What you will need:

A spade (to dig a hole); a fork (to loosen the ground); maybe a pick-axe (for hard ground); a small bag of compost; water; gardening gloves

Points to consider about caring for your new Yuppie:

1. Always remember, the avocado world is small but there are many opinions. Don’t stop at these guidelines; do your own research and share the information with us and others.
   Find an area that is not too isolated – young avocado trees need some shelter from extreme elements like scorching sun; strong winds and frost. Once they’ve settled and well rooted they should handle these stresses well.
2. It may be easier to extract your Youngster from its pot or container if it is slightly drier so consider not watering your Youngster for a few days (as difficult as this may be just try and resist the urge).
3. Dig a hole down to at least twice the depth of the container to aerate the soil and get rid of any rocks or barriers to their growth (avocado trees are polite and won’t grow if they feel that they’re getting into something else’s “space”). Remember, the deeper your roots, the sweeter your fruits!
4. If the soil isn’t well nourished then mix in some rich, nutritious compost.
5. Fill the hole again to about the same depth of the container so that the level of the ground is about the same as the level of where the stem protrudes.
6. Be extra careful not to damage the stem, roots and seed (hidden in the soil)
7. Carefully loosen the young tree from it’s container by pressing gently along the sides of the container. You may consider running a ruler or a blunt long knife all along the sides.
8. Slide the young tree out of the container and place the tree in the hole that has been dug.
9. Fill the empty spaces with compost, potting soil and the soil that was initially dug out.
10. This phase could be considered one of the more “dangerous” phases. Sometimes an overeager planter presses to aggressively on the seed which could result in it cracking or breaking the stem. One would need to press the soil down firmly around the stem but sensitivity is key.
11. The soil can be pressed down (gently) to be slightly lower than the surrounding surface which should help discourage erosion and also encourage the water to seep into the soil around the seed and root of the avo tree.
12. Water around the base of your Yuppie well at least once a week.
13. Protect your tree from extreme weather especially frost.
14. Although opinions differ and depending on how you’d like your avocado tree to grow, prune off any rogue stems that may try to jut out of your main stem until your tree has a solid stem.
15. It could take between 7 and 15 years for the first fruits to appear but, as the Chinese proverb goes, “The best time to plant a tree is 200 years ago. The second best time is now.” Similarly, Jean-Baptiste Poquelin (Moliere) said, “The trees that are slow to grow bear the best fruit”

When in doubt, contact your nearest gardening centre such as the Garden Shop (www.gardenshop.co.za)
Or feel free to contact Mark on his cellphone: 073 174 5607 or email: rescueroxy@hotmail.com

Welcome to the “Orphan Avocado” Family!