Topics in Subtropics

Study shows dogs can sniff out laurel wilt-infected avocado trees well in advance American Society for Horticultural Science A study out of Florida International University evaluates the use of scent-discriminating canines for the detection of laurel wilt-affected wood from avocado trees.

Plants have been acting differently this spring. Along the coast the peaches have barely bloomed and it's May. Avocado Brown Mite has had a field day. Stethorus beetles have been in low numbers and biocontrol is out of whack. Her ladybug Coccinelid sisters have been in low numbers, as well.

There is a wild world in those avocado orchards. A study was done locally of some of the carnivores besides humans that show up there. Carnivore Use of Avocado Orchards Across and Agricultural-Wildland Gradient Wide-ranging species cannot persist in reserves alone.

The common question comes up all the time What can I grow here that will make money? Why not lemons or avocados. The coastal California area is generally well adapted to these crops and infrastructure and markets are developed.

Here's a pretty technical report of water efficiency in avocado - the amount of water it takes to make fruit. It looks like there might be some varieties that could produce more fruit with less water.