Growing Avocados in Costa Rica

[Sam Wilson]

LiCR,

Anyone here (besides me) growing Avocados?  I've got one house which has some old

avocado trees and we get sacks and sacks of avocados from those.  On our farm I've been

planting avocado trees for a few years now and I've got 2 (maybe 3) that now put out blooms

but last year AND this year I've lost the majority of the blooms due to high winds.  I thought

I had them protected enough from direct winds, but obviously not enough.  So rather than

sacks and sacks of avocados from our new trees last year I only got 40 or 50 and half of

those were swiped by neighbors before I decided to harvest what was left.

I've been debating about building a once-a-year windscreen protection device for each tree

to help keep the blooms on until the fruit sets, but until the same thing happened this year

I thought maybe it was a fluke last year.

Does everyone only put avocado trees in well protected areas?  Or are there other tricks

of the trade for helping the trees keep their blooms during the windy season?  I'm getting

desperate enough to try something like this:

Hmm....  we do love those avocados, but I'm not keen on paying tanto for them.

--

Sam

[Joe Harrison]

As a lifelong member of AA (Aficianados Aguacates) I only eat 'em, although I come from SoCal, a major growing region.  Gotta say, Costa Rica's offerings are very inferior to those of many other places.  Sadly.  But with protectionist policies here, it's been difficult to get avocados from Chile, Peru, Mexico, and outrageously expensive when they are available.  Allegedly it was some form of blight on the Mexican fruit, but I think that was a mentira.  I know they must somehow tolerate windy conditions cuz in California they grow them on hillsides.  Don't recall seeing windscreens, but maybe.  Good luck, cuz I'd love to see good local fruit prosper.  joe in pavas

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[gene]

For what its worth...i planted 2 in the back by the orange trees...maybe before i kick the bucket???i can eat one of my own...🤣🤣🤣🤣

[Sam Wilson]

Joe,

Ah man!  Your post reminded me of an avocado farm I used to pass by in South Texas as a young'un. They did in fact have a tall wind-break of trees on one (or two?) sides of their avocado farm.  But South Texas is very flat and windbreaks on the edges of fields was/is a common thing.  Anyway, after your post I did go research some avocado growing tips, and one thing I was surprised to learn is that they do not reproduce true to seed (similar to apples in this way) so just because we plant avocado pits from fruit we found tasty does not mean that the fruit we eventually get from that tree will be tasty.  I didn't know that.  We have been pretty lucky though because of the 3 I've got fruiting now from seeds I've planted 4-6 years ago, they are pretty good.  Also, it turns out that the flowers really are VERY short lived.  Avocados trees have both male and female parts, but only one "gender" is active at a time.  Type A varieties have flowers that open as a female in the morning of day one, close, open as a male in the afternoon of day two, and then close forever. Type Bs open as female in the afternoon of day one, and as male in the morning of day two.

Maybe I can get luckier next time and this short flowering period will occur when it is not very windy.  It also makes me think that perhaps I might have something here with my bubble-wrap idea.  With some long bamboo (which I have) and plenty of saran (green/black garden fabric) I might be able to actually provide some temporary protection during flowering time -- at least for the north side of our trees.  Our winds (especially Navideños) almost always come to us from the North.

We usually plant the mantequilla variety (butter creamy flesh) because that is what my wife likes.  She doesn't like the Hass variety which is popular up North.

Anyway, they are easy to grow and ours seem to start flowering after 3-4 years, so a relatively quick turn around as far as trees go.

Thanks for the feedback!

--

Sam 

On Wednesday, April 11, 2018 at 5:52:49 PM UTC-6, Joe Harrison wrote:

As a lifelong member of AA (Aficianados Aguacates) I only eat 'em, although I come from SoCal, a major growing region.  Gotta say, Costa Rica's offerings are very inferior to those of many other places.  Sadly.  But with protectionist policies here, it's been difficult to get avocados from Chile, Peru, Mexico, and outrageously expensive when they are available.  Allegedly it was some form of blight on the Mexican fruit, but I think that was a mentira.  I know they must somehow tolerate windy conditions cuz in California they grow them on hillsides.  Don't recall seeing windscreens, but maybe.  Good luck, cuz I'd love to see good local fruit prosper.  joe in pavas

[Sam Wilson]

Gene,

On Wednesday, April 11, 2018 at 6:33:20 PM UTC-6, gene wrote:

For what its worth...i planted 2 in the back by the orange trees...maybe before i kick the bucket???i can eat one of my own...🤣🤣🤣🤣

I've found avocado trees to be fairly quick fruiters.  I'm pretty certain we've had some blossom and bear their 1st fruit after 4 years (maybe 3 1/2?).  Anyway, the avocados I planted 5 or 6 years ago are now big trees about 6 - 8 meters tall.  Send me a map to where you've planted them so just in case... you know, you do kick the bucket early, at least I can enjoy the fruit of your labor!  ;-)

Good luck!

--

Sam  

[Kerry Dressler]

We are growing Avocados at about 5000 ft elevation.  Our Haas is dying..it doesn't like it here.  Our native Mantequilla produced a huge bounty last year but this year will be only a few.  It was planted from seed about 5 years ago and is at least 40 feet high.  But our baby is one we picked up while coming down the Cerro de la muerte.. it was over a foot long and 10" circumferance and was like the Mantequilla, very very good and it would feed a family of four for a week.  We saved the seed and planted it and it is about 1.5 ft tall now.  I have great hopes for it.. and it looks healthy and enjoying our cooler climate.  I'll let you know how it goes in the future.  We have a mini orchard (my husband is a botanist) with lots of citrus,. including a grapefruit, ponkan and red navel we just grafted.  We also have two japanese persimmons, mulberries, a raspberry from India and some struggling blueberries all on a mini sized house lot.  Some haven't fruited yet but lots have.. Almost anything we put in the ground grows here.. that's why I like the wetter areas around Cartago rather than the dryer areas of Escazu and Guanacaste!

[gene]

Wow...i am impressed...

We are very dry...here in guanacaste land!!!

Sam has better luck than i have growing plants...however my mate is working hard to catch up..i enjoy working with the animals ...and of course building stuff.  

Been here since 2007...after i retired from a computer business in eeuu...

Brought my two boys with me...tjey have adapted well and are thriving . 

Thank you for sharing...i really enjoy the informative posts about what is going on in everyones life!!!

Gene

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[Sam Wilson]

Berni!

On Monday, April 16, 2018 at 6:17:13 PM UTC-6, Kerry Dressler wrote:

(my husband is a botanist)

Our salvation for your Swiss Chard wannabe is at hand!!!  Jajajaja...

Kerry, earlier Berni posted a pic of some (as of yet) unidentified plant that looks like Swish Chard but is not Swiss Chard.  We all gave up guessing as to what it really is.  Perhaps Mr. Kerry could be bothered to settle this once and for all?  ;-)

plant that is not a swiss chard - by Berni

Botany... one of the oldest branches of science.  A Botanist has got to be one of those cool jobs that without a doubt is only practiced by those who are passionate about the trade.  No room for slackers here.

--

Sam

[Kerry Dressler]

Botany certainly is one of the best ways of making a living!!  He worked for the Smithsonian in Panama for 22 years just exploring the woods, then we returned to Florida for 25 years where we did a book on wetlands and explored all over the south east US, then worked for Missouri Botanical Gardens doing a Manual on Orchids of Central America and two more books on Orchids, (Field Guide to the Orchids of Costa Rica and Panama, and Phylogeny and Classification of the Orchids) then down here where he was head of Investigation for Lankester Botanical Gardens, even Director for awhile before he "finally" had to take his last retirement two years ago at the age of 89.  I don't know any other job where you could work so long and enjoy so much time in the woods.  I was his photographer for 35 years before glaucoma put me out of business. I can't even focus a self-focusing camera anymore!  Still, I've thousands of slides to work on... don't ya know a woman's work is never done?  BTW I got back all the rights to his publications and his books and have made them available for anyone who wants them..  but the books are about 25mbs each if anyone is interested.  Or has access to ResearchGate.net .

[gene]

Wow...how impressive and blessed you two are...living the dream...very few actually fulfill that...congratulations ..and thank you so much for sharing with us...

Everyone...please share more of your lives ...i am fascinated with these stories...

Gene

-------- Original message --------

From: Kerry Dressler <ke...@bio-photo.com>

Date: 4/18/18 5:59 AM (GMT-06:00)

To: Living in Costa Rica <costa-ri...@googlegroups.com>

Subject: Re: [Living in Costa Rica] Growing Avocados in Costa Rica

--

[Berni J]

Wow somebody actually paid you to do all that!

That's may fave sentence of the year "worked for the Smithsonian in Panama for 22 years just exploring the woods" . . .  the interesting use of the word "worked".  What a tale . . . Berni

p.s. anyone help me with the name of this guy . . . my most odious orchid?

[Sam Wilson]

Berni,

We've got one of those and the common name is Orquidea Avispa for obvious reasons, with a nice chocolate odor, right?

I'm looking for nice pics of ours and the scientific name...  I think I've heard it referred to as Orchidea Chocolate

Yes, when in full bloom that is one of our most popular items in the garden...

--

Sam

[Sam Wilson]

Berni,

I think it is the Stanhopea wardii:

Still looking for pics of ours...

--

Sam

[Sam Wilson]

Looks like we didn't get very good fotos of our last avispa bloom, but here are a couple

of them and a rose my wife was especially proud of:

--

Sam

On Wednesday, April 18, 2018 at 10:00:49 AM UTC-6, Sam Wilson wrote:

Berni,

I think it is the Stanhopea wardii:

[Joe Harrison]

Thanks to Sam Wilson for creating this new group, already the most interesting of the groups I've seen.  And unmoderated yet!!!

In my callow youth, I believed that a good Maxim was "all things in moderation.". Now, in what my kids consider my dotage but I like to call the 4th quarter (as a Notre Dame alum, I might be forgiven the football analogy, eh?)

I prefer selected things of quality without moderation!!!!

Congrats Sam, good call.  Joe in pavas

[gene]

I think the goal here is the same as a group of responsible adults enjoying spirited conversations about our experiences here in costa rica as you would in a morning coffee shop...

I too enjoy the new group!!!!

I feel a warmer atmosphere!!!

Thanks sam for your work!!!

Gene

-------- Original message --------

From: Joe Harrison <joeharr...@gmail.com>

Date: 4/18/18 2:24 PM (GMT-06:00)

To: costa-ri...@googlegroups.com

Subject: Re: [Living in Costa Rica] Growing Avocados in Costa Rica

[Kerry Dressler]

I agree that we really had a great time.. we actually went around the entire world twice..but the Smithsonian was paying, not us.  We've worked in most forests in the subtropics and tropics.  I'm sorry I couldn't answer the request for an ID earlier.  I should explain that my husband retired 2 years ago under disability.. he had moderate Alzheimer's at that point, but it is progressing.  He cannot tell the difference between a lemon and an apple now.  He is still active, walking and talking well, but he can't keep my name or relationship in mind for 5 minutes.  So every day is a new beginning.  We went out for a long drive today as he really misses field work but obviously can't do it anymore. So, we head for the mountains and "look" for orchids and fish.  I did take some photos this morning, but won't be able to put them up until tomorrow.

Yes, Sam, thank you for starting this group.  I'm enjoying talking to folks.

[gene]

I am so sorry...i know it is heart breaking for you...has to be tough enduring ..

I can see how thankful you seem to be for your lives...i love that...

I was fortunate to have my parents over 60 years...i miss them a lot...but so thankful for the time we had...

Good luck...

Gene

-------- Original message --------

From: Kerry Dressler <ke...@bio-photo.com>

Date: 4/18/18 6:00 PM (GMT-06:00)

To: Living in Costa Rica <costa-ri...@googlegroups.com>

Subject: Re: [Living in Costa Rica] Growing Avocados in Costa Rica