Avocado varieties
-Hass and Fuerte - These two varieties are used as scions (upper parts of grafted fruits).They are popular because of their high oil content.
-Hass and Fuerte - These two varieties are used as scions (upper parts of grafted fruits).They are popular because of their high oil content.
-Puebla - Used as root stock by many farmers as it has no fibre and is resistant to diseases.
-Singapore - This is a new variety that is fast growing reaching maturity in 14 to 15 months. It grows to a height of 2 ft.
-G5 and G6 - These two varieties are popular as they can do well in both highlands and lowlands.
They can be grafted with all the other varieties to improve fruit quality.
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| Hass avocados |
-Soils should be deep, fertile and well aerated.
-Avocados do not like poorly drained, heavy soils and flooding or high water tables, and they will also not tolerate salty or very acidic conditions.
-The most favorable planting time is at the beginning of the rainy season.
-Spacing between trees lies between 6 and 10 m, depending on soil fertility, climate, and variety.
-Planting holes are usually dug two feet wide and two feet deep, making sure to break hard pans and to allow good drainage and undisturbed root development.
-The excavated soil can be mixed with manure, compost and rock phosphate if available.
-Plant the seedlings carefully without damaging the roots at the same depth as it was in the container.
-Build a basin from soil around the tree for better irrigation and water harvesting.
-After planting, seedlings must be irrigated immediately. Use 5 to 20 litres of water depending on the size of the seedling.
-Mulching can be very beneficial as it reduces moisture loss and controls weed growth.
-Irrigation will be necessary for some time.
-Another important measure is to protect each seedling against livestock and wild animals.
-Irrigation is important during several stages of tree development and the fruiting cycle.
-During the first months of establishment, but also later during their first years of growth, trees must be checked frequently and irrigated when they show symptoms of water requirement.
-Avocados develop long tap roots, but depending on the climate they may need some additional irrigation, especially during prolonged dry spells.
-During flowering, fruit set and fruit development sufficient moisture is critical for good fruit development.
Hass Variety farming
-The climatic conditions in most parts of the country are ideal for Hass variety farming.
-They are sensitive to wind, which can cause fruit drop and defoliation.
-Trees should be located in safe areas.
-Planting of avocado trees is done at a spacing of 9m×9m. Dig planting holes 60cm ×60cm× 60cm separating top soil and subsoil.
-Mix the top soil with 20kg of well decomposed manure, 120grams of double super phosphate fertilizer.
-Remove the seedling from the pot keeping the root and soil structure intact, and plant using the top soil mixture.
-The subsoil may be used to make a basin around the plant. We are able to determine production per tree by randomly sampling trees in the farm.
-Production averaged 60 fruits per tree, this was what we were able to count and could be more before the end of the season. Please note harvesting is done twice in one year.
-Mature tree average production per randomly sampled tree yielded 60 fruits at its fifth year in one season, production is two seasons per year.
-At an average price of ten shillings per fruit the returns per tree per year amount to 1200 ksh.
-It takes 100 or more fruits to create a meaningful income of more than 100,000 ksh.
-The climatic conditions in most parts of the country are ideal for Hass variety farming.
-They are sensitive to wind, which can cause fruit drop and defoliation.
-Trees should be located in safe areas.
-Planting of avocado trees is done at a spacing of 9m×9m. Dig planting holes 60cm ×60cm× 60cm separating top soil and subsoil.
-Mix the top soil with 20kg of well decomposed manure, 120grams of double super phosphate fertilizer.
-Remove the seedling from the pot keeping the root and soil structure intact, and plant using the top soil mixture.
-The subsoil may be used to make a basin around the plant. We are able to determine production per tree by randomly sampling trees in the farm.
-Production averaged 60 fruits per tree, this was what we were able to count and could be more before the end of the season. Please note harvesting is done twice in one year.
-Mature tree average production per randomly sampled tree yielded 60 fruits at its fifth year in one season, production is two seasons per year.
-At an average price of ten shillings per fruit the returns per tree per year amount to 1200 ksh.
-It takes 100 or more fruits to create a meaningful income of more than 100,000 ksh.
Harvesting avocados
-Grafted trees usually start to flourish and bear fruit 3 to 4 years after they have been planted in the field. There are some indicators of approaching maturity;
-Grafted trees usually start to flourish and bear fruit 3 to 4 years after they have been planted in the field. There are some indicators of approaching maturity;
-In dark varieties, there is a change in colour from green to black or purple.
-On green varieties, the fruit stems turn yellow, the skin may appear less shiny, or the end develops rust-like spots.
-Some varieties develop a whitish appearance.
-Fruits that float on the surface when immersed into water are usually mature.
-On green varieties, the fruit stems turn yellow, the skin may appear less shiny, or the end develops rust-like spots.
-Some varieties develop a whitish appearance.
-Fruits that float on the surface when immersed into water are usually mature.
Avocados marketing
-Export markets, especially the European market, have very strict quality requirements which smallholders may find difficult to meet.
-Local markets are less complicated but also tricky, because avocados tend to mature all at the same time, making it unprofitable for farmers to sell them.
-Export markets, especially the European market, have very strict quality requirements which smallholders may find difficult to meet.
-Local markets are less complicated but also tricky, because avocados tend to mature all at the same time, making it unprofitable for farmers to sell them.
Avocados pests and diseases
1.Avocado root rot (a Phytophthora fungus disease) - Trees produce sparsely, they have fewer leaves which are pale and wilted.
-Branches are sunburnt and die back.
-Roots decay and the whole tree dies prematurely.
-Affected trees should be uprooted and destroyed. Hot water treatment and fungicide treatment of seeds for seedling production are generally recommended as a preventive measure.
-There are two chemicals registered against this disease, Ridomil and Aliette.
1.Avocado root rot (a Phytophthora fungus disease) - Trees produce sparsely, they have fewer leaves which are pale and wilted.
-Branches are sunburnt and die back.
-Roots decay and the whole tree dies prematurely.
-Affected trees should be uprooted and destroyed. Hot water treatment and fungicide treatment of seeds for seedling production are generally recommended as a preventive measure.
-There are two chemicals registered against this disease, Ridomil and Aliette.
2.Anthracnose - Fruits develop dark brown, dry spots. Young fruits may drop. In more mature fruits, the infection remains hidden until the fruit is harvested and ripens.
-Usually, copper- based fungicides are used against Anthracnose.
-Usually, copper- based fungicides are used against Anthracnose.
3.Cercospora fruit spot - Small, pale yellowish spots appear on the fruits and leaves. Later, they turn brown and crack, making it easy for other organisms to attack the fruits. This disease is also controlled with copper-based fungicides.
4.Fruit drop - Fruit drop is not a disease. It is common for many fruit species. Trees drop excess fruits that they will not be able to nourish until maturity.
-Avocados drop excess fruits when they are pea-sized, and a second time when they have reached the size of an egg.
-Avocados drop excess fruits when they are pea-sized, and a second time when they have reached the size of an egg.
5.Scab - Oval or irregular brown or purple spots on fruit with rough texture.
6.Phytophthora root rot - Black lesions on roots; black, brittle roots; small, yellow leaves; premature leaf drop; decline in fruit yield.
7.Black streak - Elongated black streaks on bark; cankers parallel to growth of limbs; black blotches with distinct marginson green wood; cankers on bark cause cracks which ooze sap; removal of bark over cankers reveals dark discoloration underneath.
8.Bacterial soft rot - Gray to black, mushy, foul smelling rot on fruit; fruit has darkened metallic sheen.
9.Sunblotch - Red, yellow, pink or white streaks running the length of young stems; white, yellow or red blotches on fruit.
10.Western avocado leafroller (Amorbia) - Upper surface of leaves consumed, leaving thin brown membrane or leaves skeletonized; defoliation of tree; terminal leaves joined together by silk webbing; scarred fruit; young larvae are yellow-green and mature to dark green and a short, dark horizontal line on the side of their thorax; adult is a orange or tan moth with dark markings and bell-shaped wings.
11.Avocado thrips - Obvious feeding scars on fruit; scars begin as scabs or leathery patches and spread across fruit; adult insect is orange-yellow in color with distinct brown bands and reaches 0.7 mm (0.03 in) in length.
12.Algal leaf spot - Raised, orange-red spots on both upper and lower surfaces of leaves; spots may coalesce to form irregularly shaped patches; spots may also be present on twigs and branches; when the surface of the spot is scraped away, a gray to dark necrotic crust is visible.
13.Persea mites - Tree dropping leaves and becoming defoliated causing sunburn damage to exposed bark and fruit; mites cause the development of circular chlorotic to brown spots on the undersides of the leaves and fruit surface; dense colonies of mites produce silk webbing which may appear as a silvery spot; large mite populations can cause the entire tree canopy to appear lighter in color.
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