The ‘Day Avocado’ is a popular variety for home growers, known for its consistent and abundant fruit production. This cultivar offers a unique flavor profile and a manageable tree size, making it a suitable choice for various garden settings.
Understanding the Day Avocado Variety
The Day avocado is a hybrid of Mexican and West Indian genetics. Its fruit is small to medium-sized, elongated, and weighs between 0.5 and 1.0 pound. The skin is smooth, shiny, and soft, making it easy to peel. The flesh is thick, green, firm, buttery, and oily, offering a rich, nutty taste with distinct sweetness, suitable for guacamole. The tree has a vigorous, upright growth habit, reaching 10 to 15 feet tall and 8 to 10 feet wide, often fruiting when young.
Growing Day Avocado Trees
Day avocado trees thrive in subtropical climates and are moderately cold tolerant, withstanding temperatures as low as 25°F. They require full sun exposure, needing at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight daily for optimal growth and fruit production.
Well-draining, loose, loamy, or sandy soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH (5-7) is preferred. Avocado trees do not tolerate waterlogged conditions, which cause root rot. Plant in spring to allow root establishment before winter. The planting hole should be two to three times wider than the root ball and the same depth. Water thoroughly after planting to settle the soil.
Pollination and Fruit Set for Day Avocados
Avocado trees have a unique flowering pattern where male and female parts function at different times. Day avocados are Type B, meaning female flowers are receptive in the afternoon on the first day, and male flowers release pollen the next morning.
While Day avocados can self-pollinate, cross-pollination from a Type A avocado tree significantly increases fruit set and yield. Type A flowers open as female in the morning and male the next afternoon, complementing the Type B pattern. Planting a Type A variety nearby ensures efficient pollination. Examples include:
Catalina
Choquette
Florida Hass
Lula
Super Hass
Optimal pollination occurs when daytime temperatures are above 70°F.
Ongoing Care and Maintenance
Consistent watering is important for Day avocado trees after establishment. Young trees need more frequent watering, typically every two to three days in their first year. Mature trees require about 2 inches of water per week during summer, or enough to moisten the soil to 2 feet deep. Allow the top few inches of soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. Mulching around the tree, 6 to 12 inches from the trunk, helps retain soil moisture and protects the shallow root system.
Fertilization supports vigorous growth and fruit production; apply a balanced fertilizer during the growing season, usually in spring. Light shaping and removal of dead or diseased wood can be done anytime. Heavier pruning to manage size or encourage lateral branching is best in early spring or after harvest. Monitor for common pests and diseases to address issues promptly.
Harvesting Your Day Avocados
Day avocados are a mid-season variety, typically harvested from September to November, though fruit can mature from July to October in some regions. Avocados do not ripen on the tree; they must be picked to soften indoors.
To determine maturity, select a full-sized, light green fruit. Pick one fruit and allow it to ripen at room temperature for three to eight days. If it softens evenly and tastes good, the remaining fruit can be harvested as needed. Picking later in the season, closer to October or November, can help minimize uneven ripening. Once picked, ripe avocados can be stored in the refrigerator for a few days.