Avocado is a fruit native to South America. It was used for food by the ancient Mayans and Aztecs, who called it Nahuatl. Translated, it means testicles, probably because of the resemblance of avocados to this anatomical organ.
Many people think it is a shrub, but in fact avocados grow on evergreen trees called Persea Americana. They reach a height of 10 to 16 meters. They grow best in soils rich in clay, sand and limestone. It is important to have good drainage because the tree does not like moisture.
Where are avocados grown?
Today, due to the wide distribution of this green fruit, it is grown mainly on farms. The largest producer in the world is Mexico, followed by the United States, Peru and other Latin American countries. Cultivated avocados are also grown in Africa, Australia and other subtropical climates.
How long does an avocado ripen?
What is especially important to know about the avocados is that they ripen only after it is picked. Therefore, experts advise not to avoid hard and green fruits in the store, because it means that they are fresh and have recently been picked. You just have to leave them at home for a few days to ripen before they can be eaten.
Under normal conditions avocado ripening occurs between 8 and 14 days after peeling.
Usually the tree gives its first fruits about 4-5 years after planting. If you want to grow a plant from its seed, then the birth of fruit can take from 10 to 15 years.
Avocados should not be detached from the tree until at least 8-10% fat has been formed. Otherwise the fruit will never ripen.
If you want to speed up the ripening, you can put the green avocado in a brown paper bag along with a banana, apple or tomato for 2-3 days.
In case you need an avocado for immediate consumption, you will best know if it is ripe with the following test: hold the fruit in your palm and squeeze it lightly. If you feel a soft texture under the peel, then the fruit is ready to eat. Usually in its ripening phase, the avocado has a dark green to black color.
See also how to grow an avocado from the stone.
