Avocado

Likes: Being planted in soil enriched with compost and being protected by mulch.

Dislikes: Replanting; extreme heat.

When to plant/sow in zone:

How to start: Avocado varieties belong to either an A or B group, with an A variety needing a B for cross-pollination to fruit so plant an A and a B group tree, preferably no more than 5m apart.

How to grow: Feed young trees every 6–8 weeks with high-nitrogen chicken fertiliser. Also protect from extremes of heat and cold for the first 2–3 years, before they develop ‘skirts’ of leaves to hang down and protect their delicate bark.

When to harvest: Fruit size is an indicator of readiness to harvest. Pick the largest fruits first as they are more likely to be mature. Fruit ripens off the tree.

Pests and diseases: Possums and rats