If you are looking for information on which companion plant for avocado tree is good? We will give you an answer. But let’s first get acquainted with the avocado plant in detail to understand its lifespan better.
This article will discuss the essential characteristics of avocados, all the plants that accompany avocados, and the most common questions on this topic. After getting acquainted with the avocado plant itself, in a separate chapter, we will present and describe in detail which companion plant for avocadoo tree is good.
Avocado Tree
Avocado (lat. Persea americana) is a tropical fruit that grows and thrives in Central America and Mexico. The name avocado comes from the Aztec word ahuacatl, which means “alligator pear”, which refers to the shape and rough surface of the peel. There are several subspecies of avocado (about eighty) which fall into three categories (Mexican, Guatemalan, and West Indian).
The avocado tree is an evergreen tree that grows to a height of 20-30 ft. The leaves are long and elliptical in shape. Avocado blooms in large flowers containing 100-300 smaller flowers. The fruits are round, green in color, and can weigh up to 2 kg. The peel of the fruit is rough.
Avocados are used for human consumption. These fruits have numerous medicinal properties. It is believed that consuming avocados reduces the possibility of cancer and other diseases such as prostate. Avocado is a rich source of vitamins, which are dominated by vitamin E. The most important product obtained from avocados is an oil that is good for skincare. Also, many chefs use avocado oil instead of olive oil in preparing meals. The avocado fruit is also widely used in Mexican cuisine. There is evidence that European sailors used an avocado as butter.
Avocado is a tropical plant, so for its growth and development, it requires a greater amount of heat and moisture in the air. Today we also have subspecies that have adapted to somewhat more moderate growing conditions that can withstand lower temperatures. Generally, these are plants that like deep, fertile, loose soils, moderate soil moisture, and a sunny position.
Companion Plants
Several different types of plants, when living on the same plot, can positively affect each other, negative or even harmful. When we talk about the term companion plant, this term is usually associated with plants that positively affect each other. Companion plants live in communities with other plant species on the same plot. This combination of two or more plants uses a shared space, nutrients, microclimate, etc.
There are many companion plants between different species, so we have plants that are desirable to plant nearby for avocados. Not all companion plants work the same way. They all have their characteristics and positive sides. Below we will list the most famous companion plant for avocados and elaborate on their benefits when grown together.
1. Lavender
Lavender is one of the most common plants planted together with avocados, and it can rightly be said to be one of the most valuable. Namely, lavender tolerates semi-shady areas and direct exposure to the sun so that you can plant it under the avocado canopy. In this way, additional space is used weeds would take that over. Avocado is a self-fertilizing plant, although it also has the possibility of foreign fertilization. The most significant benefit of lavender is that it attracts pollinators such as bumblebees and bees with its flowers, which contribute to the pollination of the avocado tree. Also, according to some sources, lavender is successful in the fight against mosquitoes. In addition, with such irresistible lavender flowers, your avocado orchard will look even more beautiful.
2. Melons
Melons are also a good companion plant for the avocado tree. They have their pros and cons for the avocado tree. Melons have a broadly branched tree that crawls on the ground and creates a cover. Thanks to this soil cover, the water stays in the soil longer, soil drying is prevented, and the content of microorganisms is increased thanks to moisture. The downside of melons is that they have a deep root system, so at some points, they can be competitive with avocados. Melons as a companion cloth are recommended only when avocado plants are already grown.
3. Squash and Pumpkins
Squash and pumpkins are also good ground covers like the ones mentioned above. Unlike sweet potatoes, squash, and pumpkins, fruits grow on the surface of the earth. They have deep roots, which is very important to take care of when planting avocados. They retain moisture in the soil very well and protect the earth’s surface layer from strong sunlight.
4. Strawberries
Strawberries create beneficial avocado tree-like melons but, in some things, even better. Namely, strawberries have a shallower root system than melons, so they are safer in terms of competitiveness with avocados. Another benefit of strawberries is that they are perennial plants, so they do not need to be planted every year, unlike the others on the list. Strawberries create an adequate cover on the soil’s surface and thus retain moisture in the soil longer. Strawberries multiply through the roots, and you must take care not to become too invasive.
5. Sweet potatoes
Also, another cheerful ground cover is sweet potatoes. Like melons and strawberries, it has a role in providing shade on the soil’s surface. Thanks to the sweet potato leaf cover, it retains soil moisture longer, improves the work of bacteria and insects in the ground, and prevents the soil from drying out. Unlike ordinary potatoes, you can eat sweet potato leaves. In this way, we also benefit from sweet potato leaves for food.
6. Basil
Basil has similar properties to lavender. The basil plant grows very well in semi-shady places like the avocado canopy. In strong sunlight, basil leaves die. The most significant advantage of basil is its irresistible scent and decorative flowers that attract pollinators. A more substantial number of pollinators improves pollination, fertilization and increases fruit yield. If you want to think extra decoratively, we recommend the purple variety of basil, which is beautiful for the garden.
7. Comfrey
Comfrey has a deeper root system, unlike lavender, basil and onions. Planting next to plants is not recommended as it can be competitive with avocados (especially if they have just been planted). The most significant advantage of comfrey is that its deep roots extract necessary macro and microelements such as phosphorus, potassium, and Fe from deeper letters into the surface. In this way, avocados are better access to essential nutrients. Comfrey can also be used as a mulch around avocados. Another benefit of comfrey is that it drives snails away from the tree. Comfrey multiplies easily and quickly on plots, so you should take care to keep it under control every year.
8. Onions
Onions, which have long been known in folk medicine for their healing properties, also help avocados. Onions produce their alkaloid allicin, which is unpleasant to most pests. By releasing its odor, it repels harmful pathogens such as aphids and some animal parasites such as rabbits. Onions have a shallow root system so that you can plant them right next to an avocado tree. Its roots will not be competitive with avocados, and the semi-shady space will be conducive to its development.
9. Garlic
As we mentioned some of the benefits for onions, almost the same rule applies to garlic. It has shallow roots to plant it right next to the plant. Garlic smells away mites, aphids, mosquitoes, and other insects. It can also make organic insecticides, so it is good to have it in the garden.
10. Coriander
Coriander is a fantastic neighbor of avocado that has a lavender-like effect. Unlike melons, pumpkins, strawberries do not create a dense ground cover, but their scent attracts many pollinating insects. Coriander has a strong and pungent odor reminiscent of bedbugs, thus repelling harmful insects such as mosquitoes and aphids. They have a shallow root, so they don’t create an avocado competence problem. Coriander is a fantastic food supplement, so you can also use it in the diet.
Conclusion
If you are already growing avocados, you are certainly in a subtropical or tropical climate, so you should adapt the choice of companion plant to the given environment. Using a companion plant saves a lot of space, increases production per unit area, and takes advantage of combined crops. Based on the previous problems and the microclimate itself, it would be best to choose a companion plant.
In our article which companion plant for avocado tree we have tried to describe the ten best neighboring plants. We have described their advantages and disadvantages and the specifics of avocado trees. We hope you enjoyed reading and learned something new today.
Sources:
Avocado: How to Grow and When to Plant in Your Backyard or Patio Garden!