Common Name: Avocado
Botanical name: Persea americana
Summary
The avocado forms a very large evergreen tree up to 30m if grown from a seedling. Grafted trees to 10m Hight. Dark green leaves form a thick canopy with dense shade.
The tree has perfect flowers (both male and female parts) which can be female in the morning and male in the afternoon or vice versa. Varieties are known as type A or B.
In cooler climates, this crossover period is shared enabling a single tree to self-pollinate. Warmer climates will require a second tree of a different type.
A temperamental tree when young, hardy once established. The fruit is rich in fat and protein.
Likes
- Very well drained deep soil
- Regular water
- Chicken manure to improve soil quality and drainage
Doesn’t like
- Water logging
- Frost on flowering
- Sunburn on newly exposed branch and trunk wood
- Drought
- Hot afternoon sun
Flowers in
- Prolific racemes on the ends of branches in spring
Fruits in
- Summer – autumn
Care
Planting
Buy grafted plants certified free of Phytophthora root rot fungus, stake at planting as avocados have a shallow root system, plant in spring.
Pollination/self-fertile, requires another tree
Bees and hoverflies. Self-fertile in cooler climates, pollinator tree required in warmer climates. Check with local nursery for guidance.
Pruning
Can be cut back extremely hard rejuvenating dormant buds, renovate in cooler seasons to avoid bark sunburn (or paint with whitewash). Maintain a low canopy for ease of harvesting.
Disease and pest management
Few pests, possums enjoy the bark. Root rot from the Phytophthora cinnamomi fungus. Buy quality stock, avoid water logging soils.
Moisture, how much and when
Regular deep watering late spring to autumn (once a week – more in extreme heat), do not let soil dry out. Do not let soil become waterlogged.
Feeding
High nitrogen NPK fertiliser every 3 months except winter, while establishing young trees. Older trees will require an annual feed.
Harvesting
Ripen off the tree, will store on tree for a few months. Fruit stems will turn yellowish and wrinkle when ready to pick. Always cut from tree retaining the stem to avoid fruit rot.
