What do avocado flowers look like

If it had been successfully pollinated at the first opening, and if other conditions are right, it will develop into a delicious fruit. Click for large view. The "A" type is female in the morning of the first day and male in the afternoon of the second day when the weather is warm. The "B" type is just the reverse: its flowers are female in the afternoon and male the following morning.

For one flower of each variety, the timing will be as follows:. But with hundreds of flowers opening in both stages day after day, the daily situation appears like this:. Flower Type. Flower opening and temperature The two flowering types behave with clock-like exactness only when the average temperature night minimum and day maximum is above 70 degrees F As temperatures fall, the daily openings become delayed and become irregular, so that a single tree may have flowers in both female and male stages at the same time.

This helps to explain how large blocks of just one variety sometimes set heavy crops. The avocado pollen of one tree is compatible with itself and quite capable of pollinating its own flowers — known as self-pollination. The unusual flowering behaviour is to reduce the likelihood of this occurring — by minimising the amount of own-pollen about when female stages are receptive.

To further maximise the likelihood of cross-pollination some trees will open first in the morning as functionally female, close and then reopen the next afternoon as functionally male type A flowering sequence.

Other trees open first in the afternoon as functionally female, close and then reopen the next morning as functionally male type B flowering sequence. The timing of these stages determines the classification of varieties into either type A or B flowering. See Table 1 for a diagram of the opening sequence of type A and B flowering varieties and how this sequence promotes cross-pollination.

This is an evolutionary development to increase genetic diversity. That is, all trees will display the same flowering type behaviour. Table 2 lists some of the common varieties and their flowering types. You are here Home » Crops » Horticulture » Fruit » Growing avocados: flowering, pollination and fruit set. Growing avocados: flowering, pollination and fruit set.

Page last updated: Tuesday, 28 January - pm. Please note: This content may be out of date and is currently under review. Avocado fruit and flowers 2. Avocado flowers and bee. Avocado trees in flower late. Fertilisation then initiates the development of the ovary into a mature avocado fruit and the ovule into the seed. Fertilisation and fruitset are affected by a number of factors including temperature, humidity, nutrient status, abnormalities in the embryo, and water stress. With so many influencing variables it is no wonder that the flower to fruit ratio is so low in avocados, but there are some steps we can follow to ensure optimal flowering, pollination, fertilisation and fruit set:.

Once pollen is transferred many conditions have to be met before fruit set can occur. FRUIT SET To ensure optimum fertilisation, research has shown that the more pollen that is transferred to the stigma the better the chance of fertilisation. Nutrient uptake through the roots is still low due to the cool temperatures affecting the rate of transpiration as well as root activity.

Support the tree with foliar applications of specific nutrients. For example, boron is especially important for pollen germination, pollen tube growth, fertilisation and fruit set. Zinc is important during reproduction for protein synthesis. Consider supporting your trees during a heavy flower with foliar products high in amino acids and enzymes. The bees take time to settle in and resume full activity and strength.

Place hives in small groups spread throughout the orchard, in sheltered, sunny areas. Pruning improves bee activity as more open canopies and orchards result in warmer orchards and easier flight paths throughout the tree and orchard.

Ensure there is water available. Contact your apiarist if any spraying needs to be done and use bee friendly products or spray at night. The bees stay focused on working the blossoms harder. This increase in foraging intensity improves crop pollination. Although our rainfall is high, we unfortunately often have dry periods over this critical time.