Is it Possible to Grow an Avocado in Arizona?
Jay Don Scott
8th Grade Science
Mr.Oz
Sonoran Science Academy
24th October, 2013
The problem of growing avocados in Arizona is that avocados don’t like the heat and salty water and salty soil. Some types of avocados don’t mind the winter cold.Young avocado trees need afternoon shade in the lower Sonoran Desert and in June, July, and August you should cover the avocados with a cloth to protect it from the sun. The avocados will get enough sunlight during the winter.
Planting an avocado is not hard. First you dig a hole that is at least twice the size of the root ball and make it two feet deep. Fill in the hole with the same native soil that was removed. After planting spread a thin layer of compost to help conserve moisture.
The biggest challenge of growing an avocado in Arizona is salinity of the soil and water. Basin irrigation is the most effective way to move salt away from the root ball of the tree.
Avocadoes do well with a grass watering schedule. A deep soak is beneficial if the leaves of the tree are showing signs of salt burns. Deep soaking is when you turn the hose on zery low and let it run through the base of the tree for several hours. Deep soaking helps wash salt to the edges of the soaked soil. You can often see a ring of salt after deep soaking.
Avocados are very sensitive to salt. It is not the safest to use any chemical or organic fertilizers on avocadoes. A light layer of compost around the base of the tree is the best way to supply the tree with minerals.
There isn’t any pests that bother avocados in Arizona.
Citations:
Growing avocados in pheonix,arizona. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.phoenixtropicals.com/avocado.html
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