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. Plant with at least one bag of acid compost.
Mulch
Apply organic mulch to your nectarine tree all year round.
Use from 2 to 5 centimetres of pine bark mulch to protect the roots from UV damage and drying out. It retains moisture, and maintains an optimal pH. Do not let the mulch touch the plant stem, as it may cause infection or rot.
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.
Our high nitrogen slow-release berry fertiliser works well with all plants and trees. 1 teaspoon every 4-5 months.
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.
