Avocado Tree The avocado tree bears avocado fruit. The fruits are also known as avocado pear and alligator pear. These trees are native to s...
Avocado Tree
The avocado tree bears avocado fruit. The fruits are also known as avocado pear and alligator pear. These trees are native to southcentral Mexico and are members of the flowering plant family Lauraceae. Cultivators of many countries with Mediterranean and tropical climates grow these trees commercially. Most of them use grafting propagation to maintain the quality and quantity of the yield. These trees also have self-pollinating capabilities.
The avocado fruits are botanically large berries with large seeds. The ripened fruits have butter like smooth flesh. The fruit skins have various shades like green, black, brown, or purple depending on the cultivar. Their shapes also differ such as pear, egg (oval), or sphere.
History
In the 1696 index of Jamaican plants, Hans Sloane was the one coining the word ‘avocado’ in English, initially. These plants were first introduced in Spain in 1601. Then they were introduced in Indonesia, Mauritius, Brazil, and the US in 1750, 1780, 1809, and 1825 respectively.
Later, they were introduced in South Africa and Australia in the late 19th century. In the US avocado was planted in Florida and Hawaii in 1833, followed by California in 1856.
Until the California Avocado Association referred to these plants as “avocados”, Californians called these fruits ahuacate and Floridians called these fruits “alligator pear”.
Description
Normally, the matured avocado trees measure about 20 m in height. The leaves are leathery and dark green in color. They measure about 12 -25 cm long. The flowers are about 5–10 mm wide and yellowish-green in color. Since an endocarp covers the seed, this fruit is biologically a berry. This fruit weighs about 100 – 1000 grams.
Types of Avocado Trees
There are three main types of avocado trees. Viz., Guatemalan, Mexican and West Indian. Among them, the Mexican type tolerates the coldest, and the West Indian type tolerates the least cold.
The most popular variety in the united states is Hass. It is a Guatemalan x Mexican hybrid.
Rudolph Hass found this variety accidentally’ in his garden. He patented the variety in his name. This variety gained huge popularity. Presently, more than 80% of US -Grown Avocados are Hass Avocados.
Sharwil variety of avocados are grown in Hawaii. They are also a Guatemalan x Mexican hybrid. They grow taller than most other varieties. However, this variety is not available in all the states due to complex USDA regulations.
Pollination
Naturally, the avocados are self-pollinating trees. They produce flowers in excess of a million during the flowering months to attract the pollinators. However, only a few of them fruit and most of them fall off.
Both female and male parts are contained in the same flower. Hence, they behave unusually. This behavior is called protogynous dichogamy. Over the period of two days, all the flowers in a tree act as females on day 1 and males on day 2. They open only for about 6 hours a day and remain closed for the remaining 6 hours.
They also need temperatures about 70°F for this sequence to happen. Also, the opening sequence varies depending on the type of tree.
Type A
Day 1 (Morning) - Female
Day 1 (After noon) - Closed
Day 2 (Morning) - Closed
Day 2 (After noon) - Male
Type B
Day 1 (Morning) - Closed
Day 1 (After noon) - Female
Day 2 (Morning) - Male
Day 2 (After noon) - Closed
To increase the pollination, it is recommended to interplant both types (A & B) nearby in the garden.
Propagation
Avocado trees thrive well under full sun. They also can grow well in many soil types with different pH levels. However, these trees do well in sandy, loamy (coarse) textured soils that drain well. Avoid soils with high saline content to grow these trees. It is recommended to start the propagation in the spring.
Seedlings
You can purchase the seedlings online or from any garden center nearby.
Dig a large hole enough to accommodate the seedling pot itself. With loose dirt, backfill the hole for a few inches. Adding fertilizer or compost is not necessary.
Without disturbing the sensitive roots, take out the seedlings carefully from the pot. Place them in the hole and close the hole with mud. Mulch around the plant and water deeply.
Grafting
Grafting involves a scion (twig) and a rootstock that provides the lower trunk portion and the roots. This method is faster and can produce fruits in about two or three years.
With seeds, you can grow the rootstocks yourself. Normally they take around four to eight months to form rootstocks. If you wish to reduce this waiting period, you can grow seeds of West Indian varieties. Comparatively, they grow quicker.
Caring
After planting, water the plants twice or thrice in the first week. After that, gradually decrease the watering to about at least once a week.
Feed the plants with 10-30-10 fertilizer every two months in the initial years. When the trees mature, switch to 10-5-20 fertilizer feeding twice a year.
Pruning is often not required. If you prefer to control the height of tall-growing varieties, prune the heads carefully as needed.
Pests and Diseases
The common pests that infest avocado trees include lace bugs, scales, borers, mites, caterpillars, and thrips. But they do not damage these trees severely.
Most of them can be treated with neem oils or Bacillus thuringiensis. Fungal infections can be treated with corresponding fungicides.
Prevention includes planting the right varieties in locations, keeping the weeds under control, and maintaining cleanliness in the gardens. Rake the gardens periodically and dispose of the debris immediately.
Harvesting
Harvesting avocados, in general, is a challenging task. Usually, avocados are harvested while they are still green and hard. They are allowed to ripen off tree. Ideally, these fruits are harvested in September.
As of September approaches, note the color change on the fruits. If the color dulls a bit, pick one or two large fruits and allow them to ripe at room temperatures for about 3 – 7 days. If they become soft and ready to eat, you can continue the harvest.
If they taste bitter and become rubbery, shrivel, rot, etc., the other fruits are not yet ready to harvest. Repeat the testing process after some days.
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