Macadamia Kernels Go Soft After Drying

Grubs starts with ...
I've been picking up macadamias from the ground a couple of times a week and dehusking them immediately and leaving the nuts in a pile on the kitchen bench to dry (as per instructions I googled up). After a couple of weeks drying I then go to crack open then nuts and the kernel has shrunk a *lot* so it only fills ~ 30-40% of the void inside the nut and they are soft - a bit like eating chewy dried apple - not at all like a yummy crunchy macadamia from the shop!

If I crack the nuts as soon as I pick them up the kernel is full size and crunchy a bit like a green almond straight off the tree (not the best eating).

I couldn't find anything on "the net" about soft kernels... does anyone have any ideas on whether I should be doing something different to process the nuts for eating...or perhaps the tree is missing some particular "crunchy nut" nutrients? The tree is 15-20 years old...totally unloved (no mulch, no water...just growing in a paddock).


...or is this just what you get because its growing in Melbourne?

Any ideas?

davewastech says...
Getting the correct dryness is important commercially.
See
http://era.daf.qld.gov.au/1964/4/mac-growing_guide_Part4.pdf
page 66 Section "e;Nut-in-shell drying and storage"e;

Avo L134 says...
It is likely that the nut has not fully mature when you picked them off the tree/ground. You'll find that if you crack them straight immediately the white flesh is crisp and moist, and filling out the entire nut.