Avocados fruits are grown for export and local market in Kenya. The plants are
native to America but grows
well in Kenya. Avocados are very nutritious with high protein and oil content. Climatic
conditions requirements for growth of avocado fruits trees are altitudes of They perform well from 0-2100 m above sea level (asl). Varieties Tonnage and Simmonds perform well in lowland with altitude 90 - 800 m.
'Hass' and 'Nabal varieties' are for 800-2100 m asl. 'Fuerte' and 'Puebla' do best at
1500-2100 m asl. Well distributed annual rainfall of 1000-1200mm is required.The soils should be deep and free draining. Main varieties suitable for growing
in Kenya include:-
Variety
|
Variety’s characteristics
|
Fuerte
|
Hybrid, Green, thin skinned pebbled
fruits of very good flavor
|
Haas
|
Vigorously growing trees with black fruits. grows well in kenya
|
Nabal
|
Green fruits with good flavour.Bears in alternate years
|
Puebla
|
Dark green trees bearing round purple fruits. Used as
rootstock
|
Avocado trees seedlings are grown in the nursery, from
healthy egg sized seeds which are extracted from the fruits and planted in boxes,
seedbed or 4kg containers. Grafting should be carried out when the seedlings
reach pencil thickness. The wedge grafting method is the most successful. Grafting
should be done when the root stock is still soft. The scion should be dormant
at the time of grafting and should match the size of the rootstock. Wrap the
grafting joint thoroughly to exclude water from the union. 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 rotted
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. Water
and shade the avocado seedlings immediately after planting. Application of
manure and fertilizer on growing avocado trees is done twice a year following
soil analysis report, or the general guideline below:
Trees age
|
CAN
|
Double supers
|
Muriate of potash
|
manure
|
1-3 years
|
120 g
|
220 g
|
-------
|
15kg
|
4-5 years
|
220 g
|
450 g
|
-------
|
15kg
|
6-7 years
|
450 g
|
650 g
|
220gm
|
30kg
|
8-9 years
|
650 g
|
650 g
|
450gm
|
30kg
|
10-14years
|
900 g
|
1 kg
|
650gm
|
------
|
15 + years
|
1.3kg
|
1.2kg
|
650gm
|
------
|
Deficiencies in trace elements may occur in avocado
fruits trees causing leaf
discoloration. Leaf analysis can be done by agricultural laboratories for an accurate
report.
Nutrient element
|
Deficiency symptoms
|
Control measures
|
Zink
|
Mottled leaves, light yellow patches between plant veins, abnormal
Development of Growing shoots.
|
Application of 250g
Zinc sulphate for each year of age up to 4.5kg along drip
line
|
Manganese
|
--------------------
|
Spray manganese sulphate on
Young plant leaves
|
Iron
|
Loss of green colour on
tree leaves
|
Apply 360g iron chelate for
Each year of age
|
Excess
Chlorine
|
Avocado trees tip burns & plant root damages
|
Apply calcium, magnesium,
Ammonium phosphate. Avoid chlorine fertilizers
|
Initial pruning of fruit trees can be done to give a
good shape but latter pruning is limited to removal of of dead branches. It’s
not easy to tell when fruits are ready for harvesting, and the recommendation
is, pick a few fruits from the plant , keep at room temperature.Mature
fruits soften within ten days without shriveling. There are no major
pests and diseases on growing avocado trees.For more information see http://www.journalofkenyanhorticulture.blogspot.com/2012/08/pruning-and-canopy-management-of.html