Growing Avocado Gardening Guide

Avocado Planting Tips for getting your tree off to a good start

Avocados are self-fertile but yields can be increased by planting a mix of ‘A’ and ‘B’ type flowering varieties. 

Planting

Avocados are best planted from spring through to autumn, from September to April. Choose a sheltered, sunny spot with free-draining soil for planting. To protect the tree stem from sunburn, paint it with watered-down white acrylic paint. When planting, avoid teasing out the plant roots to minimize damage, and place the tree into the hole directly from the bag. Refrain from adding fertilizers to the planting hole, as the trees come with a slow-release fertilizer that provides sufficient nutrients during establishment. Plant the tree at the same height or slightly above ground level, and stake it to prevent movement while it establishes. Avocado trees thrive with mulch, so add a layer around the tree, keeping it away from the trunk, and use loose material like wood chips or compost.

Aftercare

More damage is done to avocado trees by over watering than by under watering, so it is better to err on the side of too little water. Avocados prefer to be watered thoroughly and then left to dry out between waterings, rather than being watered on a regular basis. To keep your tree a manageable size, prune it once or twice a year in spring and/or autumn. Focus on removing one or two of the most problematic limbs, targeting about 20% of the total canopy area, and cut them back to near the main stem. This approach ensures that the rest of the tree continues to flower and produce fruit.

Varieties

Hass – the most common avocado variety grown in NZ. Medium oval shaped fruit with crocodile skin, turns dark when ripe.  Excellent eating quality.  ‘A’ type flowering.  Harvest from September to March.

Reed– medium, round fruit with a green skin that stays green when ripe.  Excellent eating quality.  ‘A’ type flowering.  Harvest from January to May.

Bacon – medium to large fruit with a thin, green skin that stays green when ripe.  Harvest from July to August.  ‘B’ type flowering.  Good cold tolerance.

Fuerte – medium pear-shaped fruit with a thin, green skin that stays green when ripe.  ‘B’ type flowering.  Harvest from September to December. 

Check out a great planting video and FAQ at www.lynwood.co.nz