Avocados are one of the most popular fruits in the world and the trend is growing year by year. Avocado trees bear beautiful green fruits that are beloved for their creamy texture and nutty flavor. A common question related to avocado is “Can avocados ripen on the tree?”
The answer is yes, avocados can ripen on the tree, but this process takes much longer than if the fruit were picked and ripened off the tree. According to experts, avocados can take up to three months to ripen on the tree, depending on the variety and the climate. The temperatures during these three months must remain mostly warm, so the tree can substantially develop the fruit’s flavor.
Avocados are particularly necessary for their high content of vitamins and minerals. Avocados have an abundance of vitamin B complex, vitamin E, carotenoids, vitamin D, and even Omega-3 fatty acids. Additionally, avocadoes are high in fiber as well as polyphenols, specifically eugenol and anthocyanins which can help minimize cholesterol levels in the body.
Avocados are also used in many beauty products and DIY home recipes, including soaps, face washes, masks, and hair conditioners. So not only can you eat avocados to make up for nutrient deficiencies, you can also apply them directly to the skin to benefit from their antioxidant, anti-aging, and anti-inflammatory capabilities.
Avocados may even aid in weight loss efforts. Avocado consumption has been linked to better diet quality and nutrient intake, increased consumption of vitamins such as folate and potassium, and decreased risk of metabolic syndrome. Avocados are known to be an extremely filling food, as they consist of mostly monounsaturated fats, and their consumption leads to a natural decrease in overall calorie consumption.
Factors affecting tree-ripening of avocados
There are a few climate and farming practices that will affect the ability of the avocado tree to bear ripe fruit. The first factor is the presence of temperatures that fluctuate from hot during the day and cool at night, which is common in tropical climates. If the temperature does not change much during the day, the avocadoes may not ripen and may stay green for many months. Other climatic factors that may play an important role in ripening are rainfall and wind.
Second, pruning the tree is an important factor in optimizing the picking and ripening process. A pruned tree will help foster the production of fruits with better features. Additionally, harvesting at the right time is also a fundamental element for achieving a properly ripened product. The cue that helps farmers and harvesters to know when to pick them from the tree are the changes in the fruit’s color,its texture, and the presence of some scars in the skin of the fruit. The scars, or scratches, distinguish ripe avocadoes from unripe ones.
Challenges associated with tree-ripening of avocados
The challenge of growing avocados on the tree is that harvesters must also exert great care and delicacy in order to prevent the fruit from harming itself. When dealing with delicate fruits such as avocados, if they are not adequately handled, their cuticle or skin may be damaged, causing the fruit to rot and the seed to germinate and, with it, dark spots in the internal parts that make the avocado unusable for consumption. In some countries, like Mexico, the main problem related to the ripening of fruits on the tree is the large presence of birds, especially vultures, which attack the fruits before they have ripened.
Apart from birds, pests and fungi can also be a problem for the ripening of avocados. Avocadoes are very susceptible to fungus attacks, given the high humidity in their environment. Fungus attacks can cause considerable damage to the fruit and make it inedible. Therefore, controlling the presence of fungi is essential in this process. Insects are another problem, as they can cause significant damage to the outer layer of the fruit. During ripening, the fruit secrete substances in order to prevent as much fungal growth as possible, but the presence of insects can interfere with this process.
Alternatives to tree-ripening
Some people may choose to ripen their own avocados by using regular kitchen items. For example, some suggest using a paper bag, which helps retain moisture, while others prefer using a brown bag which accelerates the ripening process of apples and pears. To speed up the ripening process, other people tend to add an apple or a banana to the paper bag since they both emit a gas called ethylene, which helps fruits such as avocado ripen faster. Plastic bags are not recommended, since they can cause the fruit to rot instead of ripening.
There are also other methods for ripening avocadoes that do not involve storing them in a paper or plastic bag. For instance, some people cut their avocadoes in half, sprinkle them with citric acid, and then put the pieces together again and keep them in the refrigerator for several days. Similarly, avocado pits can be placed in a clean cloth with both faces down and can be left in the refrigerator for several days.
Resistant varieties of avocado
Not all varieties of avocado are suitable for tree ripening. It is important to choose the right varieties, ones that are more resistant than other varieties, like Hass and Lamb Hass. Both varieties ripen slowly and uniformly on the tree. However, they are not the most resistant; some of the most resistant varieties are Pinkerton and Gwen.
It is also important to know that Hass avocadoes can ripen a few days off the tree. This means that there are some differences between varieties, which must be taken into account when it comes to harvesting. In general, Hass avocadoes are the best option for tree ripening since they tend to be easy to find and their quality is excellent.
Conserving and transplanting avocados
In order for an avocado tree to properly develop and bear ripe fruit over the course of its productive lifespan, proper and timely care must be taken throughout all its stages of production. This includes appropriate fertilization, trimming, and pruning in order to conserve the avocado tree’s energy and availability of resources.
Transplanting is a practice that helps the avocado tree to properly reallocate its resources and maintain the right balance between production and conservation. It is important to monitor the tree’s balance in order to ensure that it can continue to bear healthy fruit and remain productive throughout its lifetime.
Conclusion
Avocados can ripen on the tree, but are more commonly harvested while they are still firm and then allowed to ripen off the tree. Factors such as pruning, harvesting, climate and environment all play a role in the ripening process. Additionally, different varieties of avocado, such as Hass and Lamb Hass, are better suited for tree ripening and produce higher quality, better tasting avocadoes. It is important to take proper care of the tree in order to ensure a healthy, productive tree, and ultimately, ripe avocadoes.
