Persea americana
aka
Avocado
Taxonomy
The avocado (Persea americana) is a medium-sized, evergreen tree native to the Americas. It was first domesticated by Mesoamerican tribes over 5,000 years ago and is prized for its large, oily fruit. The avocado tree likely originated in the highlands of south-central Mexico and Guatemala. Its fruit, also known as an alligator or avocado pear, is a large berry with a single seed. Avocado trees are partly self-pollinating and are often propagated through grafting. They are cultivated in tropical and Mediterranean climates, with Mexico being the leading producer.
Avocado fruits have smooth, buttery, golden-green flesh when ripe. They come in various colors, including green, brown, purplish, or black skin, and pear-shaped, egg-shaped, or spherical. Commercially, avocados are picked unripe and ripened after harvesting. The nutrient density and high fat content of avocado flesh make it popular in many cuisines and enrich vegetarian diets.
Avocado toast has become associated with the millennial generation due to the meme that they buy avocados instead of saving for houses. Despite not receiving much attention until the 20th century, avocados were cultivated in South America even before Spanish colonization. The avocado's motherland is believed to be Puebla, a city in South Central Mexico. Avocados are grown in various regions, including Latin America, Indonesia, Haiti, Mediterranean countries, Kenya, Hawaii, Florida, and California. In India, avocados are mainly grown in the Kodagu district and are known as 'butter fruit' due to their buttery texture.
Avocado gained popularity through Mexican cuisine, with guacamole being a beloved dish worldwide. It is frequently featured in recipes recommended on the Netflix show 'Queer Eye' due to its delicious taste and health benefits. Avocado is a rich source of vitamins (E, C, B6), minerals, fiber, magnesium, folate, and healthy fats. It is even known to reduce the risk of heart disease.
However, avocado production has its challenges. Major production regions like Chile, Mexico, and California place strain on local water sources. Avocado farming also contributes to deforestation and human rights concerns in Mexico due to organized crime's partial control over production. Additionally, global warming is expected to impact avocado growing zones, leading to heat waves and droughts.
Common names
Avocado, Butter Fruit
How to care for Avocado
Are you up for a challenge? Avocado will test your gardening skills and require extra care and attention to thrive.
Avocado should be watered regularly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings.
Avocado loves a well-draining soil. Perlite and vermiculite help with drainage, while coco coir adds organic matter, so a good potting soil mix will have all three. You can improve store-bought soil by adding some perlite to it.
To ensure optimal growth, the Avocado prefers bright diffused light for 6-8 hours each day. Insufficient light can result in slow growth and leaf drop, so it's important to find a well-lit location for this plant. Place it near a window, within a distance of 1 meter (3 feet), to enhance its potential for thriving.
During the cold period, it is common for Avocado to go dormant and their growth may slow down, so waterings should be spaced out more during this period.
Avocado is not known to cause harm to humans or pets.
The Avocado is not in need of supplementary humidity. Most water is taken in by plants through their roots, thus soil watering is the most efficient way to provide humidity to your plants.
The Avocado should be repotted either when it doubles in size or annually, whichever comes first. Providing new potting soil with all the vital nutrients annually is enough to support the growth of the plant, and thus, there is no need for fertilizer. Remember that plants derive their energy from the sun, not fertilizer.
Avocado’s native range is Central, South America and Southeast Asia.
If you provide your Avocado with adequate amounts of sunlight and water, it will bloom.
More info:
Wikipedia
