Farming is all about patience. To bear fruit, plants have to go through a process, and nature doesn't rush. Some plants fruit quickly, like blackberries, but others don't.
In this article, straight from the field, we'll tell you about the care we give our avocado trees so they produce healthy, strong fruit. So let's go…
Planting avocados
When we buy avocados, they arrive at our field as small trees, about half a metre tall or even smaller. Then we dig a hole in the ground. Since we plant lots of avocado trees at once, we make the holes with a machine that works like a drill.
Inside these holes we add peat, a soil enriched with organic matter, really nutritious. That way our new avocado trees have food during their first days of life.
Keep in mind that avocados come from subtropical climates. You don't need to recreate a tropical storm, but you do need to watch four key factors: watering, temperature, sunlight and soil type.
Caring for the avocado tree
Their roots aren't very deep, which is why they need a good water supply. In the case of our fields in the Ribera Alta of the Júcar River, we're close to the river and can give them all the water they need. If you'd like to learn more about how much water avocado trees need, we recommend this article on the avocado's water footprint.
In this picture you can see a freshly planted avocado and, if you look closely, the black hoses we use to water it:
As for temperature, they like a warm temperate climate. Ideally between 10º and 30º, avoiding sharp swings between day and night.
They also need plenty of sunlight, but not extreme heat, because they can't handle it. Sounds tricky, right? Since we're used to getting our food without seeing the process, we think it's simple, but it really isn't.
The soil matters too: it has to be a well-draining type of soil. If water pools around the tree, the roots can get sick. Even the leaves, stems and the fruit itself can be ruined.
And especially when they're little, you have to keep a close eye on them, because they're like babies. Look, this photo was taken the same day we planted this avocado tree.
It really does look tiny, doesn't it?
So, to sum up, avocado trees need these to thrive:
- Plenty of water
- Lots of sun but not too much heat
- Well-draining soil
- Warm temperate climate
Why grafting matters
Avocado trees, like orange trees, must be grafted with a variety to bear good fruit. The best example is the oranges you see on the streets of Valencia. If you pick them in season and eat them, you'll find they're far too sour. That's because those street trees are what we call “borde” or “pie” (rootstock) trees, meaning trees with no specific variety.
The same goes for avocado trees: they must be grafted with a specific variety, for example the Hass avocado. You can also buy them young, already of a specific variety.
For example, this avocado grown by one of our fellow Campos del Abuelo farmers is the Lamb Hass variety:
In our case, since we're farmers and plant many trees at once, the ones we buy are already grafted. They might be Hass, Pinkerton, Bacon avocado or Lamb Hass, depending on what you're after, since all avocado varieties have different characteristics.
We hope this tour has shown you how to care for avocado plants and take those first steps.
And remember: if you're looking for healthy, quality avocados straight from the field to your home, visit our online fruit and vegetable shop.
See you next time, and thanks for reading!
