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Brad starts with ... I've been reading about Avocado named varieties - I can't find all my answers and am a bit confused by contradictory information (e.g. some say don't fertilize or they get too tall, others say fertilize lots) Does anyone know a reliable Avocado reference for multiple named cultivars (and rootstocks)? Can you plant A & B type (dwarf) trees in the same hole? How much smaller than the unpruned sizes can they reasonably be kept? Is cincturing a non-dwarf a reasonable approach for the small home garden? (I've never done this before) What about restricting the roots? (e.g. pot in ground) I'm thinking about a spot at the base of my front door verandah, facing east. (i.e morning full sun, afternoon shade). To keep the verandah light, I'd like to keep whatever I plant to max 2-2.5m high. I can go a bit wider than this. The Wurz seems the best dwarf variety (A type). I've seen Reed (large fruit) described as both a small tree and a HUGE tree. Haas seems to be extremely popular, but too largea tree for me? Rincon was stated as a dwarf B type, but I can't find much information on it (or a seller for WA). Thanks for any tips | About the Author Brad2 Como, Perth 26th December 2009 1:17am #UserID: 2323 Posts: 762 View All Brad2's Edible Fruit Trees |
Brendan says... Hi Brad, The rule about fertilizing avos is don't fertilize your newly planted tree until 9 to 12 months have passed, as it can kill them. After that, it's ok. Yes, I have heard about planting an A & B type in one hole, and apparently it works? I think they planted them about 1 metre apart? I'm trying to keep my avo trees to ~ 3.5 to 4 metres high, but my seedling avocados, which grow very tall, I've been pruning back to a size I can spray easily. The Wurtz (A) and Rincon (A) are both dwafts ~3m tall, the Pinkerton (A) and Lamb Hass (A) are classed as semi-dwafts,~4m tall. The smallest type (B) would be the Shepard, ~4.5m tall, but I'm not planning to let any of my grafted trees get too tall. Just prune them back. Have a search on this forum (top right), and you'll find info about planting them in sandy or clay soils. I plant mine on top of the ground, (I'm in clay), then mound up to the tree with a mix of lots of gypsum, composted cow manure & 'el-cheapo' potting mix, that has no fertilizer. I then cover this mound with more gypsum, then mulch with a coarse mulch. | About the Author Brendan Mackay, Q 27th December 2009 7:42am #UserID: 1947 Posts: 1722 View All Brendan's Edible Fruit Trees |
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Original Post was last edited: 3rd January 2010 7:59am | |
| About the Author Brad2 Como, Perth 2nd January 2010 11:24pm #UserID: 2323 Posts: 762 View All Brad2's Edible Fruit Trees |
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| About the Author Brendan Mackay, Q 3rd January 2010 8:07am #UserID: 1947 Posts: 1722 View All Brendan's Edible Fruit Trees |
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Tommoz says... Brendan are you serious? I wanted to plant a second avocado 30m from my current tree and was wondering how effective that would be, given I have a few other things in between. Surely bees dont travel 10km from the hive, and there would be barely enough avocado pollen in decent concentrations by that stage anyway. | About the Author Tommoz Dural 12th November 2012 10:43pm #UserID: 7219 Posts: 340 View All Tommoz's Edible Fruit Trees |
| About the Author MaryT Sydney 13th November 2012 8:21am #UserID: 5412 Posts: 2066 View All MaryT's Edible Fruit Trees |
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Boris Spasky says... Your kidding yourself. Bees ain't like birds flying around looking for your avocado tree. They forage. The key to keeping bees in your area is to have plenty of perennial flowering plants, rather then to hope they arrive in time to pollinate your trees. And if you like your insecticides (even less toxic ones like spinosad (Success)), then you might as well start hand pollinating. | About the Author Boris Spasky 13th November 2012 9:06am #UserID: 7085 Posts: 184 View All Boris Spasky's Edible Fruit Trees |
| About the Author MaryT Sydney 13th November 2012 9:54am #UserID: 5412 Posts: 2066 View All MaryT's Edible Fruit Trees |
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Haakon says... The question is still interesting. There is a large avocado at the bottom of my hill, say 200m away. I wonder if that would do. I would count on the bees to do it though. In the suburbs bees are spoilt for choice. There is almost always some major tree near my place flowering and bees tend to prefer a single flow type if they can get enough of it. | About the Author Haakon Fremantle 13th November 2012 7:33pm #UserID: 3904 Posts: 18 View All Haakon's Edible Fruit Trees |
Tommoz says... This document goes into some detail: http://ucanr.org/sites/alternativefruits/files/121264.pdf In sum very little cross pollination beyond 2 rows. Bees have a high preference for sticking to the one tree. | About the Author Tommoz Dural 13th November 2012 11:03pm #UserID: 7219 Posts: 340 View All Tommoz's Edible Fruit Trees |
Brendan says... Hi All, Copied this from this site: http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/stories/s2688801.htm "Since bees travel anywhere up to 10km away to gather pollen and nectar, their pollination services extend way beyond your garden or those of your neighbours". If the ABC says they travel up to 10km, then it must be right! (right? :-) | About the Author Brendan Mackay, Q 14th November 2012 8:06am #UserID: 1947 Posts: 1722 View All Brendan's Edible Fruit Trees |
VF says... My problem with the bees is that the Avo's were last on their list of flowers - citrus was the winner by a mile,even the flowering gums were doing better. The main pollinators for the Avo's ended up being hover-flys, ants and some beetles. (And there are plenty of bees around, as someone has a five box hive across the road). Bees are just fussy little sods! | About the Author VF Wongawallan 14th November 2012 10:30pm #UserID: 6795 Posts: 736 View All VF's Edible Fruit Trees |
| About the Author Tommoz Dural 14th November 2012 11:10pm #UserID: 7219 Posts: 340 View All Tommoz's Edible Fruit Trees |
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| About the Author Brendan Mackay, Q 16th November 2012 8:34am #UserID: 1947 Posts: 1722 View All Brendan's Edible Fruit Trees |
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| About the Author MaryT Sydney 16th November 2012 4:22pm #UserID: 5412 Posts: 2066 View All MaryT's Edible Fruit Trees |
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Haakon says... Brendan, I googled bee range and found plenty of opinions on how far a bee might range. The most intuitive would be a close to home as possible. So if you live in an area with lots and varied gardens area they probably are not going that far from home. If you live amongst empty paddocks and stand of trees flowering a coupla/few km away they will probably go there. One site (beesource) reckons there is a distance between 4 and 5 miles where the hive starts losing weight because more honey is being consumed than made. | About the Author Haakon Fremantle 16th November 2012 6:27pm #UserID: 3904 Posts: 18 View All Haakon's Edible Fruit Trees |
Brendan says... Makes sense to me Haakon. I remember where I got the 10km from, I heard Dr Karl Kruzeniski on ABC radio say it about five years ago. God only knows where he got it from? (What he said was bees CAN travel up to 10kms :-) Is that bicolour or sun & snow corn in your pic on the right? Lot bigger than mine! :-) | About the Author Brendan Mackay, Q 17th November 2012 8:34am #UserID: 1947 Posts: 1722 View All Brendan's Edible Fruit Trees |
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Original Post was last edited: 18th November 2012 8:44am | |
| About the Author Haakon Fremantle 19th November 2012 5:31pm #UserID: 3904 Posts: 18 View All Haakon's Edible Fruit Trees |
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| About the Author Db Brisbane 17th September 2013 11:50am #UserID: 6427 Posts: 470 View All Db's Edible Fruit Trees |
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Brendan says... Might be able to buy an Edranol avo here Db, http://www.sunraysianurseries.com.au/products/avocado | About the Author Brendan Mackay, Q 20th September 2013 7:32am #UserID: 1947 Posts: 1722 View All Brendan's Edible Fruit Trees |
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| About the Author Theposterformerlyknownas Brisbane 20th September 2013 8:52am #UserID: 3270 Posts: 1552 View All Theposterformerlyknownas's Edible Fruit Trees |
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| About the Author Db Brisbane 20th September 2013 9:07am #UserID: 6427 Posts: 470 View All Db's Edible Fruit Trees |
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BJ says... I have one spare in a long pot. It should start fruiting as soon as it is large enogh. They flower extremely heavily from the first blooming season after they are grafted, but need some size to hold fruit. I'm unsure if its a great self-pollinator. Reed is supposed to be about the best of the selfies. Here is a little blurb about pollination: Do I need to plant more than one tree for pollination? It is widely accepted by experts that you can increase your avocado production by planting more that one type of avocado tree. The complication is that you cannot plant just any two trees; you need an “A” type and a “B” type. “A” type trees have female flowers open in the morning, which become male in the afternoon, “B” types open male in the morning and female later in the day. It is good to have one of each so that you have both male and female flowers open at the same time. However, if the average daily temperature (day and night temperatures) drops below 70°, the bloom becomes irregular and the same tree can have both male and female flowers open and available for pollination. Thus it is possible to have only one avocado tree and still set a heavy crop, but you’re fighting nature. Biologically, the whole point of this A and B flower strategy is to avoid self pollination and in-bred progeny, and don’t think the tree stops there. It has also been shown that self pollinated fruitlets on Hass trees drop off at a much higher rate than fruitlets pollinated from some diverse pollen source; the more unrelated the suitable pollen parent, the more likely will a fruitlet hang on to achieve a state of guacamole. The Reed avocado is renown for being fairly self-fruitful, while the Gwen is famous for its promiscuous nature, bearing well only in the presence of multiple pollinators. http://www.epicenteravocados.com/faq/ | About the Author Theposterformerlyknownas Brisbane 20th September 2013 10:21am #UserID: 3270 Posts: 1552 View All Theposterformerlyknownas's Edible Fruit Trees |
Db says... Hi BJ, thanks for reply..I called Birdwood and local bunnings and they don't have it.. Birdwood said this they don't have any this time and it goes to growers and not to retailer.. I can buy yours if you don't need your spare one.. How old and tall it is? May be we can exchange few other plants.. | About the Author Db Brisbane 20th September 2013 10:40am #UserID: 6427 Posts: 470 View All Db's Edible Fruit Trees |
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Original Post was last edited: 4th October 2013 8:26pm | |
| About the Author Db Brisbane 20th September 2013 7:24pm #UserID: 6427 Posts: 470 View All Db's Edible Fruit Trees |
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starling says... Sharwil is the best, but I reckon you have to give it absolutely everything it needs. I've had some from well cared for trees and some from moderately cared for trees, and this difference in quality between either case is great. Be aware you need a has to pollinate the sharwil, I don't know if lamb has would do it, but this is also a very high quality fruit bearing tree (purple flesh with a really oily yet firm flesh). | About the Author 21st September 2013 7:50am #UserID: 8102 Posts: View All 's Edible Fruit Trees |
starling says... DB, I would try sunraysia nurseries. They stock pretty much every avocado and citrus you can get. http://www.sunraysianurseries.com.au/ | About the Author 21st September 2013 7:54am #UserID: 8102 Posts: View All 's Edible Fruit Trees |
Db says... Thanks Starling, but I'm first trying to get it locally so that its cheaper.. May be I can get 2 avocado plants locally at the price of one from sunraysia nurseries considering their shipping cost.. Not sure abt their pricing and shipping cost to Brisbane though... Sharwil is one more variety to consider now, looks like there too many good varieties of avocado... I actually need only one plant if self-pollinating with good crop.. decision, decision to make ... | About the Author Db Brisbane 21st September 2013 9:34am #UserID: 6427 Posts: 470 View All Db's Edible Fruit Trees |
| About the Author VF 21st September 2013 1:35pm #UserID: 6795 Posts: 736 View All VF's Edible Fruit Trees |
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Db says... VF, thanks, I'll give them call tomorrow, they r not far from my place so I might even visit. This nursery is very nice, 6 months back I bought cape gooseberry from them n it turned out extremely productive already, my daughter loves these berries n eating it almost every day now. Kwan mango I bought from them has started to flower now so I'll be interesting to see if it sets fruits (it's first season for it). | About the Author Db Brisbane 21st September 2013 6:37pm #UserID: 6427 Posts: 470 View All Db's Edible Fruit Trees |
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Original Post was last edited: 21st September 2013 11:45pm | |
| About the Author VF 22nd September 2013 6:19am #UserID: 6795 Posts: 736 View All VF's Edible Fruit Trees |
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Original Post was last edited: 22nd September 2013 4:46pm | |
| About the Author VF 22nd September 2013 8:36pm #UserID: 6795 Posts: 736 View All VF's Edible Fruit Trees |
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Db says... Now I'm thinking to get Reed variety (as well) as they seem to best self pollinating and starts producing at early age but I have read few references which says reed crops heavily every alternate year. I'm not sure how true it is, any opinion? If true, does it crop very less in the year in which it doesn't crop heavily (like fuerte)? | About the Author Db Brisbane 24th September 2013 7:31am #UserID: 6427 Posts: 470 View All Db's Edible Fruit Trees |
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Brendan says... They are a very nice tasting avo Db, and don't usually go brown after they've been cut. An 'A' type, large upright tree with large fruit that bear late, around Sept to Dec, depending where you live. One of my favourites! Mine used to bear every year before phytophthora root rot killed it :-( Yates Anti Rot was not available back then! | About the Author Brendan Mackay, Q 25th September 2013 8:49am #UserID: 1947 Posts: 1722 View All Brendan's Edible Fruit Trees |
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Original Post was last edited: 25th September 2013 9:26am | |
| About the Author Brendan Mackay, Q 26th September 2013 6:38am #UserID: 1947 Posts: 1722 View All Brendan's Edible Fruit Trees |
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Original Post was last edited: 26th September 2013 6:39am | |
Anonymous says... If you have clay soil ,to make it free draining to grow subtropicals you will have to make sure you have adequate sand levels in your soil medium to draw down moisture levels away from clay particles,manure, composts or potting mixes in the soil to avoid waterlogging issues around roots.They are all moisture absorbants and you need a opposing force to suck moisture out of them which is sand.Best sand to use is the fine type like a lawn topping sand or washed filling sand or potting mix sand,having said all that a little gypsum is ok I have issues with gypsum in regards to salt,dont believe all the hype.I hope I have been of some help. | About the Author AC1 26th September 2013 1:58pm #UserID: 8055 Posts: 103 View All AC1's Edible Fruit Trees |
| About the Author yry 26th September 2013 2:31pm #UserID: 8150 Posts: 44 View All yry's Edible Fruit Trees |
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Anonymous says... Ive avoided having clay in my mixes exactly the reasons you've mentioned.I dont know the exact mixes with these other materials when clay is included. Ive never used gravel but point taken,What size gravel would you use?Is this the small grit type like in some potting mixes or something around 7mm or larger. Some of the grits have specific names or is it just plain gravel? | About the Author AC1 26th September 2013 3:36pm #UserID: 8055 Posts: 103 View All AC1's Edible Fruit Trees |
Db says... Thanks Brendan & Anonymous for tips. Limited space in my garden is one more reason to consider growing it in pot. Only space remaining in my garden is now close to house, will it be bad idea to plant avocado tree at close to wall say 1m? So far most of my trees in containers are doing good. Avocado in pot might be altogether different story though, but looks like I'll give it a try 😉 Has anyone got good success with avocado on pot? | About the Author Db Brisbane 27th September 2013 7:32am #UserID: 6427 Posts: 470 View All Db's Edible Fruit Trees |
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Original Post was last edited: 27th September 2013 7:33am | |
| About the Author David Brisbane 27th September 2013 8:11am #UserID: 1961 Posts: 670 View All David's Edible Fruit Trees |
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Original Post was last edited: 27th September 2013 9:28am | |
| About the Author David Brisbane 27th September 2013 9:54am #UserID: 1961 Posts: 670 View All David's Edible Fruit Trees |
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Brendan says... Don't forget Anonymous, it's probably over 35 years old :) That's roughly 30 years of mulch, lol. Yes, when I can, I try to give it cane mulch, manure, lawn clippings etc., extra P & K fertilizer & gypsum. I also like to give him a 'bit' of boron & zinc, that is 'supposed' help fruit set. Funny thing, during the wet season, he eats nearly all that mulch :) | About the Author Brendan Mackay, Q 28th September 2013 7:07am #UserID: 1947 Posts: 1722 View All Brendan's Edible Fruit Trees |
VF says... Hi Db, how bad do you want an Edranol? I found one at Bunnings Oxenford this evening. A bit scraggly looking, I think it has been looked over from a delivery late last year/early this year. It's in those squareish tubes that Birdwood uses, under $27. Has lost all its old leaves and has healthy new growth, and has one set pea-size avo. Tag has been lost, but EDR written on side of tube in gold marker like other Birdwood stock. | About the Author VF 3rd October 2013 8:49pm #UserID: 6795 Posts: 736 View All VF's Edible Fruit Trees |
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Original Post was last edited: 4th October 2013 7:35am | |
| About the Author David Brisbane 4th October 2013 7:58am #UserID: 1961 Posts: 670 View All David's Edible Fruit Trees |
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Original Post was last edited: 9th October 2013 1:41pm | |
Anthony says... Hi Brain, if you are after something to increase root mass and therefore, overall plant health, it may be worth looking at a product called Au60 Root Repair. Used a lot in hydro production apparently but from my own experience with potted fruiting plants (Brazilian cherry, dragonfruit and capers), this stuff eliminates transplant shock and causes roots to go berserk. I,m not sure where you buy it but it works wonders. Had it sent to me from a caper grower when the plants I received in the mail were crushed and out of their pots.Plants never looked back. | About the Author Anthony9 14th October 2013 10:02pm #UserID: 7963 Posts: 22 View All Anthony9's Edible Fruit Trees |
Brain says... hi and thanks, did some google, looks like an Australian product http://www.nulifetech.com.au/pdf/AU%2060%20Root%20Repair.pdf and the company specialise in hydroponics. For me, I'm just trying to get my avo to work. It's been struggling for a while and so far had no luck in getting it to be healthy, let alone flower and fruit. | About the Author Brain Brisbane 15th October 2013 10:50am #UserID: 6289 Posts: 638 View All Brain's Edible Fruit Trees |
