.

Choose grafted varieties for faster results.

After harvest, remove the husks within a day, store the nuts in onion sacks for three months, then move them to a warm, dry spot until the kernels rattle inside the shells.

At that point, you’ll need a macadamia crusher and trust me, it’s worth it.

Almonds

Lines of almond trees in flower. Photo / 123rf

Almonds are surprisingly compact, growing to about 4m tall and wide.

They thrive in hot, dry summers with plenty of sunshine and low humidity, so coastal areas can be challenging.

Cross-pollination is needed for a good crop, so plant two trees unless you opt for a dwarf self-pollinating variety.

After three years, you’ll be harvesting almonds when the outer hull splits open.

Spread a tarp under the canopy and shake the tree to collect the nuts.

Almonds are packed with good fats and fibre, making them one of the healthiest nuts you can eat.

Chestnuts

Chestnuts. Photo / Unsplash, Waldemar Brandt

Chestnuts are another giant, reaching 15m in height and width.

They prefer well-drained soil and require very little pruning.

Once established, they produce heavy yields, but their main use is roasting the nuts.

They’re great for filling a large space and providing shade, but not ideal for small gardens.

This is my least-favoured nut tree.

Hazlenuts

A hazelnut tree grove. Photo / Lynda Feringa

Hazelnuts are the easiest of the bunch, growing as a fast-growing shrub up to five metres tall.

They suit cooler climates and will grow where other nuts struggle.

They’re clean and simple to harvest with no messy husks or ridiculously hard shells; they can be cracked with a standard nutcracker.

They take six to seven years to produce, with full maturity at 10 to 12 years, and you’ll need at least two trees for cross-pollination.

Nut trees are a commitment, but the reward is worth the wait.

Start small, choose varieties suited to your climate, and you’ll enjoy homegrown goodness for decades.