Avocados are a staple in both the diet and beauty regimen. They’re rich in vitamins and minerals and help maintain a healthy lifestyle.
A well-draining soil is essential for avocado trees as they are susceptible to root rot. Fungus symptoms include wilting leaves, reduced fruit production and dying foliage.
Regular pest inspections are also important, as avocados are susceptible to thrips and lace bugs. Neem oil and insecticidal soap can help control infestations.
Soil
Avocados require the right soil conditions to thrive. They need a soil rich in organic matter, teeming with microbes and capable of supporting the tree through a full growth cycle. They also need the right balance of minerals to support healthy metabolism, fruit development and flowering.
Most commercial soils are adequate for growing avocados, but it’s important to know your climate and site before planting. If your region experiences frequent cold weather, look for a hardy variety like ‘Zutano’ that can tolerate temperatures down to 26 degrees Fahrenheit.
Soil pH is another factor to consider. Avocados prefer slightly acidic soil, ideally with a pH of 6 to 6.8. If you’re concerned about the pH of your soil, try amending it with organic material like sphagnum moss. It’s a great way to add organic matter while lowering the soil pH by one unit for each 2 1/2 pounds of sphagnum moss added to 1 square yard (1 square meter).
A well-draining site is essential for avocados. Heavy clay soils tend to waterlog, preventing roots from getting the oxygen they need. To improve drainage, create a mound around the base of your tree. It will help the roots grow into the bulk soil sooner, and it will reduce the risk of waterlogging that can lead to root rot.
When you’re ready to plant your avocado, dig a hole that is just as deep as the root ball and a little wider. Gently ease the avocado into the hole and fill in the rest of the way with native soil or a standard multipurpose potting soil.
Organic material improves soil structure and nutrient availability, while targeted inorganic fertilizers can quickly correct specific deficiencies. Regular soil and leaf testing is a must for avocado growers, as this allows you to monitor nutrient levels and make adjustments when needed. For instance, if the soil is deficient in nitrogen, you can apply a liquid fertilizer containing organic matter and mineral N or a slow-release organic N product. The key is to apply fertilizers in the right amounts at the correct time for your avocado tree.
Water
Avocados provide healthy fats, vitamins and minerals for balanced diets. This popular fruit is also a staple in many beauty regimens as a nutrient rich moisturizer for skin and hair. Growing them at home is a great way to get more of this nourishing tree in your life.
Water is necessary for any plant to thrive, and the same is true of the avocado tree (Persea americana). This tropical evergreen needs warm weather and consistently moist soil to flourish. They have shallow roots and are not efficient at absorbing water from deeper soil layers, so a consistent supply of moisture is important. The table below provides the approximate number of gallons of water required to keep an avocado tree hydrated in various climates and seasons.
Newly planted trees need to be watered a minimum of two times per week their first year. Mature avocados require 2 inches of rainfall or irrigation each week during summer. Regularly check the soil for water to avoid overwatering or getting it too dry. This is best done with a soil probe or a soil testing kit that will show you the amount of water in the top 6-8 inches of the soil.
While avocados love sunlight, too much can cause sunburn or sunscald on the leaves and bark. This interferes with photosynthesis and hinders the tree’s ability to produce energy for growth and blooming. To avoid this, cover young avocado plants with shade cloth or plant companion trees that can offer dappled light.
The soil must be well-draining to prevent root rot. Using sandy soil or adding extra drainage to standard potting soil can help. It is best to avoid sphagnum peat and other organic mulches that can hold too much water, leading to root rot and fungal disease.
Avocados are a heavy feeder, and they prefer fertilizers with higher nitrogen levels compared to phosphorus and potassium. Choose a high nitrogen fertilizer indicated by a higher first number on the N-P-K ratio, such as 7-4-2 or 10-10-10. Fertilizers that include trace amounts of zinc are also good choices for avocados. Avoid fertilizing during the winter when the plant is dormant.
Light
Avocado trees (Persea americana) are unique, coveted houseplants that produce delicious fruit. Like other tropical plants, they prefer warm climates and need ample sunlight to thrive. Proper care of these evergreen trees will ensure bountiful harvests and healthy, vigorous growth.
Plant your avocado seed in a sunny location that receives 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight each day. Choose a container that is at least twice as large as the avocado seed, and fill it halfway with potting mix. Then, push the avocado seed into the soil and press gently. Water the seed and soil well, and keep it in a bright spot until it sprouts roots.
As your avocado seedling grows, water it regularly and feed it with a liquid fertilizer. When the seedling is ready to be moved to a larger pot, dig a hole that is slightly wider and deeper than the root ball. Place the seedling in the hole, and backfill the soil and tamp it down.
Once established, an avocado tree will grow in almost any type of soil. However, sandy or gritty soils will make it easier for the tree to absorb moisture. If you are growing your avocado in a home, plant it in a non-lawn area away from sidewalks and, if possible, a spot that is protected from wind and frost.
Mature avocado trees planted outside grow up to 35 feet tall. Those grown indoors will not get as tall, but they can still reach 10 to 20 feet or more. Regular pruning will help them keep their height in check. As the tree grows, prune it each time it grows another six inches tall.
Although the Hass, Cold Hardy, and Pinkerton varieties are self-fertile (you’ll get fruits from one plant), it is best to grow several avocado plants to pollinate each other and increase your fruit yield. When your tree starts flowering, you may need to gently shake the branches or use a paintbrush to transfer pollen between flowers to complete the pollination process.
In addition to adequate light, the avocado tree requires a warm, moderately humid environment. Placing your avocado in a sunny window in your house will provide this environment for it, but you can also put it on a tray of pebbles and water to increase the humidity.
Pruning
Avocados require little pruning to maintain their shape and health, but it is important not to neglect this practice. Pruning renews wood and stimulates buds that produce new avocados. It also reduces disease risk by removing dead and damaged branches. Pruning can also help prevent tree limbs from rubbing together, which reduces the chance of insect infestation and disease infection.
A good way to prune an avocado tree is to do it gradually over several years. This allows the tree to adjust to pruning stress and keeps the cuts as small as possible, which in turn reduces nutrient loss and encourages healthy growth. The best time to prune is late winter or early spring. This gives the tree plenty of time to heal before the summer heat stresses it out and interferes with fruiting.
In addition to pruning for health and structure, avocado farmers must be vigilant for signs of pests and disease. Proper pest inspection can save an entire crop. Keep an eye out for sneaky critters like aphids and caterpillars, as well as diseases such as leaf spot and powdery mildew.
When grafting an avocado tree, it’s important to choose the correct rootstock for your desired scion variety. Rootstocks are the parent trees that provide a strong base for an avocado tree’s growth, and they’re not all created equal. Choose a rootstock with a compatible cambium layer that can accept a scion of your choosing. Then, make a clean cut on both the rootstock and scion branches to ensure that the cambium layers align properly.
After planting, the avocado tree should be mulched with a coarse yard mulch to suppress weeds and promote soil moisture retention. You can find coarse yard mulch at most garden-supply stores or at many tree trimming operations.
The first two years of an avocado tree’s life are the most critical for establishing its roots and trunk. Young avocados need all the water and nutrients they can get to grow quickly, so it’s important for the farmer to remove any suckers growing from the base of the tree or bud union (if a grafted tree). The farmer should also prune young trees to discourage a lot of tight branching that can block the flow of air and water.
