How to Maintain an Avocado Tree in Melbourne (forum)

huey starts with ...
Hi
New to this forum, and definitely not a green-thumb.

I have read most of the posts here on this forum on Avocado trees in Melbourne but my ignorance on anything green doesn't bid me well.

So if you can bear with me, i'll give you some background and then ask some questions if i may.

About thirteen years ago i threw an avocado seed into a flower bed and forgot about it. The resulting tree is about 9 foot high now. A few years ago it gave fruit for the first time. There were 5 tiny avocados, they were rock hard and totally tasteless. The next two years it was barren again.

This year we got a crop of about 60 avocados and they were absolutely delicious and of really good size. Even the really high ones that we picked very late and the skin had cracked, they too were delicious.

I have no idea what variety the tree is.

So, my questions.

1. How do i identify it?
2. What sort of maintenance should i perform and when?
3. Was this a freak crop or can i expect it to produce like this regularly?

Thanks in advance.

Huey

Time: 9th November 2015 3:36pm

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About the Author huey
Westmeadows
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ChristopherC says...
Hi Huey,
As a seedling it won't be any particular variety. You take pot luck with seedlings - most are not as good as selected varieties - which are grafted onto seedlings. You could see what it turns out to be closest too - but it can't be a named variety as seedlings are sexually produced not cloned (grafted or from cuttings). Sounds like you got a great seedling though - name it Huey's Wonder! You are ahead of me - i have three varieties in tubs in Thornbury - flowers but no fruit yet. There is a good section on avacadoes in the Complete Book of Growing Fruit in Aust by Glowinski. You've come through the hard bit if the tree is flourishing. Mulch well - don't let the roots dry out or get too wet. The occasional very deep watering in summer, chook manure in late winter, Citrus fertiliser at half recommended rate strength every 3-4 months!

Time: 12th November 2015 12:34am

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About the Author ChristopherC
Thornbury
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Markmelb says...
Huey - some photos would be great of the fruit and tree.

If you can - pics of fruit whole and cut in half with seed in situ to show size of seed in relation to flesh

For the tree a pic with someone next to it and a pic of a good sized leaf.

Its more than likely a Hass seed you used and Ive only seen one other seedling producing great fruit alone.

Even my Lamb Hass has variable seed size in its fruit some small seeds some large.

Was good you finally worked out to leave as long as possible as my LH are on tree for nearly 12 months but Hass ripen faster as do Bacon,

Time: 12th November 2015 9:19am

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About the Author Markmelb
MOUNT WAVERLEY,3149,VIC
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