Timing is an critical factor in the harvesting of avocados, and incorrect timing in harvesting will result in either avocados that dont softens or avocados that turn to mush. If you pick avocados at the wrong time, they will not mature correct. To avoid this situation, you must learn how to recognize when the avocados are ripe while they is on the tree.
A harvest chart can help determine the correct time to pick the avocados by showing the maturity schedule for the differents varieties of avocados. The calendar in the guide will tell you which avocado varieties reaches maturity throughout the year. Hass, Reed, and Fuerte are three variety of avocados that reach maturity at different times of the year.
When to Pick and How to Handle Avocados
For instance, Hass varieties reach maturity in the middle of the time window, while Reed and Fuerte varieties reaches maturity at different points in the year. By using two or three differents varieties in your orchard, you will have a constant supply of avocados. Growing differents varieties of avocados allow for avoiding having alot of avocados at once.
Avocados pass through several stage before they mature. You can follow the stages to ensure that you are correctly timing your harvest. In the early stages, avocados are small in size, bright green in color, and contain very little oil content.
Later in the growing period, the oil content in the avocados increase. When avocados reach maturity, they are of full size with a high amount of oil content. If the oil content is high enough, the avocados will mature correctly after being pick from the trees.
In addition, if you pick avocados while they are still too early in the growing process, they will not soften. However, if you pick the avocados too late, they will be of poor quality. The harvest windows for different varieties of avocados may differ.
For instance, some avocado varieties may reach maturity in the cool months of the year, while other varieties matures in the warm months. You should choose varieties that reach maturity at different times of the year to ensure you have a constant supply of avocados. Providing a constant supply of avocados for your buyers is better than having a massive harvest that last only for a short period.
You can test the oil content in the avocados to determine whether or not they are ready to be harvest. The dry matter method allows you to test the oil content in the avocados without buying an oil content testing gadget that can cost significant amounts of money. To use the dry matter method to test for oil content in avocados, take a sample of the avocados, dry the avocado sample, and calculate the percentage of the original weight of the avocados that remain in the sample after it is dried.
The weight of the avocado sample after it is dried will tell you the oil content of the avocados, and the oil content of the avocados will tell you how well the avocados will ripen after they are harvested. Oil content tests should be performed each week before the harvest begin to ensure that the avocados can be harvested at the proper time. Correct harvesting techniques must be used to protect the avocados and there trees.
Avocados should be cut at the stem to avoid introducing rot into the avocado; a short stub of the stem should remain after the avocado is harvested. Additionally, you should use poles or secateurs of the correct height for the trees to avoid damaging the trees or the avocados. Additionally, avoiding overfilling the bin with avocados or dropping the avocados into the bins will prevent the introduction of bruises into the avocados.
These avocados will develop soft spot or decaying avocados after a few days. Temperature control is also essential to the post-harvesting of avocados. The harvested avocados should be cooled quickly to slow their respiration rate.
By slowing the respiration rate of the avocados, they can be stored for longer period before they begin to naturally ripen. Additionally, once the avocados are in storage, they should be stored away from other crops that emit high amount of ethylene gas. To control the rate at which the avocados naturally ripen, an ethylene treatment can be applied to the avocados to induce ripening.
Pollination of the avocado plant will also affect the yield of the avocados. Avocado flowers will open in stages to allow for the cross-pollination of Type A avocados with Type B avocados. Therefore, you should plant Type A and Type B varieties within the same area to maximize the cross-pollination of avocados.
By planting both type of varieties of avocado plants, the yield of both types of avocados can be improved. Overall, to successfully harvest avocados, each variety of avocado should be matched with maturity test and handling procedures. If you match the correct variety of avocado with the correct climate, if the oil content of the avocados is tested prior to harvest, and if you handle the avocados carefully during the harvest, the avocados will possess the highest quality when they reach the consumer.