Reasons For Growing Avocados

Don’t you know that avocados have more potassium than bananas? Yes! Potassium is a nutrient that most people don’t get enough of, but it is crucial to maintain electrical gradients in the body’s cells and serve various essential functions.

Avocados are very high rich in potassium. If you consume a 3.5-ounce (100-gram) of it, you are already complying the about 14% of the recommended daily allowance (RDA), compared to 10% in bananas, which are a typical high-potassium food.

Various health benefits eating avocado can offer. There are studies linking avocado consumption to reducing blood pressure that is a significant risk factor for heart attacks, strokes, and kidney failure.

Besides potassium, avocados are loaded with fiber too! It’s an indigestible plant matter that can aid in weight loss, reduce blood sugar spikes, and is strongly linked to a lower risk of many diseases. A difference is often made between soluble and insoluble fiber. Soluble fiber feeds the friendly gut bacteria in your intestine, which are very important for optimal body function. A 3.5 ounce (100-gram) of avocado makes 7 grams of fiber or 27% of the RDA. Avocado’s fiber is 25% soluble, and 75% is insoluble.

One common notion that people have with avocado is that it is not healthy because it is rich in cholesterol. But to remove your hesitations and worries away, despite its high amount of fat content, they are mostly healthy fats, therefore cholesterol-free and high in vitamins and minerals as well.

The is an average of 20 grams of fat in one whole California avocado, but about 13g is mostly monounsaturated, and the remainder is approximately 2g of polyunsaturated and saturated fat each. Monosaturated fats are essential to a healthy heart. LDL’s and HDL’s are not in the food themselves; the body makes them based on the food intake. Only 1/5 of the avocado is the suggested serving size, making only 4 grams of healthy fat per serving!

GROWING AVOCADO TREES

avocado seedling in a pot

Growing avocado trees from seeds will take you a very long time to wait before you can harvest its fruits. Growing the trees as houseplants are fun and easy but growing them as productive outdoor fruit trees can be challenging.

PLANTING: YOUNG TREE

Plant your trees around March through June as avocado trees do best at moderately warm temperatures (60 F to 85 F) with moderate humidity. They can tolerate temperatures of around 28 F to 32 F with minimal damage. But not with freezing temperatures.

It is risky to plant during the summer because young avocados cannot properly absorb water very well. Place the trees in a non-lawn area and away from sidewalks. Avoid areas that are prone to wind and frosting. Remember, full sun is best.

The hole you need to dig for the plant is as deep as the tree’s current root ball, as wide as the width, plus a little extra so you can get your hands into the hole to plant it. Take note that avocados are shallow-rooted trees, and most of its feeder roots are in the top 6 inches of soil; therefore, you need to provide good aeration.

Avocado’s root system is very sensitive. Take extra caution when transplanting and make sure not to disturb it during the process of transferring.

SOIL

The ideal pH level of the soil for avocado is around 6 to 6.5. If your planting has heavy clay soil, you need to elevate the tree in a mound for better drainage. Make a 1-2 feet high mound and 3 to 5 feet around. There is no need to put gravel or anything else like planting media in the hole because Tas soon as the roots get into the bulk soil, the better the tree will do.

WATERING

During the early stage of the trees, water them 2-3 times a week. As the roots reach out to the bulk soil, you can water more. There will be lesser watering to about once a week after a year.

If you water the tree, soak the soil well. Allow the soil to dry out but not severely dry before watering again. Like other plants or trees, you don’t want them to get too dry and become withered. For mature trees, water them about 20 gallons of water a day during the irrigation season.

Seedlings require lesser water. The only best way when watering is to be sensitive enough and check if the soil and the plant need more or little water. If the soil from around the roots can hold the impression of a hand when squeezed, therefore it has enough water and no need to add more.