Toastworthy: Follow these Steps to Growing Bigger, Better Avocados

California produces legendary avocados and Americans want more!  Bolstered by their great taste and nutrition, avocado demand has been a bright spot for many years. However, there are some very real challenges growers face, including high production costs and import competition. How can the California avocado industry best overcome these challenges? 

Currently, California averages approximately 6,000 pounds of avocado production per acre.  In our current market, these yields simply will not keep California production competitive.  We need to improve fruit size, fruit quality and overall productivity to stay profitable.

The good news is that we know California avocados respond very well to soluble carbon with efficiently delivered crop nutrition.

Soluble carbon improves soil microbial activity leading to enhanced root development, nutrient cycling and ultimately crop stress resilience.  Redox products all include components of soluble carbon leading to nutrient use efficiency.  Redox’s H-85™ and F-70® are refined forms of organic acids and fulvic acid, respectively.  H-85 and F-70 can easily be incorporated with traditional fertilizers and significantly improve the efficiency of these materials.

Avocados also respond very well to and have a high demand for potassium.  Optimal potassium nutrition will improve nutrient movement within the plant leading to better water regulation, stress tolerance and ultimately larger fruit with higher oil content and better flavor.  Efficient potassium nutrition will deliver the size and quality that separates California avocados in the market.  Redox has industry-leading potassium sources including: diKaP™ and Rx Platinum™ that provide biostimulant benefits plus plant-available potassium.

Often overlooked is calcium in fertility programs.  Calcium supports root development, strong cell walls and is also vital in the role of stress signaling within the plant.  Plants with optimal calcium nutrition are better able to respond to stresses and improve resilience to events including wind, cold, heat, salinity and drought stress.  Mainstay® Calcium 2.0 and Mainstay® Si, from Redox, provide highly plant available forms of calcium and Mainstay® Si is a novel combination of calcium and silicon offering added defense from abiotic and biotic stresses.

For more information on Redox products and recommendations for your specific needs, please visit Redoxgrows.com or reach out to your local Redox representative.