South Africa is home to more than 10 avocado varieties due to the favorable climate in most parts of the country. But one of them is playing a huge role in the growth of its avocado industry. A lot of avocado farmers are switching to the Hass variety.
Hass avocado has a strong demand in the European market. Consumers prefer it over other types because its suitable for ripening and has a longer shelf life. Avocado exporters in South Africa highly promote this variety because it can withstand the unexpected changes of shipping. The rough skin prevents it from bruising easily during handling.
Hass Avocado South Africa
Hass is currently the cultivar of choice among farmers. The standard Hass avocado tree spacing in South Africa is 5m by 5m from one tree to another and from one row to another. There are 400 trees planted on one hectare. The average yield ranges between 12 and 16 tons per hectare.
Hass Avocado Season South Africa
Hass is the most planted avocado type in South Africa. 6,485 hectares are covered by Hass avocado trees according to a 2019/2020 census done by the South African Avocado Growers Association (SAAGA)
Hass avocados are in season from May to October. But smaller quantities are available throughout the year. Hass comes into season a month later than the well-known Fuerte variety.
Avocado producers in South Africa have introduced new Hass sub-varieties to help extend the supply season. They cover 1,856 hectares combined. The Hass sub-types are showing promising signs for the South African avocado export sector.
Here are the characteristics of these Hass-like varieties:
Maluma Hass
- It was discovered in South Africa in the 1990s
- It covers 917 hectares
- It comes into bearing quickly and earlier than Hass by a month
- It bears a lot of fruit. The best yields can reach up to 20 tons per hectare unlike the best yield of Hass can reach 16 tons
- It is available from March to July
- Its fruit is slightly larger but identical to Hass
Lamb Hass
- It covers 207 hectares
- It matures later than Hass
- It is available from August to November
- Its fruit is slightly larger but identical to Hass
Gem
- It covers 410 hectares
- It starts bearing later than Hass
- It is available from October to January
- It is suited to high density planting
- Its fruit is slightly larger but identical to Hass
Carmen
- It covers 322 hectares
- It starts bearing fruit several weeks earlier than Hass
- It is a relatively consistent bearer
- Its fruit is similar in size and identical to Hass
The Hass variety is prone to alternate bearing. This is an off and on crop cycle across two years that results in a large crop of small avocados in one year followed by a small crop of large avocados the next year.
Off-crop can be caused by:
- Too low or too high temperatures
- Lack of enough water during bloom or fruit set means low flow numbers or excessive flower and fruit drop
- Under fertilization means excessive flower and fruit drop
- Over pruning means low flower or fruit numbers and excessive vegetative shoot growth
On-crop can be caused by:
- Excessive fruit set
- Excessive fruit retention
Here are some ways to manage alternate bearing of Hass avocado:
- High density planting
- Moderate pruning improves light penetration and helps to balance flowering to shoot growth for the following year
- Introducing bee hives earlier and keeping many of them
- Targeting trees with heavy crop for early harvest once fruit maturity is reached
- Providing the right nutrients at the right times by doing soil, leaf and water tests
- Providing the right amount of water