Planting information for your Avocado Tree:
Position – Plant your Fuerte avocado tree in a sunny spot sheltered from the wind. Allow about 7.5 to 10 metres between your avo trees. The size of the tree can be controlled for smaller gardens.
The Fuerte cultivar is a type B avo, meaning that flowers open first as males, then close and reopen as females. So, plant them about 7.5 to 10 metres from a type A tree, which will have the opposite sex flower simultaneously. This helps bees to cross-pollinate them.
Size – Avo trees can reach a height of between 12 and 15 metres, depending on the condition of the soil, with a canopy spread of up to about 10.5 metres. In good conditions, it can grow about a metre a year.
Soil Type – The Fuerte avo trees need plenty of water, but soggy soil leads to rotting roots. So, the soil needs to be sandy or loamy that drains well. Soil with a pH of between 5.0 and 7.0 is best for avos.
Mulch – Mulch helps to keep the moisture in the soil and to keep weeds at bay. So, use organic materials like compost, hay, or wood chips. Keep it about 20 centimetres away from the tree trunk; otherwise, it will also become waterlogged.
Watering – Avocado trees are particularly demanding when it comes to water. They want plenty of it. A mature tree may drink up to 75 litres of water a day. Generally, your tree should be watered two to three times a week unless it has been particularly dry.
Fertilising – One tablespoon of nitrogen can be applied around your tree once in spring, summer, and autumn. Follow the sprinkling with heavy watering to allow the nitrogen to be absorbed into the soil. Superfrass should be added 6 times a year for the first 2 years and after that 4 times a year.
Avocado trees require regular fertiliser, and Superfrass supplies their needs.
Pruning – Prune your Fuerte avo tree towards the end of winter/beginning of spring with clean equipment (that hasn’t been used on another diseased tree). Keep the canopy light and airy, and trim off horizontal branches hanging closer to the ground.
Harvesting – Only mature fruits will ripen once plucked, so leave them on the tree for as long as possible. As a general rule, pick the largest fruits first, which will be the most mature.
Pick while green and allow them to ripen indoors. Avocados do not ripen on the tree and will fall off when rotten.
When your Fuerte avo is ready to eat, it will be firm but give under the pressure of your thumb.
