Hortiforum

General Info – Avocado, Alligator Pear, Avocado Pear

Adored for their delicious buttery texture and smooth flavour, Avocados need not be expensive or troublesome, as they can be cultivated prolifically at home with proper care. Despite being notoriously challenging to grow, the effort is worthwhile for the creamy, buttery, and oily fruits, which find versatile applications in salads and dips, not to mention their numerous health benefits. Avocados enjoy global popularity, featuring prominently in their native Mesoamerican cuisine all the way to South East Asian desserts. Home cultivation offers gardeners the opportunity to explore various avocado varieties, each boasting its unique and superb flavour, with different harvest periods extending the yield potentially throughout the year.
Belonging to the Lauraceae family alongside the Bay Tree and Cinnamon, Avocados boast attractive, glossy, dark green leaves. Seedling-grown trees, though more robust, may take over a decade to bear fruit and can reach heights exceeding 20 metres. Recommended are grafted trees, which remain below 10 metres, while those on dwarf rootstocks stay below 5 metres, making them considerably more easily managed.
Avocados are viable for all mainland capital cities outside of Canberra, thanks to the abundance of varieties and cold-tolerant cultivars like Bacon, Shepard, and Fuerte. More than other common fruit trees, Avocados have specific soil requirements, necessitating a rich, fertile soil that is both moist and freely-draining. Root rot, indicated by significant defoliation, poses a risk when waterlogging occurs, especially for the taproot, which may extend into clay or sitting water beneath the topsoil. For gardeners with clay soils, planting trees on raised mounds and amending the soil with gypsum and compost is recommended, and growing dwarf varieties in containers is also a viable solution. Adequate mulching and frequent watering during fruiting and flowering will ensure maximum crop yields.
Avocados naturally prefer filtered sunlight or partial shade when young, gradually maturing into full sun exposure. Achieving this can be facilitated with the use of shade fabric. Additionally, trees thrive when sheltered from strong winds, reminiscent of the collective protection found in a forest. One important aspect of Avocado cultivation is their specific pollination requirements. While partially self-pollinating, Avocados are categorized into A and B groups, with cross-pollination from a corresponding category significantly enhancing pollination and subsequent fruit set. Home cultivation of Avocados opens the door to a delightful array of varieties, providing gardeners with a nutritious and versatile ingredient.

Plant Profile/Properties