Avocado Farming — Establishment & Year 1 Guide
A year-one guide for establishing a commercial avocado orchard in Kenya's highland areas (Murang'a, Kiambu, Meru, Kisii). Covers site preparation, grafted seedling sourcing (Hass, Fuerte, Jumbo), planting, irrigation, fertilisation, and initial pest management.
Dr. Grace Wanjiku
MSc Horticulture, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture & Technology
11 years experience
Dr. Grace Wanjiku specialises in high-value horticultural crops including tomatoes, capsicum, French beans, and avocado. She has worked with the Ministry of Agriculture and several NGOs to scale greenhouse adoption among smallholders in Central Kenya. Her tomato and vegetable programs have been adopted by over 1,200 farmers in Kiambu, Murang'a, and Meru.
Sample Schedule (First 2 Weeks)
Site Assessment & Variety Selection
Choose highland sites (1,200–2,200 m above sea level) with deep loam soil and annual rainfall 1,000–2,000 mm. Select grafted Hass (main export variety), Fuerte (large fruit), or Jumbo (local market). Avoid Mugumo/seedling avocados for commercial production.
Land Clearing & Survey
Clear land of stumps and rocks. Mark orchard layout: 5 m × 5 m for Hass (400 trees/ha) or 6 m × 6 m for Fuerte (277 trees/ha). Use pegs and measuring tape for accurate spacing.
Planting Hole Digging
Dig holes 60 cm × 60 cm × 60 cm. Mix top soil with 30 kg compost and 200 g Triple Super Phosphate per hole. Fill and allow to settle for 2 weeks before planting.
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