Friday 18 March 2016

Thinking Ahead in the Garden

Avocado is one of my favourite foods. I love it mashed with a little sea salt or lemon. I love adding chunks of its creamy green goodness to salads. I have even whipped it up in a healthier version of chocolate mousse. It is such a healthy and versatile fruit. 

Delicious and nutritious avocado ripening on my bench.

Avocados can be expensive though. At one point this year, they were selling for as much as $6 each in the shops here. As a way to counter that kind of expense, for a food that we eat very often, we have planted our very own avocado tree. 

Our young avocado tree.

Our tree has been in the ground for little more than a year. It's grown a lot and is looking really healthy. Thinking ahead in the garden, to longer term harvests, is something I am learning more about as a gardener. I think it teaches forward planning, patience and delayed gratification. 

Our avocado tree didn't bear fruit this season but one day it will (ever the optimist) and, when it does, we will have our own avocados to feast on for free. What a glorious day that will be!

I hope you have a glorious weekend.
Meg


8 comments:

  1. I have always wanted to plant an Avocado tree, but haven't got around to it yet!
    I will put it on my list.
    I hate to tell you, but you will need the patience of a Saint waiting for it to fruit. If it's a grafted avocado (which most are) I believe it is 3 to 5 years for them to fruit!!
    Just as well they are a handsome tree to look at while you are waiting :)

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    1. It is a grafted tree, Cheryl so I hope it's worth the wait! In the meantime, as you say, it is a lovely tree to look at and it's really filled in a space we had in our garden:) I've found it pretty easy to grow too. It likes a good drink of worm tea and I mulch it with lucerne.

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  2. It would be great to get your own avocados off your tree. I always think of pineapples...it takes 2 years for a pineapple to grow and perhaps 15 mins to eat one. Seems to quick for such a long growing period. Regards Kathy A, Brisbane

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    1. I haven't tried to grow pineapples, Kathy, so I must put that on my list to try. If we can keep our avocado tree healthy, then I think the investment of time will be worth it, because I hope it will produce many creamy avocados one day.

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  3. there are several varieties, you should consider planting another as i think they need 2 for pollination? plus having a few fruiting at different times of the year will keep you in avocados for longer :))
    thanx for sharing

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    1. Hi, Selina.

      Our avocado tree is a Hass variety and, happily, only one of these is required because it can self-pollinate with the help of our little native bees. This short online video, available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aahzspd1Yzk explains this fascinating process in Type A avocado varieties. The time lapse photography of a flower opening as a female flower in the morning and then male flower the next morning is amazing!

      I think I will see if I can find room for another variety too because I hadn't thought of different fruiting times during the year. It would be great to have a regular supply of them off our own trees.

      Thanks for visiting!
      Meg:)

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  4. We are now reaping small crops from our avocado tree. It is very satisfying to watch your trees grow and in time to enjoy their wonderful fresh produce.

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    1. HI, Karen. I agree wholeheartedly that harvesting and eating your own produce is such a wonderful feeling. It's fresh, full of flavour and you know the work that's gone into producing it. There's also something deeply satisfying about knowing your can provide some of your own food.

      I've just popped over to your blog and love your photos. They look so clear and crisp. I hope to visit again later and read through more of your posts:)

      Thanks for visiting!

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