Now is the time for avocado growers to sort the flowers from the fruit.

New Zealand Avocado research manager Phillip West says that in spring, avocado orchards should focus on managing the crop load to reduce irregular bearing, as well as bringing in bees and doing your best to look after them.

“Achieving regular crops on avocado trees is a challenge for many avocado growers in this country,” he says.

“Only 0.3% (3 in 1000) flowers generally set fruit and carry it to harvest.”

As the whole purpose of growing avocado trees commercially is to produce fruit, Phillip says understanding the fruit set process and what can go wrong is important knowledge for all avocado growers.

Avocado trees can flower without producing fruit when pollination, temperature, wind, drought or nutrient conditions are inadequate.

Fruit set can also be reduced because of tree resources being depleted from carrying an excessive crop the season prior.

Phillip says by preventing trees carrying excessive crop loads, growers can smooth out the amount of fruit produced from one season to another.

“This can be achieved by pruning excess flowers off the trees as early as possible to prevent an excessive crop.

“This is ideally done in October when new leaf flush is more visible.”

He says having a good idea of how many flower buds are developing and the progress of flower bud growth are useful pieces of information for growers in their decision-making, and whether flower pruning might be appropriate.

Limited, or slow, new leaf growth in spring is a good indicator of excessive flowering.

With the frosts experienced in August, Phillip says growers may want to wait a bit longer than October to adjust crop load to see how many flowers set fruit.

Early intervention

“As long as excessive crop is removed before the end of December, growers should expect a net benefit from the effort, but the earlier intervention can be made, the better.”

He says bees should be brought in for pollination when 5-10% of flowers have opened, with 8-10 hives per hectare being the best practice.

“It’s important to note that bees won’t fly in less than 10C, windy days or very cloudy days.

“Talk to your beekeeper about how best to look after your hives.

“This might be as simple as putting out some sacks in buckets of water to provide safe drinking stations if conditions are dry.”

Fruit set depends on proper pollination, Phillip says.

“Type A and type B varieties have different flower opening timing and by having both, you can maximise the overlap of male and female flowers during the middle of the day, when bees are most active.”

Cut back to healthy foliage and target flowers likely to set fruit in exposed areas prone to sunburn and wind damage.

Make cuts on wood 1-2cm thick rather than a lot of cuts on smaller flower panicles.

Avoid cutting off flower panicles with leaves at their apex as leaf growth is desirable, says Phillip.

“A balance of 60% of flower panicles with no leaf at the end and 40% with leaves at the end is ideal.”

Spring planting advice

It’s okay to plant trees any time if they are protected appropriately from frost and wind.

Review the updated New Zealand Avocado planting guide on how to take delivery of trees, inspect them, plant and care during early development.

Plant trees as soon as practical after delivery.

Plants will get going once they have recovered from transplant shock and once temperatures are warm enough.

Follow planting guidelines and avoid overwatering.

If replanting avocados into an existing avocado orchard, it is strongly advised to replant with a clonal rootstock with tolerance to Phytophthora root rot.

Guacamole Week

Spring also brings the opportunity to celebrate the avocado.

Guacamole Week takes place between September 14-20 and NZ Avocado has planned several celebrations to mark the occasion.

It is a timely reminder that New Zealand avocados are in season, at their freshest, and ready to be enjoyed in simple, everyday ways, whether mashed into a classic or as a great addition to any plate.

From healthy snacks like guacamole sliced over toast, to levelling up meals like rice bowls and salads, or used to bring creaminess to even pasta dishes and wraps, avocados are an easy way to add colour, flavour and nutrition to the plate.

Guacamole Week is a chance to make the most of the season, try something new in the kitchen, and share a fresh avocado favourite with family and friends.

The following recipe is a real crowd-pleaser:

4 ripe avocados, seeded and peeled

2 Tbsp lime juice

1 tomato, diced

1/4 cup onion, diced

1/4 tsp cumin

1 tsp chilli flakes (optional)

salt and pepper

Serve with corn chips or as a topping for your favourite dishes.