Avocado Tree Has Awakened!
Avocado trees are one of the most challenging plants to grow in your garden. I learn that the hard way. This type of avocado tree were currently growing in our garden is the Hass Avocado tree. The hass tree is a different variety of avocado that has this dark green bumpy like skin and is usually grown in Southern California. Hass avocado usually is grown in zone's 9 through 11. Hass prefers to be in a well draining pot or container or well draining area in your garden. The tree do not like freezing temperatures at all. And the tree can get up to about 25 feet which means you need to keep it top trimmed if planted in ground to your preferred height in order to retrieve fruit easily. If you have clay soil or anything like we have here in certain parts of Texas then raise beds around where the tree will be planted will be very helpful in order for a healthy tree roots to be established.
Diseased avocado tree coming back from the brink of death from scary garden gnomes.
We purchased avocado tree from the nursery that was about 2 to 3 feet tall. At the time I did not know how to take care of the avocado tree (didn’t care I just loved avocados) and would rely on the included instructions that came with it. What I didn’t know at the time was that it was sick and diseased. I found out weeks later that the tree was dying and the leaves was starting to turn black and falling off. I thought this was normal considering we bought the tree at the end of the cold front and it was still dormant. Looks like it was more serious then that. The tree was suffering from root rot. The avocado tree limbs started to turn black at the tips and I had no idea what to do to save it. I even contacted the nursery where it was purchased from for help with no avail. I thought we lost money on this purchase. So my next step was to do some research and see what others done to protect or salvage their avocado trees from this disease. Many offered remedies that may or may not work, many gave up and wrote it off as a lost and very “very” few were successful in bringing their trees back from root rot.
Below I offer the steps I use from trial and error as well as research on saving a dying avocado tree.
First immediately remove all disease soil and tree from pot.
Clean disease soil (white spots or black spots) from the root-stock without damaging the roots as best as you can.
Lay the tree on a table etc and allow roots to dry out for the next two days in the sun. This allows the disease to stop progressing.
Now time to add fresh garden soil back into the pot carefully leaving about 5 to 6 inches from roots to bottom of the pot to allow more space for roots to grow as well for drainage.
Add soil over the roots below the graft union.
About watering. I gave it very little water during this process. The reason why I gave it very little water while it healed itself is because I was already using a liquid fungicide to treat it everyday for about a month. I figured that the plant was getting its water from that as well and did not want overwater it plus fungicide accidentally bringing back the root rot.
I also was constantly cutting and removing black tips forming on the avocado branches to keep it from spreading to the main stem.
After about a month or so I started using avocado tree fertilizer for about two weeks.
Once the disease slowed down I moved it to our porch that’s partially shaded for about two or three weeks.
Now it’s time to introduce it to the rest of the garden to achieve more sunlight and photosynthesis. Make sure it stays within it specified PH (phosphorus). Now it’s time to water it daily. Don’t be concerned because it’s in a well drained pot.
Gardening requires a lot of patience and determination as I experience with this avocado tree. When you find out that your hard work has paid off it gives you more confidence that you officially now have a “GREEN” thumb. Gardening is hard work but fun and well worth it in becoming self-sufficient and producing healthier food. You’ll get better every year so don't give up gardening because it is very rewarding and satisfying.
Happy gardening!
- Monica
Garden 2 Grub - Nice Avocado Recipe:
Healthy Creamy Avocado Cilantro Lime Dressing
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 2 minutes
Total Time 7 minutes
Servings 8 servings
Calories 93kcal
Author Layla
Ingredients
1 Avocado
1 clove Garlic peeled
1/4 cup roughly chopped cilantro
1/4 cup low-fat sour-cream or greek yogurt
1 tablespoon fresh lime or lemon juice or white vinegar
3 tablespoons Olive Oil
1/4 teaspoon Kosher Salt
1/4 teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
Water
Instructions
Place all the ingredients In a food processor or blender.
Process until smooth, stopping to scrape down the sides a few times. Thin the salad dressing out with about 1/3 cup water (give or take) until it reaches a desired consistency.
Keep in an airtight container for 1-2 weeks.
Nutrition
Serving: 2Tbsp | Calories: 93kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 77mg | Potassium: 121mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0g | Vitamin A: 70IU | Vitamin C: 3.3mg | Calcium: 11mg | Iron: 0.2mg
Courtesy of GimmDelicious.com