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SJC starts with ... Hi all I have a young Bacon avocado that seems to be having issues It was fine up until this week (when it has been quite warm in Melb) when it started to wilt and the new growth dry up. Its in a raised 'hole' surrounded by 2 tyres with good potting mix. The surrounding soil is quite clay rich but there should be enough draineage with the raised portion and the hole I dug underneath. I have given it some fish emulsion and seaweed about a week or so ago. Also - if it survives...will it fruit on its own down here or should i get a type A as well? Thanks for any help Simon | About the Author SJC Melbourne (coburg) Vic 4th February 2010 11:58am #UserID: 3339 Posts: 9 View All SJC's Edible Fruit Trees |
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Araich says... First thought is root-rot. It is just so very very common with avocados. Good drainage goes a long way to solving it but it may be necessary to alter the soil to limit the infection. Gypsum and more gypsum. The calcium and sulphur in gypsum helps suppress molds and pathogens. It opens up the soil and increases oxygen and drainage. When it reaches your clay it will improve that too. Really there is no downside. Could your tyres contain shallow pools of water-logged soil? That could breed Phytophthora. I went through it recently with a Hass, seen here https://www.daleysfruit.com.au/forum/anthracnose-avocado/ Can you get a photo of your plant? I think you should get fruit in our colder climate, but would get more if you had a type A. One other thought, I have another Hass in a pot, and it wilted and dropped all it's leaves after getting over-hot (I think) during those 40 degree days. Could your tyres have cooked it? | About the Author Araich Melbourne 4th February 2010 12:44pm #UserID: 2933 Posts: 58 View All Araich's Edible Fruit Trees |
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SJC says... hi there thanks v much - both of those are possibilties....I will cover the tyre exterior. I did check the rims and it was not too wet (but that can be an issue with tyres as well as an advantage for other less sensitive plants). I'll go an get some gypsum this afternoon I am thinking of getting an A as well....is hass the best option for Vic? Simon | About the Author SJC Melbourne (coburg) Vic 4th February 2010 12:59pm #UserID: 3339 Posts: 9 View All SJC's Edible Fruit Trees |
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| About the Author SJC Melbourne (coburg) Vic 4th February 2010 12:59pm #UserID: 3339 Posts: 9 View All SJC's Edible Fruit Trees |
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| About the Author SJC Melbourne (coburg) Vic 4th February 2010 1:13pm #UserID: 3339 Posts: 9 View All SJC's Edible Fruit Trees |
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Araich says... Yep, that looks sick alright. Here's a pic of my Bacon for comparison. I'd be inclined to back off on the water and even watch out for this rain (I have my sick Hass covered so I can control the water). Root-rot often shows as wilting because the dieing roots cannot take up the water needed by the leaves. If you're putting in gypsum you could aways look at the roots like I did, by washing away the soil around the stem. Has it been in the ground there long? If not it could be transplant shock. I'm sure someone much more knowledgeable will be able to say for sure.
| About the Author Araich Melbourne 4th February 2010 2:48pm #UserID: 2933 Posts: 58 View All Araich's Edible Fruit Trees |
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Mish says... Hi This is from my fruit book "Avocado's ... free draining, slightly acid soil is essential as avocados are very prone to root rot. Even water-logging resulting from a freak storm can kill your tree. They are frost sensitive when young and they also need to have a sheltered position away from wind. The young bark can be killed by sunburn so screen it from hot afternoon sun or paint the trunk with white water based house paint. They have a shallow root system so mulch is essential. They like plenty of nitrogen." So very fussy creatures... I had my Mr Wurtz in full sun that caused wilting which I tried to compensate by watering more often (which is bad). Then I learnt that they really don't care for full sun, so I moved mine to a spot that only gets morning sun and he is doing so much better. I have been monitoring the amount of sun on the trunk also but his own foliage seems to cover this now. If you cant move your plant, I would make a shade-cloth shelter to go right around until established. And definitely cut back on the watering.
| About the Author Mish Singleton 4th February 2010 3:19pm #UserID: 3045 Posts: 42 View All Mish's Edible Fruit Trees |
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Araich says... Good call on the ph. I just checked mine over and they range around 6-6.5 which could be a little more acid. So I just gave them a sprinkle of Iron Sulphate. Mine also have some sun protection for part or all of the day. The still heat we've had lately would have burned them for sure. | About the Author Araich Melbourne 4th February 2010 4:24pm #UserID: 2933 Posts: 58 View All Araich's Edible Fruit Trees |
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Original Post was last edited: 4th February 2010 4:35pm | |||||||
SJC says... thanks - i think Bacon is on the moce this weekend. He's in full sun and i am pretty sure i overwatered when he started ot wilt. I have given him some gypsum and also some root-rot spray. He only started going downhill in the last week so hopefully i can save the little man! I just bought him a Hass friend too so hopefully he'll pull through! Thanks very much for your help! s | About the Author SJC 4th February 2010 5:32pm #UserID: 3339 Posts: 9 View All SJC's Edible Fruit Trees |
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| About the Author Araich Melbourne 5th February 2010 8:36am #UserID: 2933 Posts: 58 View All Araich's Edible Fruit Trees |
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SJC says... hi again...i just removed Mr Bacon and put him in a pot. Definite root-rot but the main root was still ok as were some of the smaller ones. He's convalescing under cover now in some potting mix and gypsum. I think i have a spot for him in raised bed....its sheltered and get morning sun but once he's 6+ foot tall he'll get full sun. Thanks for all the help...i'll let you know how he goes. s | About the Author SJC 5th February 2010 10:04am #UserID: 3339 Posts: 9 View All SJC's Edible Fruit Trees |
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SJC says... Hi In the end he lost all his leaves but i am still hopefully he'll pull through. Did you do anything in particular with your Hass avos, Araich? I have planted him in good potting mix with gypsum, water very sparingly with mega weak seasol and a tiny bit of root growth hormone and pure rainwater and he sits under a plastic roof getting filtered sun. After 5 days he looks no worse but not much better either? thanks s | About the Author SJC cobirg, vic 10th February 2010 4:42pm #UserID: 3339 Posts: 9 View All SJC's Edible Fruit Trees |
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Araich says... My very first avocado in the ground defoliated (too much water I now think) and I assumed it was dead. Being an optimist however I ripped it out and dropped it in a pot with a random mix of soil from the hole. Put it in a shaded corner and left it for dead. It barely got watered and I believe it got really dry several times. A month or more later I was surprised to see leaves. It is now a bushy healthy plant. Walking yesterday I noticed a healthy avocado (bacon?) in a pebble yard/driveway. 2m high. No mound. Totally exposed to wind and all day sun, over WHITE pebbles! I think we kill them with kindness (water). | About the Author Araich Melbourne 11th February 2010 7:55am #UserID: 2933 Posts: 58 View All Araich's Edible Fruit Trees |
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Original Post was last edited: 11th February 2010 7:56am | |||||||
Mish says... Hi I think your right Araich, killing them with kindness because we know they are so sensitive to everything until established. But thats the key. Getting them to the 'established' stage of their lives. The one you saw has obviously made it and now thrives in the harsh elements of life. We will get there. Mr Wurtz has new growth and its great having him in a pot as I can wheel him under the alfresco when rain threatens. I was thinking of making him a collar like the ones they put on dogs or cats to stop them from biting or licking at wounds, but with an elastic fastening at the top and bottom that can stretch when he grows and attaches under the pot for easy removal for watering and feeding. If only I could sew. | About the Author Mish Singleton 11th February 2010 1:18pm #UserID: 3045 Posts: 42 View All Mish's Edible Fruit Trees |
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| About the Author SJC coburg, melb 12th February 2010 11:55am #UserID: 3339 Posts: 9 View All SJC's Edible Fruit Trees |
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| About the Author SJC Coburg, Melb 19th February 2010 11:30am #UserID: 3339 Posts: 9 View All SJC's Edible Fruit Trees |
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| About the Author Mish Singleton 19th February 2010 4:09pm #UserID: 3045 Posts: 42 View All Mish's Edible Fruit Trees |
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