Avocados

The avocado (Persea americana) is a native of Central America and the West Indies. They require good site selection, excellent drainage and a pH of approximately 5.0 - 5.5.

With avocados, fertilizer practices vary throughout the world. In conditions in New South Wales, regular light applications of a nitrogenous fertilizer such as Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (Caltram) or Entec® Nitrogen would be ideal. An application of 50 to 70 grams of Caltram spread every 6 weeks would be beneficial; due to the unique characteristics of Entec® this can be applied at a similar rate every 8-10 weeks or else at a reduced rate of 30-45 grams every 6 weeks. After approximately three years, trees will benefit from an application of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium in roughly the same ratio, for example 12:10:14 or 8:7:9. The fertilizer should be applied in November, January and March.

Generally, avocados have a relatively heavy zinc and boron requirement, although individual soil/leaf tests would have to be conducted in order to recommend exact application amounts. Paton Fertilizers are able to carry out this for you if required and based on the results gained can then specifically formulate a fertilizer to meet your exact requirements.