Avocados are commonly associated with warm climates because they grow and produce fruits well in full sun. For the most part, this means they can do well in zones closer to the southern region. All in all, before planting avocados, gardeners need to be cautious about the climate of where they live and the species they wish to plant for the best yields.
For gardeners living in zone 10, planting and maintaining avocados here is not a challenging task. Because the conditions favor fruit production, you can choose just about any variety that produces and plant it, then wait for fruits to appear in the next three or more years.
If you are considering growing avocados in zone 10 but are stuck, this article will cover how to plant avocados, when to plant and how to harvest avocados in zone 10.
How and When to plant avocado in zone 10
For prudent farmers, timing is a crucial aspect of planting any seeds or trees. That said, the best time to plant avocados in zone 10 is in March through early June.
For the seedlings to thrive and produce well in their time, they need to be planted in fertile, well-drained soils. Further, the young trees need at least 6 hours of full sunlight in a day. If your soil has poor drainage, you can plant the tree on a large hip of soil.
A proper planting depth allows your avocado to establish itself, giving it adequate support it needs to grow. Even so, do not make the hole too deep; just a realistic depth for the tree to remain firm even when the wind is intense.
While growing, avocados require a sufficient water supply. For zone 10, you will need to water the young trees at least once a day until they establish themselves. However, make sure to always wait for the soil to dry up before watering again to avoid root rot.
When the trees mature, they get hardy and will only require watering once a week or less. Their roots can source water from deep soils to help the tree remain healthy.
When growing, it is advisable you add mulch on the soil around the young avocado tree to help maintain favorable soil humidity. You will also need to apply fertilizer as needed, particularly during spring and summer. Generally, young avocado plants require medium fertilizer, while bigger trees need more fertilizer. With avocados, fertilizer rich in nitrogen is preferred as it facilitates fruit production.
Besides watering, mulching, and applying fertilizer, pruning is also a good avocado care activity that helps increase production. However, it should be done in moderation. In most cases, pruning is limited to removing a few drying or dead branches. You can prune off a few shoots and branches if you wish to control the height. Too much pruning in avocado can cause a low yield of the fruits.
Avocado harvesting
An avocado tree takes at least three years (or more) to bear fruits. The length of time to maturity and production depends on the species and climate.
Some avocado varieties produce many fruits during the first season and then produce less in the subsequent seasons, while others maintain the same amount of fruits for several consecutive seasons. On average, one tree produces about 60 to 200 pounds of avocados.
The ripening of avocados also depends on the variety. Some fruits ripen in spring, while others will ripen in fall. You will know that an avocado is ready for ripening when the skin color changes from shiny young skin to dull skin.
Remember, avocados do not ripen on the trees; they must be picked from the tree and kept at a cool or warm place for about 7 to 10 days. You can choose to harvest the fruits all at once or do it in bits. Importantly, if you leave the fruits on the tree for too long, they may start losing their flavor.
When picking the fruits from the tree branches, make sure to leave a small piece of stem on the fruit to help you when handling the harvested fruits. To determine if the tree is ripe, you can gently squeeze it with a thumb, and when you feel a little “give” into the skin, it means they are ready for consumption or a guacamole recipe.
Avocado tree zone 10:Conclusion
Planting fruits in zone 10 is quite easy, thanks to the favorable warm temperatures. If you choose to start avocado farming in zone 10, you can get a good harvest as long as you plant correctly and give the plants adequate care. Hopefully, this article gets to provide you with the best insights on planting and caring of avocado in zone 10.
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