Avocado

When do you know when to pick the avocados? I have a Holiday that has its first fruit on it. They are getting pretty big, but I do not know when to pick them. Any advice?

Well, it's been awhile since I last picked my own avocados, since our two big trees in San Marcos died long ago from root rot in a soil that was much too heavy and poorly drained for them to live a long time. You can actually pick avocados when they are very young, and they will start ripening as soon as you pick them. But I always let them ripen on the tree, and picked them just as they started to soften a little bit. Now if birds or other animals are fighting you for your avocados, you may have to pick them young to get them at all, or put netting around the tree. Maybe there's an avocado expert tuning in to this Forum. Anybody out there have some words of wisdom about harvesting avocados?

Steve

Thanks Steve. I got another reply that was similar to waiting until they just gave to the touch. I only have 2 on there since this is a fairly young tree, so I will give that method a try. Sorry about your trees! Our soil drains so fast, that I worry more about the tree not getting enough water! Tanya