Hass avocado is the most profitable avocado variety to any grower, when it comes to production, market, quality and demand.
The fruit enjoys high demand in Asia and Europe due to it’s tenderness and sweetness.
Hass avocado was first grown in Guatemala and now it has spread to many parts of the the world. It has now become one of the most popular variety to be grown in Kenya.
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What are the Benefits of hass avocado
The fruit is a good source of protein and essential minerals in our body
It provides good cholesterol which is essential in human bodies
They are good source of raw materials to cosmetic industry since they are used in production of hair and facial oils.
Hass avocado is also a good source of income to large scale farmers who also enjoys foreign currency profits when sold outside the country.
Avocado farming is a long term investment which can be practiced by both large scale and small scale farmers.
Therefore for high quality production of hass avocado, planning and research is highly required before venturing in Avocado farming.
Best ecological conditions for growing hass avocados
They do well in high altitude which ranges between 1000m and 2000m above sea level.
Requires 1000mm to 1200mm of rainfall for good optimum growth. For best results in arid and semi arid areas it’s recommended to practice irrigation.
This variety for good maximum production requires optimum temperature of between 20 degrees to 25 degrees Celsius.
They are best grown in drained soils to avoid root rot and also to provide good air circulation.
The ph levels should be between 5 to 7.
Avocado planting recommendations
Avocados can be first be planted in nursery beds and after 7 to 8 weeks, transplanted in open field as seedlings.
However grafted seedlings are highly recommended due to increased disease resistant, high yields production and high adaptability to any type of soils as well as varrying climatic conditions.
Before planting thorough inspection should be done to ensure that the seeds are free from any diseases. It’s advisable to treat the seeds with hot water which should be below 50degrees centigrade.
Preparing the land for transplanting
The land should be well cultivated and free from any weeds. However if it’s a virgin land you should first plant annual crops like maize before planting your avocado seedlings.
Wind breakers like hedges should be made for open farm without any trees.
Digging holes
Planting holes should be between 60cm to 70cm while spacing should be 6 metres by 7 metres.
Planting
Properly mix compost manure with top soil , phosphate fertiliser and drenched pesticide to prevent pests from attacking avocado roots.
Pruning
Pruning is necessary to provide good air circulation when cutting off overcrowding of stems and leaves. It’s also beneficial in prevention of pests.
Thinning
Thinning is the practice of removing small formed fruits which helps in reducing competition for nutrients , thereby producing quality and bigger fruits.
You should NOTE; too many fruits certainly results in to small fruits production.
Weed control
To avoid nutrients competition , removing of any weeds in the farm is essential. Weed control also helps in disease and pest control.
Harvesting
When fruits reach maturity, harvesting is done when raw and kept in favourable conditions to ripen.
Yield potential
A serious farmer can expect to produce over 80,000 fruits in hectare of land.
However various factors apply for maximum production which we have mentioned above.