Avocado has become the trendy fruit, because it has many properties that make it very interesting from a nutritional point of view. But do we have to Planting two avocados together to bear fruit?
It's time to learn more about this fruit tree and find out if one tree is enough, or if you need to have a minimum of two for the flowers to be pollinated.
The avocado, a monoecious tree
In nature we find dioecious trees, that is, there are female and male varieties. But the avocado is a monoecious tree, this means that The flowers are both male and female.
One of the peculiarities of the avocado is that it is dichogamous, which implies that the male and female parts of the same flower mature at different times. In other words, they cannot self-fertilize. Therefore, we need to plant two avocados together if we want to enjoy their fruit.
Even with two trees, fertilization of this species is not easy. It is essential that the flowers of the different trees are in the male and female phase at the same time, and achieving this synchronization is not easy.
Types of flowering in avocado
Avocado flowering is classified into two types:
Type A
The flower It opens for the first time in a female state during the morning. Throughout the day it closes and reopens again, but now in a masculine state.
type B
The flower It opens during the morning in the male state and as the day progresses, it closes and opens again in a feminine state.
Why is this classification important?
If we want a good fruit production We need flowers of different types (A and B) to pollinate each other. Since the self-incompatibility of the avocado prevents the fertilization of a flower by pollen from the same plant or from another of the same variety.
Not only do we need to plant two avocados together, but we need them to be of different flowering types: one A and one B.
By combining both varieties in our orchard or garden we increase the chances of having male flowers emitting pollen and female flowers receptive to it at the same time, which favors pollination and the development of fruits.
For professionals, knowing the flowering type of each variety is essential to better plan plantations and obtain higher yields. At home, it is enough to know that you should combine a type A with a type B.
Type A avocados are varieties Hass, Lamb Hass and Carmen. And they are B type varieties Zutano, Bacon and Fuerte.
Factors affecting avocado pollination
As you can see, growing avocados is not as easy as planting a tree and giving it a little care. You need to choose the varieties well and also take into account the factors that affect pollination.
Intrinsic factors
They are related to the tree itself and include:
- Flowering type. Whether the tree is type A or B.
- Variety. Since this influences the number of flowers, their size, pollen viability and stigma receptivity.
- Age of the tree. Young plants produce fewer flowers and are more reluctant to pollinate.
- Nutritional status. If the tree lacks nutrients such as boron, zinc or manganese, this can affect the quality of pollen and flower formation.
- Water stress. Too much or too little water affects flower development and nectar production, which in turn affects the tree's ability to attract pollinators.
Extrinsic factors
They are all those that are related to the environment:
- Weather conditions. Temperature, humidity and wind can enhance or hinder pollination.
- Pollinators. It is important to have pollinators such as bees nearby. Their efficiency in pollinating will depend on factors such as the species, their health, and whether they have more or less food available in the environment.
- Plagues and diseases. A sick tree is less receptive to pollination from its flowers.
- Pollution. The use of pesticides and chemicals can negatively affect the pollinators that are responsible for fertilizing the flowers of this tree.
Management factors
They have to do with the care we give to the tree:
- Pruning. If it is inadequate, it can reduce flowering and affect the distribution of flowers on the tree, making pollination difficult.
- Fertilization. If we overdo it, we may be promoting foliage development instead of flowering.
- Irrigation. It is essential to find an appropriate watering frequency to avoid water stress and ensure that the flowers are viable to pollinate and be pollinated.
- Selection of varieties. The choice of varieties with respect to the type and time of flowering is essential to optimize pollination.
Planting two avocado trees together and other strategies for greater production
If you want to enjoy delicious avocados grown by yourself, take note of these tips:
- Combine A and B type varieties to encourage cross-fertilization.
- Distribute avocado varieties so that the location enhances greater pollination efficiency.
- Try to attract pollinators like bees.
- Optimizes environmental conditions controlling temperature, humidity and lighting as much as possible.
- Avoid the use of chemicals that may affect pollinators.
- Establish a good irrigation pattern, fertilization and pruning to promote flowering and fruit production.
The avocado is a fascinating tree, a clear example of how nature has contributed to the development of complex mechanisms responsible for ensuring the reproduction of the plant.
If you want to enjoy the trendy fruit at home you already know that you have to plant two avocados together, something you can do even from a bone, but they cannot be of the same variety, or you will never see the fruits. Do you dare to try your luck with its cultivation?