Thread by @mynzagric254

The history of kenya avocado is exciting. So is the avocado itself, a lovely fruit with fast rising global demand. This simple natural fruit is amazingly high in healthy fats with attractive benefits to the body.
#Dearfarmers #thursdayvibes

THREAD...

Kenya has over 40 varieties of avocado. Hass is the main export variety and Fuerte is preferred for processing. Other
commercial varieties are Keitt, Reed, Booth 8, Simmonds,
Pinkerton, Nabal, Puebla, Tonnage, Ettinger, Hayes, G6
and G7.

Avocado performs best between 1500-2100m a.s.l. with 1000
mm of well-distributed rainfall.
Avocado thrives in deep (about 1 m of topsoil), permeable
and free draining soil with adequate moisture retention and
a pH of 5.5-6.5.

Mulches and manure should be added to
soils low in organic matter. Waterlogged soils favour the
development of Phytophthora root-rot (see diseases). It has
very low tolerance to salinity.

Aggressive
perennial weeds such as Kikuyu grass should be eliminated
before planting.

Fuerte and Hass are typically spaced at 9 x 9m (120 plants/
Avocado starts bearing within 3 years after transplanting.

Prepare holes 60 x 60 x 60 cm (length x width x depth) a month
before planting. Separate the top and sub-soils. Mix the top soil
with 20 kg (debe) of decomposed Farm Yard Manure (FYM) and
120 g of Double Superphosphate (46% P2O5) with the top soil.

Carefully remove the plant from the container with the soil

intact and place it in the centre of the hole and cover firmly with
the mixture of top soil and FYM. Make a basin around the seedling for holding water. Transplanting is more successful when
carried out during the long rains either early morning or evening.

Plant the seedlings at the same depth as it was in the nursery and
water the plant immediately after planting. In hot areas, shade
the seedlings after transplanting.

The type of avocado cultivars planted in an orchard will contribute to the expected yield. There are two types of avocado that
flower at different times of the year (type A and type B). Mix both
types in an orchard so that type A pollinates type B and vice visa

Avocado starts bearing within 3 years after transplanting. Peak
harvest occurs between July-August.
Mulching is undertaken to conserve moisture and to add
organic matter to the soil.

Mulching will therefore improve
water retention of soil and subsequently promote avocado
growth. The most common mulch for avocado is well-dried
grass that is pest free.

Sawdust should be avoided as it decomposes poses and ties up nitrogen. Dry leaves may also be used as
mulch. Cultivate around the trees to keep them weed free.
Note that use of herbicides is not recommended.

Grapes seedlings 300/=
Grafted pixies tangerine 300/=
Grafted Washington orange 150/=
Grafted Tangerine 150/=
Grafted lime 150/=
Paw paw  Malkia F1 @100/=

Apical bud of young plants should be nipped to slow growth
and lead to a compact tree. Lower branches that interfere with
cultural activities including irrigation should be pruned.

Heavy pruning should only be carried out to reduce the size of
the tree after 12 to 15 years of bearing.

Avocado orchards may be intercropped with other crops such
as beans, peas, kale, or cabbage during the first 3-5 years to get
economic returns from the land before the trees start bearing
or produce economic returns.

An avocado tree yields 230-320 kg (7.5-11 t ha–1) of fruit per
year. Grafted trees start bearing after 3-4 years after planting