Growing your own avocado easy
Avocado has become a sought after item of produce as they have become popular in many meal variations. There are meal options that one can have avocado for breakfast, lunch and dinner if you are so inclined!
The health qualities are widely known — rich in monounsaturated oil, proteins, vitamins A and B, low in cholesterol and sugar and a large amount of minerals.
The trees themselves have become popular to grow as the home gardener has recognised that given the right conditions they are not difficult to cultivate, ensuring one’s own plentiful supply of fresh avocados of good quality and avoiding the wild price fluctuations of store prices.
Many people know the avocado variety Hass and to a lesser extent Reed, which are sold widely throughout New Zealand, but there are also other varieties that should also be considered for the home garden. By planting several different varieties you will not only increase the flower pollination with better fruit set, but you will also have fruit throughout many months of the year as they ripen at different times.
Correct site selection is the biggest influencer of the success or failure when growing avocado trees. They grow best in a warm situation with fertile, welldrained soil in full sun and need protection from both strong winds and frost while the plants are young. Once they are established the trees can withstand frost to -2°C or -3°C and are in fact relatively salt hardy.
Avocado trees need a good sized area to grow, if left to their own devices they will eventually (after about 15-20 years) grow to a tree of approximately 10-12 metres high and 4-6 metres wide.
For those who are keen, avocado trees grow easily from seed but the downfall is they will take up to 10 years to fruit. Trees that are grafted will produce fruit after approximately 4 years and after 7 years should be producing 200 or more avocados annually.
Many homes do not have a spot large enough to have a tree of this size but by pruning each year a much smaller tree can be maintained.
A newly available dwarf avocado variety called “Cleopatra” has recently become available. This tree is reported to maintain a mature size of 3m x 3m. The fruit of Cleopatra is larger than Hass with skin turning black prior to harvest, the flesh is yellow creamy coloured and of rich flavour and ripening in late winter and spring (July to December)
Cleopatra is a “B” flowering type and cross pollination with varieties Hass or Reed will improve fruit set.
If you are wanting to grow an avocado tree in a pot then the new variety Cleopatra is the one to choose. There is much information online about growing avocado trees in pots. Similar to growing citrus and other trees in pots, it will grow successfully if it is given all the water and nutrient that it requires, even if it gets pot bound, and will produce a yield, although this will be less that a tree that is allowed to fully grow unrestricted in the garden.
Pollination
Avocado trees have an interesting arrangement with their flowering. Avocado trees have been classified into “A” type and “B” type tree varieties. The trees have both male and female flowers on the tree.
“A” type flowering pattern (Hass and Reed): The female opens in the morning the first day for two to three hours and then closes. The male flower opens in the afternoon of the second day for two to three hours then closes. Hence cross pollination of two varieties helps in the warmer climates. In the cooler climates opening and closing of the flower tends to overlap therefore making them more self-fertile. Cross pollination should be from a “B” type flowering variety such as Hashimoto, Cleopatra, Bacon or Fuerte.
“B” type flowering pattern (Bacon, Fuerte, Cleopatra & Hashimoto): The female part opens in the afternoon on the first day fortwo to three hours then closes. The male part opens the morning of the second day. Hence cross pollination of two varieties helps in the warmer climates. In the cooler climates opening and closing of the flower tends to overlap therefore making them more self-fertile. Cross pollination using “A” Type flowering variety — Hass or Reed
During cooler weather the flowering can be delayed and quite erratic. This can mean the opening and closing of the male and female flowering can overlap increasing rates of self pollination. When the temperatures are warm and reach 21C or above the flowering becomes much more regular.
To summarise, all varieties are self fertile but the weather conditions will make a significant part to the amount of fruit set. If you have issues with fruit setting then planting a mixture of both “A” and “B” flowering types will increase the pollination.
The varieties
Hass: New Zealand’s favourite avocado, crocodile-skinned tasty fruit, heavy cropper, Fruit mature from Sept to March, “A” type flowering pattern, cross pollinated by Fuerte or Bacon
Reed: Large cannon ball fruit, heavy cropper and nutty flesh, Fruit mature from Feb to June, “A” type flowering pattern, cross pollinated by Hashimoto, Fuerte and Bacon.
Fuerte: Vigorous green skinned avocado with some cold tolerance, fruit mature from Sept to Dec, “B” type flowering pattern, cross pollinated by Hass or Reed.
Bacon: A smooth skinned green avocado, with fruit maturing July to September, “B” type flowering pattern, cross pollinated by Hass or Reed.
Hashimoto: Vigorous green skinned avocado with some cold tolerance, fruit mature June and July, “B” type flowering pattern, cross pollinated by Hass or Reed.
Cleopatra: A dwarf tree reaching approximately 3m x 3m. Medium sized fruit, larger than Hass with skin turning black prior to harvest, the flesh is yellow creamy coloured and of rich flavour. Ripens July to December. Cross Pollinated by Hass or Reed.
There is a good range of avocado trees available in limited numbers at the moment — why not treat yourself or give one as a Christmas present?
■ Gareth Carter is General Manager of Springvale Garden Centre.