Australian Avocado.

Since I've not been able to source overseas avocado planting material, I've decided to try some out of seeds. Managed to get some seeds of Avocado from a friend. These were kept in the fridge. I collected them, had them skinned and dipped them in water. Shall try to bring these back to my nursery and have them germinated as soon as possible.

These seeds do look different from our Borneo Avocado.

Hopefully they can germinate.

I now have about 26 seeds of unknown varieties but of Australia origin. Am only guessing that these could be Hass. Hope to germinate as much of them as possible, plant them and make them grow fast.

Some of the seeds had cracked and roots growing.

Didn't expect these small seeds to sprout so soon.

Some seeds cracked into 2.

Had been away from our farm lately. Looking forward to my next trip as I've got many things in my head that I want to do at the farm.
 Just got in a second batch last night. Had them skinned and soak in water. Guess there are about 50 seeds.

Another batch of 50 Australian seeds.

 The more the merrier.

Seed Propagating Of Avocado.

Seed Propagating Of Avocado of a lazy farmer.
Decided to do a video for simple seed propagation and post it to Youtube. I find this method very simple and effective.

Simple Effective way of propagating avocado seeds

 Youtube link above.

Bed of avocado seeds.

Had collected many seeds and planted them on this raised bed over the past 3 weeks, starting from the far end. I guess easily more than 150 seeds. As I do not select the seeds and put in whatever that I can lay my hands on, quite a number will not germinate. So I needed a simple & effective method.

Those that were done earlier had started to split and I see some with germinating tip. Hope to see many Avocado-lets in May.

Some of the plant-let from the previous season.

Avocado Cuttings.

Previously from Propagating Avocado Cuttings.

Six weeks has passed, since I started the Avocado cuttings.

 Comparison

I guess more than half died.

Made a quick count, 60% died. More are dying but some is definitely growing.

I would say that this is encouraging and warrant further trial / study. My check on the internet says that successful rate is less than 20%. Am expecting more to died off. The weather at the present is super hot, plus no rain. Irrigation is also erratic.

Planning for a 2nd test before I go off end of this month. Am thinking of more ways to control and improve success.

Kindly do comment and share ideas to improve success rate. Or if there is another method of cutting propagation that you may want to test. Am open to all suggestion.

Progress Of Avocado & Jackfruit February 2014.

February, being the shortest month, leave much to be done. I had only about 16 days in our farm for this month. The weather is also bringing heavy rain with super hot afternoon and very cold nights, which disrupted our schedule.

Bagged all the previously germinated seeds from December / January.

Prepared Avocado seedling and transfer all of them into poly bags. Managed to collect more quality seeds. Preparing to germinate them to create more rootstock.

Managed to collect these seeds when I was about to give up. The scions are for grafting the 10 plants.

 Organize the grafted Avocados. Shutting down my ICU as shall be away for a month. Shifting back all my patients to the nursery for logistic reason. Shall have to make more drainage holes on the bags.

"Amulance" awaiting.

These grafts had 'taken' but the scions are dying from the top.

Snipped off the died parts and re-seal with wax.

Didn't do a good job, a small edge was not sealed properly, causing the scion to dry further. It's a goner.

Thank you, at least I got 1.

Was thinking there may be other methods of cloning. Considering air layering and cuttings. As the fruiting trees is large, I feel that it's rather difficult to do air layering. Also my previous experience wasn't good. Fear of heights and falling (ladder on soft ground) is also another factor. Only found a handful of article on propagation Avocado through cuttings. Successful rate are pretty low, but I think may be worthwhile to try. As at the moment after grafting 10 plants, I don't have anymore graft-able rootstock. Shall try to slot in after all my schedule, if not then on April.

Harvested a Jackfruit from our mother tree of J31, estimated to be about 10 ~ 12 kg. Feed back is that the fruit doesn't taste good. Fibrous, not crunchy and not sweet enough. Even though am using it to practice, am deciding to stop cloning it. Have about 50 trees of J31 and J29.

The 4 J33 Tekam Yellow is still too young to contribute scion. So far only managed to clone 2. I feel the scion is too young and do not process the reserve to 'take'. Shall let them grow for the time being and access them again in April. The surviving CJ3 and  J35 Mastura (made a mistake of labeling this as J37) is struggling but after patience care I think they shall survive.

CJ3 and Mastura, shall be transferring back to the nursery.

Manage to graft some Jackfruit using scions from a neighbor's tree.

Grafted Artocarpus.

On the Mango, there was this plant that refuse to bud even though it had 'took'. Gave it a bend to force it to bud. Yes, it bud 3 days later.

Force a bend, to force a bud.

Bud begin to grow 3 days later. New leafs has appeared by now.

Another 7 days latter.

Mango, scions were taken from our plantation, We have 2 fruiting trees, 1 Apple Mango and a Philippine Mango, Manila Super Sweet.

Manila Super Sweet, size of this unripe fruit is about 7 ~ 8 inches. 

Sent in 50 Soursop, 13 Mango, 9 Avocado and 12 non grafted Jackfruit from CML and 18 grafted Jackfruit for field planting.

On Transit, awaiting field planting.

Managed to organize the nursery before I go. My prized procession, Jackfruit.

Artocarpus Cultivar CJ3, Mastura & Tekam Yellow.

I had left the best spot in the nursery for the Pomegranate, and S. Avocados. This spot has 70% shaded morning sun and 90% shaded afternoon sun.

Pomegranate, #Avocado Anna, Betty & Cat.

 Prepared some seedling of Soursop.

Soursop Seedlings.

Rootstock for Mango & Jackfruit.

 More seeds to germinate #Avocado.

Avocado rootstock, waiting for it to grow to graft-able size.

It's a pretty exhaustive trip, as after the long Chinese New Year holodays, I came back and started on a relax pace. As my leaving date draw nearer, I need to do more to complete my nursery. Did all I could for this trip and thank you for the progress made. Leaving for home in the morning, then off to vacation in Turkey with my lovely wife.

Propagating Avocado Cuttings.

Saw in the internet that a couple of guys did propagating Avocado via cuttings. All mentioned that the successful rate is very low. After much consideration, I think it could work. As whatever I get is a bonus as I have scions, but no more graft-able rootstock.

Was very excited over this. I initially planned to put this on trial in April after my vacation. I just couldn't contain my excitement and put it on trial.

Left over scions.

I used the left over scions, after grafting a10 avocados. The cuttings are about 6 inches in length. Sealed up the top with wax, made  2 cuts at the bottom. Apply rooting hormone. Stick them on a loosen patch and watered them.

Since I was at it, I collected more cuttings from our plantation. I prune the 2nd flowering tree as it is too dense. I manage to seed just a few fruits about to set. I avoided those branches..

I also tried out Tree Wound dressing. This is a tar based dressing. Good for working on large or plenty wounds / cuts. I feel wax still has it's use, like sealing the graft tapes ( as I'm reusing them). Limitation of wax is strong wind, it dries fast, heat too high for young scions & etc.

Nufarm Tree Dressing.

Instruction for use.

After pruning.

Collected about a gunny sack. Cut them up, slightly longer this time, 6 ~ 8 inches. Seal top with Nufarm tree dressing. Tried from no cut to various cut on the bottom. Apply rooting hormone and stick them into the patch. The patch is under a 70 % shade netting. Water regularly to eep moist.

Done. Avocado cuttings.

On leave for a month. Shall see how they can withstand when I'm back.

Rescue S. Avocado (Persea americana).

S. Avocado looking good.

Anothe S. Avocado looks great.

All of the S. Avocado looks good.

Checking on our members daily, with a break on Christmas.

S. Avocados looking strong.

The Israeli Pomegranate starting to bud.

Problem started after Christmas. Back from my Sandakan trip.

The scion of S. Avocado turned black, died.

It's spreading into the Avocado rootstock.

This got too bad that I had to give it up, as the scion had totally died and moving towards the rootstock. This #Avocado is a goner.

Sunday, 29th, as it was drizzling in the morning, I move the avocados to a dryer area in the nursery. Had them perch on some old wood like a parade.

Parading the S. Avocado for inspection.

As the drizzle is getting heavier, I sat there and check the Avocados. The Pomegranate had started to bud. My friend Edward had reported that his had signs of budding. Why are you gals not budding? Not happy, not comfy?

Fungus on the S. Avocado collar.

Collar rot, on the S.Avocado due to the sudden wet weather.

Too wet on the S. Avocado.

  As I was walking around, I saw signs of fungus. I immediately mix some fungicide and dose onto them. I then realized that due to the heavy rain every night, my friends maybe getting "wet feet".

Sudden change to too wet weather and insufficient drainage holes at the bottom of the poly bag, caused 'wet feet'.

Dig out 1 and got a confirmation. Immediately got to work, transferred all of them to the "pot", that I made out of pail. Since I'm at it, put some rooting hormone powder to their roots.

There wasn't much need roots growth on the S. Avocado.

The Pomegranate shows pretty much root growth.

To dry them off, I transferred them to the shed with roof, side afternoon sun about 1 pm onwards.

Grafted my Avocado on the dead S.  Avocado. Bye bye to S. Avocado.

The plant that I had to give up, I grafted my Avocado to the rootstock.

ICU for S. Avocado.

At my ICU. More patients coming in due to the bad weather (wet).

More are coming in. Avocado ICU.

This is what I'm worried about.

Daily heavy rain, too wet for the Avocados.

1 of the weaker plants was not seal off properly and caused some dehydration.

Note the edge, it wasn't seal properly.

Note the edge, and how the brown section spread from it. Re-seal it with more wax. Didn't work, died after a few days.

Grafting tape removed on the S. Avocado.

I noticed that they were tied at localized high pressure, causing the deep 'cut'. Is this more effective, as I do it differently, spreading out the pressure more evenly.

I feel the it looks ugly, but if it works, why not? Must try this out 1 day.

I didn't like the wat that the graft were tied, had it removed today. It's causing too much constriction. Had it wrap with cling wrap (keep fresh) and shall remove in a week or so.

Had some relieve today as I noticed the bud is growing on the stronger ones. Thank you. Guess it should flush in a week or so.

 Ten days had past, no changes. Watering them slightly every 3 days, just to keep the soil moist.

 Inspection day this morning. Watered with EM, fiolar spray. Gave them a bath with Tiram (fungicide). Notice more buds. Now just have to wait for them to push and flush. Decided to seal off more areas with wax to prevent dehydration and infection.

New buds, twins on S. Avocado.

New growth at the tip of the S. Avocado. The pouch is just to aid focusing.

The buds of the S. Avocado, were there previously, but now more green.

 Thank goodness, I almost lost faith there. What a joyous day. Now waiting for them to flush. Shall have more feedback after my Chinese New Year holidays.

 I name them Cat, Betty & Anne.