How to Grow Avocado in Kenya 2025 | Hass avaocado Farming in Kenya
Kelvin Wairimu 
Hass Avocado
Not every avocado seedling is a Hass, and avocado farming does not thrive in every region or on any farm.
Before you risk losing money and facing a long wait of two years, it’s crucial to determine the best avocados to plant, the optimal planting location, and how to manage pests and diseases for maximum yields.
Best Places to Grow Hass Avocados in Kenya
Every farmer should start by identifying the best region for planting Hass avocados before choosing the variety and the market for selling them.
The ideal location should have temperatures ranging from 25 to 28°C, with a maximum of 30°C.
Although high temperatures above 35°C can be tolerated, such conditions, typically found in arid areas, may negatively impact fruit size—resulting in smaller fruit—and overall yield.
Additionally, the farm location should avoid excessive rainfall of over 1,800 mm, as well as prolonged wet months exceeding 300 mm, since these factors increase the risk of root rot.
It is advisable to opt for areas with average, well-distributed rainfall of at least 1,000 mm. If you plan to irrigate, ensure the distance does not exceed 50 meters at a time.
Before starting any farming activities, it’s essential to test the soil’s pH to evaluate its acidity or alkalinity.
Read Also: How to Grow Tree Tomato (Tamarillo) in Kenya
Hass avocados thrive in soil with a pH between 6.2 and 6.5, although a pH range of 5 to 8 can also be suitable.
However, avocados are sensitive to salt, particularly chlorine levels. If root rot is a concern in the area, it is crucial to test the soil pH, and if it exceeds 6.5, applying gypsum may be necessary.
The ideal soil for growing avocados should be deep, permeable, well-drained, and well-aerated, with a topsoil depth of at least 1 meter.
Avoid planting in waterlogged areas or soils that are prone to flooding, such as clay or black cotton soils.
When considering the planting of Hass avocados, choose regions where the harvest period coincides with market scarcity to secure better prices. For optimal yields, select regions that meet all these criteria.
The Best Avocados to Grow in Kenya
The primary commercial avocado varieties are Hass, Fuerte, and Pinkerton. Hass is the main export variety, while Fuerte is preferred for processing.
Fuerte produces thin-skinned, green-pebbled fruit known for its excellent flavour, and it has various shapes.
Hass avocados, on the other hand, produce medium-sized, rounded, rough-skinned, black fruits.
There are two types of avocados that flower at different times of the year: Type A and Type B.
It’s beneficial to mix both types to allow Type A to pollinate Type B and vice versa.
Hass avocados are classified as Type A, while Fuerte is classified as Type B. Cross-pollination results in higher yields compared to self-pollination.
How to Plant Hass Avocado
For successful planting, deep cultivation should be done to promote aeration and encourage faster root growth. Be sure to remove aggressive perennial weeds, such as Kikuyu grass.
Spacing
Hass and Fuerte avocados should be spaced 9 meters apart in a 9-meter grid. This allows for 60 to 70 seedlings per acre of land.
Preparation
Prepare holes that are 60 cm by 60 cm by 60 cm (length x width x depth) at least a month before planting. When preparing the holes, separate the topsoil from the subsoil.
Soil Mixture
Mix the topsoil with 20 kg of decomposed farm yard manure (FYM) and 120 grams of Double Superphosphate (D.A.P), which contains 46% P2O5. This combination will help ensure healthy growth for your avocado plants.
Transplant your seedlings in the late evening during the rainy season. Carefully remove the seedling from the bag, ensuring that the soil remains intact.
Place the seedling in the centre of the hole at the same depth it was in the nursery, and cover it with a mixture of soil, manure, and DAP, leaving a shallow basin to collect water.
Water the seedling immediately after planting. In hot areas, consider covering the seedling with shade to protect it from extreme heat and potential wildlife damage.
During the first 3 to 5 years, avocado orchards can be intercropped with other crops such as beans, peas, kale, or cabbage to generate economic returns from the land before the trees begin to bear fruit.
Irrigation should be continued as necessary to prevent drying and to enhance yield. Regularly cultivate the farm to keep it free of weeds. Applying dry grass mulch or dry leaves around the base of the plant can help conserve water.
Pruning
To encourage a compact tree, pinch off the apical buds of young plants to slow their growth. Additionally, prune any lower branches that interfere with cultural activities, such as irrigation. Heavy pruning should only be carried out after 12 to 15 years.
Hass Avocado Fertilizer Application
Apply CAN fertilizer during the flowering and fruiting stages. After harvesting, use DSP fertilizer, followed by at least two buckets of manure per tree.
Bearing
Avocado trees typically begin bearing fruit within three years. Some grafted Hass avocado varieties can start producing fruit as early as 18 months after planting.
Hass Avocado Pests Management
Fruit Flies
Various species of fruit flies can infest avocados. Some species lay their eggs just beneath the skin of the fruit that is beginning to ripen, while others can attack both young and mature fruit.
When the fruit is about the size of a golf ball, a sting lesion appears, showing as a small puncture mark surrounded by a white exudate.
As the fruit matures, this lesion dries out and develops into a distinct star-shaped crack on the skin’s surface.
To control fruit flies, apply Profile at a rate of 20 ml per 20 litres of water.
Scales
Scales are small, stationary insects that are typically brown or greenish in color. They are commonly found on avocado leaves, where they suck sap.
Soft scales excrete large amounts of honeydew, leading to sooty mould growth on leaves, branches, and fruit. The honeydew also attracts ants.
On the other hand, Armored scales can encrust young twigs, leaves, and fruit but do not produce honeydew.
Damage from scales can be severe, especially on young trees, where small twigs may die. Although scales on the skin of fruit do not cause internal damage, their presence can lead to fruit rejection, particularly for those grown for export.
To manage this issue, apply Emerald at a dosage of 10 ml per 20 litres of water, combined with JAMBO CLEAN at 100 ml per 20 litres of water to clean the sooty mould.
Avocado Diseases
Avocado Root Rot (Phytophthora cinnamomi)
This disease can affect avocado trees of any size and age. Infected trees often exhibit small, pale, or yellow-green leaves that may wilt and fall prematurely, resulting in a sparse appearance.
In the advanced stages of the disease, branches may die back, and the fruit remains small, leading to a significant reduction in crop yield. The feeder roots become blackened, decayed, and eventually die, which can cause the tree to die prematurely.
To treat this condition, drench the soil with either Gearlock Turbo 250WP at a rate of 50g per 20 litres of water or Pyramid 700WP at a rate of 100g per 20 litres of water.
Anthracnose (Colletotrichum gloeosporioides)
Anthracnose is a significant post-harvest issue that arises when fruit reaches the maturity stage.
The infection occurs while the fruit is still very young, and the fungus remains dormant until the fruit ripens.
The disease manifests as sunken spots on the fruit, which develop into rot that can penetrate deep into the flesh.
In humid weather, these spots may be covered with a mass of slimy, salmon-pink fungal spores.
The disease can progress rapidly during storage if the conditions are warm and humid. To manage the disease, spray Ransom 600WP at a rate of 15g per 20 litres of water.
Stem End Rot
Stem end rot starts as a dark brown ring at the stem end of the fruit, gradually spreading towards the opposite end.
This rot is characterized by dark streaks in the water-conducting tissues, which helps to distinguish it from anthracnose.
For treatment, spray either Ransom 600WP at a rate of 15g per 20 litres of water or Absolute 375SC at 10 ml per 20 litres of water.
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