Agriculture is an activity where patience is very important. Plants, to bear fruit, have to go through a process and nature's timing is not rushed. Although there are plants that bear fruit quickly, such as blackberries, there are others that do not.
In this article, straight from the field, we will tell you about the care we give to the avocado plant so that it produces healthy and strong fruits. So, let's go...
Planting avocado
When we acquire the avocado trees, they arrive at our field in the form of small trees, approximately half a meter tall or even smaller. Then we dig a hole in the ground. Since we cultivate many trees at once, the holes in the ground are made with a machine that is like a drill.
In turn, inside these holes, we add peat, which is soil enriched with organic waste, very nutritious. This is so that our new avocado trees have nourishment in their first moments of life.
We must take into account that avocados are native to subtropical climates. It's not that you'll have to imitate a tropical storm, but you do have to be careful with four important factors: irrigation, temperature, sunlight, and soil type.
Caring for the avocado tree
Their roots are not extremely deep, which is why they need a good water resource. In the case of our fields located in the Ribera Alta del Río Júcar, we are close to the river and can provide them with the water they need. If you want to know more about the amount of water avocado trees require, we recommend you read this article about the avocado's water footprint.
In this image you can see a freshly planted avocado tree, and if you look closely, you will see the black hoses used for its irrigation:
Regarding temperature, they like a warm temperate climate. The ideal range is between 10ºC and 30ºC, and sudden changes between day and night should be avoided.
They also need plenty of sunlight, but without extreme heat because they cannot withstand it. Sounds complicated, right? It's because we're used to getting our food directly without seeing the process, so we think it's simple, but the truth is it's not.
Attention must also be paid to the soil, as it must be a type of soil that drains easily. If water puddles around it, the roots can become diseased. Even its leaves, stems, and fruit can be damaged.
And especially when they are small, you have to pay a lot of attention to them because they are like babies. Look, this photo was taken the same day we planted this avocado tree.
It looks small, doesn't it?
So, to take note, avocado trees need to thrive:
The importance of grafting
Avocado trees, like orange trees, must be grafted with a variety to bear fruit. The best example are the oranges in the streets of Valencia. If you pick them in season and eat them, you will see that they are too sour. This is because these street trees are trees called "borde" or "foot", that is, trees that do not have a specific variety.
The same thing happens with avocado trees; they must be grafted with a specific variety, for example, with the Hass avocado variety. They can also be purchased small with a specific variety.
For example, this avocado cultivated by one of our fellow farmers from Campos del Abuelo is of the Lamb Hass variety:
In our case, since we plant several trees at a time because we are farmers, the ones we buy are already grafted. They can be of the Hass avocado, Pinkerton, Bacon avocado, or Lamb Hass variety, depending on what you are looking for, since all avocado varieties have different characteristics.
We hope that with this overview, you have understood the care and initial steps for avocado plants.
And remember: if you are looking for healthy, quality avocados direct from the farm to your home, you can visit our online fruit and vegetable store.
Until next time and thanks for reading!
