Wow, I can't believe 4 years has gone by since I created this post. I want to share our success with our new Dwarf Reed Avocado tree. I went to Kingsman nursery in North County to find this particular type of avocado because I really wanted a dwarf and a friend of mine had given me a Reed from her mature tree. It was buttery and delicious like a Hass, but as big as a softball!
I was instructed to plant it on a "pitcher's mound" and allow every leaf to remain as they fall - this keeps the ground cool and regenerates the soil as they decay. Also, the first year he recommended that we water 3 times per week and then deep water once a week to remove salts from the soil. After the first year we went to twice a week at 10 minutes. The first year we had several flowers and 2 avocados, the second year we had 20...this past year the tree grew by 30% and it has now reached what I hope will be it's full height - about 16 feet. There are only 9 avocados this year that we can see so far, but I've heard that avocado trees bear heavy one year and light the next.
Would love to hear input from anyone about trimming it a little for shape..if so when ? and should the branches be supported at all as it bears heavier fruit (hopefully)?
Thanks

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