Climate Requirements
Avocado tree is a long-term plant that won’t produce fruit for several years. Growing conditions are very important for the success of harvesting a crop. Avocado tree needs full sunshine, consistent moisture and warm temperatures. Avocado tree can be grown in many sub-tropical or mild climates. While locations with warm or hot all-year-round climate can produce fruit, locations with winter cold will flower, but not produce fruit. The minimum temperature is 50°F (10°C) for growing an avocado tree and trees are very sensitive to frost, even at temperatures down to 32°F.
Soil Requirements
Choosing a well-drained, sandy loam soil is essential for the growth of avocado tree, as avocados don’t enjoy having wet feet. For optimal growth, soil contains organic matter and not all clay (that is too heavy) or all sand (that is too light). Perfectly, soil should have equal combinations of sand, silt and clay for best drainage. A pH of 4.5 to 7.0 is acceptable for avocado trees but pH near 6.5 is preferred.
Care & Maintenance
Care and maintenance are paramount in successful harvesting of an avocado tree crop. During the growing period avocado tree generally require a lot of water and depending on the climate, they may require additional irrigation. An avocado tree should be fertilised three times in a growing season with moderate doses of a balanced fertiliser. The fertiliser should be added around the trees root zone, and not on the foliage. Pruning an avocado tree annually is also beneficial to promote growth, as heavy fruiting can impede leaf generation.
Time Frame for Production
Avocado tree can take up to 8 years before they will begin producing fruit, but some cultivars can produce in as little as 2 to 5 years. Generally the bigger the tree, the faster it will produce fruit. Large avocado trees can produce upwards of as many as 200 fruits.
Selection & Varieties
The two most commonly grown varieties of avocado trees in the US are the Hass and Fuerte. The Hass variety is a darkly skinned, bumpy fruit that matures late each season, while Fuerte is a light-green, smooth- skinned variety that matures early. Both varieties prefer warm weather and thrive in coastal subtropical climates. As the selection of avocado tree expanded, new superior varieties start to dominate the market. Not only do they bear fruit earlier and more reliably, but they also resist pollenizers, reducing the amount of labour required in the orchards.
Pests & Diseases
As with growing any plant, avocados have pest problem. The most important disease problems below come from two fungi — Phytophthora cinnamomi and Phytophthora citrophthora. Excess irrigation can lead to anaerobic root conditions and open various pests, such as nematodes, to infest the root system. The most common nematode attacking avocado trees is the Lesion nematode. The two major pests that attack the foliage and fruit of the avocado tree are the glassy-winged sharpshooter and avocado thrips. The glassy-winged sharpshooter‘s damage is through the leaves, which create small circles on the leaves that give a stippled appearance. Avocado thrips damage can be seen as an inflamed, scarred area on the fruit.
Harvesting & Yielding
Harvesting an avocado tree comes during the winter and spring months, with avocados ripening at different times. Many times, avocados can last on the tree up to 6 months, all depending on the climate conditions during the year. As the tree matures, yields will increase. A mature avocado tree typically produces between 400 and 500 fruits per season.
Aged Trees
Age becomes an important factor for harvesting. Trees aged 8 to 10 years tend to produce about 26 per cent of their yield, based on a 25-year projection. The yield slowly increases in modern plantations and within another 5 to 10 years, it will reach the full potential harvest yields.
Manual Harvesting
Most avocado harvesting is done manually. Avocado fruits are large, with a big seed and plenty of flesh. Due to this, it is difficult to mechanise any harvesting process. It is important to pick the fruit when they reach maturity and then let them ripen away from the tree. It can be time consuming and difficult work to harvest, however in many countries, avocados are the top-grossing fruit crop, so it is worth the effort.
Short-Term Growing Experiments
For those who are wanting to harvest avocado fruit quickly and don’t have the right climate conditions in the area, short-term growing experiments have been reported to be successful. A version was developed by Ohio State University and involves suspending a cola bottle chock-full with the seedling in a warm region. The key to success lies in the ability to keep the plant watered and having the correct temperatures.
