A How To For Avocado Lovers

Lovers of avocado will find an investment in a tree or two well worth their while.
Common name: Avocado
Botanical name: Persia Americana
Origin: Tropical America

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Propagation
Growing an avocado tree from a pip suspended over a container of water is fun, but trees grown this way can take from seven to 15 years to produce fruit, as opposed to grafted trees which take about two years. Trees grown in this way do, however, make lovely indoor container plants if placed in good light. For trees for fruit it is best to buy grafted trees from nurseries. If you are determined to grow at least one tree from seed try to obtain a seed from an old avocado tree that was itself grown from seed.

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Suitable climates
Avocados grow best in high-rainfall areas, near the coast or where no frost occurs. They will grow in cooler areas but the fruit will take longer to ripen. The Fuerte cultivar – which is the most popular variety in South Africa – has a wide climate tolerance and can survive temperatures of -4°C, but it will not tolerate frost when flowering. Hot, dry conditions cause the flowers and fruit to drop resulting in lower yields. All avocado cultivars can be stressed from lack of water so they will need irrigation (especially during flowering) in areas with rainfall of less than 1000 mm annually.

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Growth habit
Avocado trees grow to a large size so plant the tree at least 7 m away from any other tree.

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Growing requirements
Avocados have a very sensitive root system that will rot if there is too much water in the soil. It is therefore essential to have soil that drains well. A healthy tree has a root system that can penetrate the soil to a depth of 1 m. Plant the trees in a warm, sunny area that is sheltered from the wind, in rich well-composted soil. They will need regular watering until they are established. Do not apply any fertiliser in the first year; the trees must first become well established and grow vigorously. During the second year and yearly after that give each tree a good helping of kraal manure. Fertiliser (3:1:5) can be applied in July, December and April. Fertiliser and mulch must be kept away from the stem of the tree to avoid collar rot.

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Useful tip
Try this if a tree stops bearing fruit after about six years of producing. Dig a trench 900 mm deep by 500 mm wide a metre from the tree (or 1.5 metres if the tree is more than 10 years old). Sever the roots you come across as you dig. Fill the trench with water and wait for it to drain away before refilling it with new composted soil. This rejuvenates the tree and restores the balance between the top growth and the root system.

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Pruning
Avocado trees do not need to be pruned or thinned out, except to remove dead or unwanted branches. As some cultivars grow very tall it may be necessary to cut off the tops of the main branches. This makes the tree branch out instead, which makes the fruit accessible.

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Pollination
Avocado trees require transfer of pollen from one flower to another for pollination to occur, which is best done by bees. Some cultivars require the pollen of another cultivar for fertilisation to take place, but cultivars such as Fuerte and Hass are self-compatible (and so can be pollinated from the same cultivar).

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Harvesting
The individual avocadoes only ripen fully after they are removed from the tree. To check if they are ready, pick a few of the biggest, best shaped specimens and keep them indoors. If, after eight to 10 days, they do not shrivel up and they are soft and edible then you can begin harvesting.

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Fruit uses
Avocado is a truly remarkable fruit that is glorious when halved and eaten straight out of the skin with a spoon. Its creamy, gentle flavour makes it ideal for mixing with the robust flavours of ingredients such as chillies, pepper, coriander and lemon. Avocado trees are sometimes called ‘guacamole trees’ after the avocado-based dish that originated in Mexico, but avocado is now used in just about every country in the world. It is made into ice cream, is used to flavour liqueurs, is used in Japanese sushi and is even made into milkshake in Indonesia.

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Interesting fact
Although avocados have a high fat content they can be part of a successful weight management programme because the monounsaturated oil they contain is believed to speed up the body’s metabolic rate. They are also rich sources of vitamins such as A, B6, E and C and minerals such as potassium and magnesium.

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Cultivars or varieties
Fuerte 
Characteristics: Pear-shaped good quality fruit with a rich, creamy texture
Skin: Smooth skin that stays green even when ripe. Flesh bruises easily.
Season: March to July
Hass
Characteristics: An ovoid-shaped fruit with a creamy texture and a slightly nutty taste
Skin: A thick skinned fruit with a rough green skin that turns blackish-purple when ripe
Season: May to October
Pinkerton
Characteristics: Fruit has a thick neck with a slightly sweet taste
Skin: A thick rough, skin that remains green when ripe
Season: April to July

Edranol
Characteristic: A rich nutty-tasting fruit with an oval shape
Skin: A thick green colored skin with light brown speckles which stays this way when ripe
Season: June to September

Ryan
Characteristic: Late season egg-shaped fruit
Skin: Slightly rough dark green skinned variety that stays green when ripe
Season: July to October

Here is a fantastic avocado, prawn and chorizo salad recipe!