🌿 Morphology
🌞 Growing conditions
🌍 Origin and family
🌾 Uses
Warning: Despite the care taken in writing this sheet, it is essential to cross-reference sources before using or consuming any plant. When in doubt, consult a qualified professional
Permaculture uses
Avocado fruits are edible and highly nutritious, used fresh or processed into guacamole and oil. The tree provides shade and can serve as a windbreak. Avocado leaves can be used in traditional medicine and as a flavoring agent in some cuisines. Different cultivars offer varying fruit sizes, textures, and ripening times, extending the harvest season. Grafting is common to ensure desired fruit quality.
Permapeople description
The avocado is a tree native to Central and South America. It has a green to purple, pear-shaped fruit with a large central seed. The tree itself can grow up to 65 feet tall and is evergreen. The leaves are oval-shaped and glossy, and the flowers are small and green.
To cultivate avocados successfully, the plant prefers well-draining soil and a warm, subtropical climate. It is important to provide adequate water, as the tree is sensitive to drought. The plant is not winter hardy and may need to be protected from frost.
The fruit of the avocado is edible and can be stored after harvest by keeping it at room temperature until it is ripe, at which point it can be refrigerated. The fruit is high in healthy fats and can be used in a variety of dishes, from salads to smoothies to guacamole.
In addition to its culinary uses, the avocado has medicinal properties and is often used in natural remedies for conditions such as arthritis and high cholesterol. The leaves and bark of the tree can also be used to make dyes.
Botanical description
Persea americana is an evergreen tree in the family Lauraceae. It can grow up to 65 feet tall with a broad, spreading canopy. The leaves are alternate, elliptic to ovate, and leathery. Small, greenish-yellow flowers are produced in panicles. The fruit is a fleshy drupe with a single large seed, varying in shape from pear-shaped to round and in color from green to black when ripe. The skin can be smooth or rough, and the flesh ranges from pale green to yellow.
Companion planting
Avocados benefit from being planted near nitrogen-fixing trees like acacias and legumes. They are also compatible with citrus trees and bananas. Avoid planting avocados near walnut trees, as they can be allelopathic.
Propagation methods
Propagation is typically done through grafting, budding, or seed. Seedlings can be grown from the pit, but the fruit quality may not be consistent with the parent tree. Cuttings are difficult to root. Grafting is the preferred method to ensure desired characteristics. Air layering is also possible.
History and traditions
Avocados originated in south-central Mexico and were cultivated as early as 5000 BC. The Aztecs and Mayans used avocados for food, medicine, and religious ceremonies. The name 'avocado' comes from the Nahuatl word 'ahuacatl,' meaning testicle. Spanish explorers introduced avocados to Europe in the 16th century, and they have since spread to tropical and subtropical regions worldwide.
Usage calendar
Flowering occurs primarily in spring. Fruit set and development take several months, with harvest times varying by cultivar and location, generally from fall to spring. Planting is best done in spring or early summer. Pruning can be done after harvest to maintain shape and remove dead or diseased branches.