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Avocado: planting holes, manure and feeding by age.
An avocado tree is a long investment, and what you put in the planting hole sets the first years. Well-rotted manure in a well-drained, correctly sized hole, then a feeding plan that grows with the tree, gives it the best start. The biggest threat is not hunger but waterlogging, which invites root rot.
The numbers that matter
These figures come from the Ministry of Agriculture’s SHEP PLUS avocado guide and a KALRO climate-smart avocado guide. The two agree closely on feeding rates.
Soil, climate and spacing
Soil and water
- Choose deep, fertile, well-aerated soil, such as sandy or alluvial loam.
- Avoid any spot that waterlogs. Waterlogging favours root rot.
- Avoid salty soil. Avocado has very low salinity tolerance.
- Rainfall should be at least 1,000 mm a year, well distributed. Frost is a hazard.
Altitude
The Ministry’s guide gives 1,200 to 2,200 m and the KALRO guide gives about 1,500 to 2,100 m. The right variety depends on altitude, and the KALRO guide places some types, including Hass, in hot lowlands. Ask KALRO or your county extension officer which variety suits your site.
Spacing
The Ministry’s guide gives a usual spacing of 6 to 9 m by 7 to 10 m, or 44 to 92 trees per acre, depending on variety, soil and climate. KALRO gives 9 × 9 m for Fuerte, 8 × 6 m for Bacon and 7 × 7 m for Hass. If you plant a windbreak, do it a year before the trees.
SOURCES: MOALF/SHEP PLUS, AVOCADO PRODUCTION; KALRO, CLIMATE SMART AGRONOMIC PRACTICES FOR AVOCADO
The planting hole
- Dig the holeMake it 60 cm by 60 cm and 50 cm deep. Keep the topsoil separate from the subsoil.
- Mix manure into the topsoilCombine one debe (20 kg) of well-decomposed manure with 250 g of triple super phosphate or rock phosphate, and mix it into the topsoil.
- Refill and plantRefill the hole with the mixture, plant the grafted seedling at the same depth it stood in the nursery, and firm the soil.
- Make a basin and waterUse leftover soil to make a basin around the tree to catch rain or irrigation water. Water immediately, and shade seedlings in hot areas.
A note on the guide’s arithmetic.
The Ministry’s guide says the planting-hole manure equals 4 tonnes per acre. At its own spacing of 44 to 92 trees per acre, 20 kg per hole comes to roughly 0.9 to 1.8 tonnes. We have used the per-tree figures and not the per-acre one.
SOURCES: MOALF/SHEP PLUS, AVOCADO PRODUCTION; KALRO, CLIMATE SMART AGRONOMIC PRACTICES FOR AVOCADO
What to give each tree as it grows
Both guides give the same table per tree. Apply it around the canopy at the start of each rainy season, and work it into the soil. KALRO advises removing any mulch first. Both guides say soil analysis should guide the amounts.
| Tree age | CAN (g) | TSP (g) | Muriate of potash (g) | Manure (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1–3 years | 125 | 225 | – | 15 |
| 4–5 years | 225 | 450 | – | 15 |
| 6–7 years | 450 | 650 | 225 | 30 |
| 8–9 years | 650 | 650 | 450 | 30 |
| 10–14 years | 900 | 1,000 | 635 | not given |
| 15+ years | 1,300 | 1,200 | 650 | not given |
The guides leave the manure column blank for trees over 10 years. They do not say whether that means none or an omission, so ask your extension officer. Neither guide describes the benefits of mulch or gives a mulch rate, so we have not given one.
SOURCES: MOALF/SHEP PLUS, AVOCADO PRODUCTION; KALRO, CLIMATE SMART AGRONOMIC PRACTICES FOR AVOCADO
Root rot and how to avoid it
Root rot, caused by the fungus Phytophthora cinnamomi, is the most serious avocado disease in Kenya. The Ministry’s guide says it is found in nearly all avocado areas.
- What it looks like. Pale, wilting leaves, sunburned and dying branches, darkened and decaying feeder roots, and eventually the death of the tree.
- How it spreads. Through infected planting material, soil and irrigation water.
- How to reduce it. Plant in well-drained soil and never let water stand. Use grafted trees on tolerant or resistant rootstock. Uproot affected trees.
Because it spreads through soil and water, buy seedlings from a reputable nursery and avoid moving soil or compost from infected orchards.
SOURCES: MOALF/SHEP PLUS, AVOCADO PRODUCTION; KALRO, CLIMATE SMART AGRONOMIC PRACTICES FOR AVOCADO
Irrigation, maturity and picking
Irrigation
Most established trees in Kenya are rain-fed. Irrigate when rain is not enough, especially during flowering and fruit set. The Ministry’s guide says the critical period is roughly mid-January to April. KALRO advises frequent, light applications of no more than 50 litres a week.
Maturity and picking
Avocados do not soften on the tree. Dark varieties turn from green to black or purple. Green varieties show yellowing fruit stems, duller skin or rust-like spots at the end. Fruit picked at maturity should soften within a week at about 20°C without shrivelling. The main harvest runs from March to September.
SOURCES: MOALF/SHEP PLUS, AVOCADO PRODUCTION; KALRO, CLIMATE SMART AGRONOMIC PRACTICES FOR AVOCADO
Questions people ask
How much manure goes in the planting hole?
One debe, about 20 kg, of well-decomposed manure, mixed into the topsoil with 250 g of TSP or rock phosphate.
Can I use compost instead of manure?
The guides name well-decomposed manure. Well-finished compost is a reasonable substitute, but neither guide gives a separate compost rate for avocado.
Should I mulch my avocado trees?
The guides do not describe mulch benefits or rates. KALRO only says to pull mulch back before applying manure and fertiliser each rainy season.
When do I apply fertiliser?
At the start of each rainy season. Spread it around the canopy and work it into the soil.
Why are my leaves wilting when the soil is wet?
That could be root rot. Check drainage, and ask an extension officer to inspect the roots.
Planting an orchard?
We help growers prepare soil, make the compost that goes in the hole, and plan the feeding programme.