Avocado Trees

It is that time of year when the Avocado trees should flower. It is always touch and go with the weather even here in the tropics. We were forecast to have wind and some rain with cooler temperatures. Luckily they got in wrong. It is calm in the high 70s with 55% humidity instead of the mid 80s but this should suit the Avocados.
My species whatever cultivar they are, probably original species, are Type A pollinators. The flowers open in the morning as female and as males in the afternoon. This makes pollination very difficult. There is a chance that they self pollinate. Fingers crossed as I have not seen any bees or other insects around.
Last year only one tree out of 7 bore fruit as the weather did not co-operate.
Attached is a photo taken in the late afternoon showing the flowers as males.

Interesting - thanks for sharing!

After studying the various types of Avocados available here we have come to the conclusion that my trees are Persea americana var. drymifolia. The Mexican Avocado. The leaves when crushed smell of Anise the Guatemalan and West Indian varieties do not. The description of the fruit also matches.
The flowers of the tree closest to the House are more advanced than the other trees. It is only a couple of yards from the septic tank and appreciates it's neighbour.
This morning's photo shows the flowers that had opened yesterday that are now closed never to open again. This is a small panicle, most of the others have about 30 or more flowers. I will be lucky if only 1 or 2 of the flowers produce fruit.

Today's opening of the same panicle showing female elements.

Jon,
Are your trees large or are they grafted onto dwarfing rootstock?

Since you only have the one sub-species you could consider grafting a Type B on to that tree? Any experienced grafters in your area?

Saving pollen from the morning and using a small paint brush to hand pollinate in the afternoon sounds labor intensive, but, I have talked with folks who have done it - usually with flowering bulbs. I have seen on TV a show about an area in China where they hand pollinate pear trees that were espaliered on to wire fences.

When I plant avocado here I always recommend that we plant the two types. I have even planted them together in the same hole, very close together, then the trunks will eventually grow to form a single trunk.

I am lucky because I have a hive of bees in my oak in the back. They visit every flower in the yard to collect every scrap of nectar that they can get their little proboscis into.

eye candy>

That's interesting--I had a big old avocado tree at my old house (no idea which species) and it fruited just fine all on its own--there were no other avocados anywhere around.

In California, in the spring, there is not much temperature difference between day and night in early spring- the temp changes slowly. Avocado flowers respond not only to the effects of the sun, but, also to air temps. When there is not a big swing in temps the morning flowers stay open longer and they are still open when the afternoon flowers open. Wind or insects can pollinate the flowers easily. The CA avocado industry is very successful and productive because of the lack of temperature fluctuations. The most productive avocado orchards in the world are located in CA.

That would explain it--I never knew that about the temperature influencing the flowers like that. I always wondered why my avocado was nicely self-fruitful but I always saw posts from people saying you needed a second one!

My trees are massive. 5 are more than 14 years old. The two youngsters near the house I grew from seed, planted about 8 years ago. They are about 25 feet tall. The one close to the septic tank is more advanced than the others and the flowers are starting to open. The others are forming panicles but probably won't have flowers ready for another couple of weeks. Luckily we are now into the time of year when the weather is stable, 80° during the day and about 60° during the night. The flowers that I have seen certainly don't open until the morning has warmed up, about 11 am. They close after dark when the temperature starts to drop about 8 pm. Hand pollinating occurred to me, as suggested, after the flowers had closed, on the pannicle that I can reach.
Many people in the village have Avocado trees and another type of fruit is available suggesting a different variety, possibly a B type. Some years we have fruit cascading from the trees and a truck arrives offering to strip the trees for a meagre price.
Grafting is not possible as I live in a very remote area and things have to proceed as nature intended.
My last photo last night showed an Ant by the flowers, possibly he may help with pollination.

Dale...what is that white stuff on the ground around your brommies?

It is Florida fossilized coral rock. It is no longer mined for construction.

Do you put it down for calcium?

All of our Avos are blooming their heads off....and it has been raining and cold. Never knew about the pollination system there.... dya think we will have a zero crop?

Carol

Carol,

Those red brom's are growing on a block of coral, 18" tall, 2' x 3'

My avocado seed just sprouted and is about 8 in tall with 8 leaves what do I do now?

Well...you could wait a long time for Avos...

I would put it in soil.

It is in soil

Man...how cool!!! Avocados in MO!! Congratulations.