Introduction
Avocados are a well-loved food item, popular for their creamy texture and rich flavor. Growing an avocado tree provides a rewarding and fun experience for anyone interested in backyard gardening. Even though your tree can take four to five years to bear fruit, it will be a fulfilling experience that you can share with family and friends. Here, we’ll discuss the important steps of what needs to be done in order to help your avocado tree bear fruit.
Selecting the Right Variety
According to the University of California’s Small-Scale Agriculture Guide, selecting the right variety of avocado tree is essential to harvesting optimal fruit quality and productivity. The two most popular varieties are Hass and Fuerte; however, other varieties such as Gem, Zutano, and Reed may offer more favorable growing conditions depending on where you live. Ask your local nurseries to ensure that the variety you select is well suited for your local climate and soil type.
Proper Site Selection
You will need to select the perfect site for your avocado tree when planting. It needs plenty of full sun and well-drained soil. While avocados are drought-tolerant, it’s important to keep the soil moist during the summer months. Therefore, planting near a water source or using a soaker hose is recommended.
Tree Training and Pruning
Tree training is an important task to ensure your avocado tree develops into a healthy and structurally sound tree. It also opens up sunlight and air-exchange to facilitate optimal growth and fruit production. Pruning is essential to reduce the number of laterals, thin out the canopy, and increase light penetration to the inner branch’s of the tree. Performing tree training and pruning will increase the amount of flower production and subsequently improve fruit crop yields.
Fertilizing and Watering
Fertilizing your avocado tree with a good-quality product will provide the essential nutrients needed to promote healthy growth and bountiful harvests. Aim to apply the fertilizer three times a year – once in the spring, once in the summer, and once in the fall. Watering deeply and thoroughly is also important because it encourages deep root growth. Immediate and consistent watering is especially crucial in the first year as the tree is establishing.
Pollination
A mature avocado tree can produce more than 3000 flowers, yet only a small percentage of them will form female flower clusters and produce fruits. According to the California Avocado Commission, each avocado variety flower is self-sterile, meaning that it needs pollen from another tree for optimal fruit set. To help eliminate any possibility of cross-fertilizing, you should have at least two varieties, allowing for proper fertilization.
Insect and Disease Management
Reducing environmental stress is an important factor when it comes to pest and disease management. Common diseases include anthracnose, phytophthora, botrytis, and basal stem rot, while some pests such as thrips, scales, and mealybugs can do significant damage if left unchecked. Proper irrigation and tree nutrition will go a long way in helping control any insects and diseases. Additionally, pruning off any dead or diseased branches is recommended.
Growing Conditions
Avocado trees absolutely love sunshine and moist, well-drained soil. Brief periods of cold temperatures can also help maintain vigorous growth as it allows the tree to acquire a short period of dormancy and reduce the probability of pest outbreaks and disease. Fortunately, the majority of areas in the US have near-ideal climates for growing avocados, so there shouldn’t be any major problems when it comes to the growth of your tree.
Harvesting and Storing Avocados
Once your avocado tree has fruit, you can allow them to stay on the tree until they’re fully mature; however, until then, you should avoid touching or shaking the branches too much. When fully ripe, the fruit can easily be plucked from the tree and will have a creamy texture and deep, green color. Store any extra fruit in the refrigerator or keep in room temperature until ripe. Storing the avocado fruit in the refrigerator can help slow down the ripening process.
Social Benefits
Aside from providing delicious taste, growing your own avocado tree also has a range of social benefits. Your avocado tree can be a great conversation topic among family and friends as they watch your tree as it grows. It can also be an educational opportunity for children, teaching them the importance of urban farming and healthy eating. All in all, the joys that come from harvesting your own avocado fruit are truly unique.
Supplementary Tactics for Bearing Fruit on an Avocado Tree
Knowing your local environment and the avocado variety before planting is important for successful production. You can maximize the potential of your tree by reading up on the perils of potential pest and fungal ailments that your tree may encounter. Configuring the balance of light, water, and soil maintenance is integral, and is the cornerstone of any successful fruit tree. Furthermore, the nature of your avocado tree’s production makes responsible control necessary.
Methods of Pest Control
Responding quickly to any signs of disease is a successful method of pest, bug, and fungus management. Making sure your tree is properly pruned and free of dead branches is a great way to ensure that the tree gets the ideal amount of sunlight and air movement. Washing the rind of the avocado with a soft brush and cold water is also recommended to rid it of any potential pests and disease-causing bacteria.
How Edible Forests Help Avocado Trees
Creating an edible forest with a mixture of different trees and native plants provides an ideal setting for ensuting a healthy avocado tree. Not only will they provide beneficial shade in the hot summer months, they can also offer much needed protection from pests and diseases, as well as provide beneficial habitat for pollinators. Furthermore, you can use mulch and organic compost to help retain water in soil and reduce disease outbreaks. This will significantly improve the health of your avocado tree.
Conclusion
Growing an avocado tree can be an incredibly rewarding and enjoyable activity. With the proper care and consideration, your tree will produce premium fruit for your family and friends to enjoy. Follow the tips and advice mentioned above and soon you’ll be reaping the rewards from your hard work.
