How long does macadamia take to bear and what spacing for planting?

Macadamia is a slow tree. Grafted plants typically take several years to start bearing, often around 5 to 7 years for first nuts and longer to reach full commercial yield, while seedlings take even longer and are not recommended for serious planting. Spacing is wide because the trees grow large, commonly in the range of about 7 to 9 metres between plants, adjusted to your land and variety. Because reliable Indian planting material and proven local recommendations are scarce, get grafts of a known variety from a recognised nursery and confirm spacing and management with a horticulture university or research station experienced with macadamia. Expect a long unproductive period and plan some intercrop or other income for those years.