Avocados by the Ocean

[Kelena]

Thinking about planting a couple dwarf avocado trees. Anyone have any experience with avocado trees down by the ocean? Particular varieties. Also, any alternatives to blasting? I am on lava and I don't think the cinder is that deep.

Mahalo nui loa and may Pele remain slightly restive but not fully aroused.

[StillHope]

Glen,if you call it dwarf it might get offended and not give you fruit.Just call it"little avocado tree")):

[Kelena]

I would like nothing better than for a fine, well-formed little fruit tree to give me a couple of buttery avocados, so I will be as diplomatic as possible. But don't get me started --- I express myself unconsciously through Halema'uma'u!

[macuu222]

I live on 5th in HPP and have 1 avocado tree thats about 3 years old thats seems to be growing nicely. It's now about 12 feet tall...but no fruit yet. Avocados are very tempermental when planting (they don't like their roots disturbed). They need a hole about 2 feet deep and 3 feet wide if your planting a grafted variety and make sure it has excellent drainage as avocados will die quickly if it becomes water logged. They are also very heavy on fertilizer (about every 6 weeks for the first couple of years. Cinder soil mix is probably the best...but it will probably grow in cinders only if you mulch the top 3 inches. Salt from the ocean hasn't been an issue so far.

[Kelena]

Thank you, Macuu222, for your sage advice. Your garden sounds pretty fabulous. I may have to put it on my tour!

You mentioned that you had some lava broken up (I forget the terminology). I am thinking about doing that on a small portion of my lot. Any tips on a bulldozer type guy? (And forgive me if I have asked this before).

[macuu222]

It's been so long ago since I had it ripped (20 years)...that I really couldn't give you a reference.

[Carolann R]

Haaahaaaa...StillHope...heeee...okay. So maybe you could call it a "tree of small stature?"

Carrie

http://www.carrierojo.etsy.com
http://www.vintageandvelvet.blogspot.com

"Freedom has a scent like the top of a newborn baby's head..." U2

[Carey]

Heighth challenged???
For smaller areas, esp tree & post holes, some people rent a jack hammer (even the fish & wildlife people do in their restorationa areas!)

[Kelena]

Oh, so you don't need to rip an entire area? You can just jackhammer a targeted area? That sounds like a good idea!

[macuu222]

A jackhammer might work for a hole or two....but its alot of work (especially if you have "bluerock" like we have in HPP. But if your like me....eventually you will want to plant more stuff and the jackhammeer becomes old real fast