California Avocado Nursery Tour
My visit to Ventura for a Brokaw avocado nursery tour was fun and educational, so I loved learning about how to grow avocado trees.
Have you ever tried to grow an avocado tree from a seed?
I’ve done this many times in a mason jar filled with water on the kitchen window sill with the seed propped up with toothpicks.
It’s fun to watch it sprout, but I’ve never had a tree last more than a little while after planting it in the yard and certainly have never produced an avocado.
It takes more than a seed and a jar of water to start a productive, healthy avocado tree.
Ventura’s Brokaw Nursery
Brokaw Nursery has sold over 10 million avocado trees and is California’s largest avocado tree producer.
They have researched and developed methods for starting trees that are disease resistant, sturdy and ready to be good producers.
The nursery is in Ventura, which is on the California coast north of Los Angeles.
Brokaw Nursery Tour
The first thing I noticed when I arrived at the nursery is how careful they are to keep disease away from the seedlings.
Whether you come in on foot or in a vehicle, you’ll need to walk or drive through a water bath and then a copper powder.
I walked through several times as I entered different parts of the facility.
This keeps contaminants from getting in where they could damage or destroy the new trees.
Tree Grafting
Years ago Hank Brokaw developed a two graft system to produce trees that weren’t susceptible to a fungus that had destroyed many trees throughout California.
That method is still used today.
Connie (in the photo below) has been working at the nursery for over 40 years.
It’s mind boggling to imagine how many avocados have been produce as a result of the little trees she has grafted over the years.
Grafting Process
The seedlings are started with an avocado seed.
Then a cutting from a disease resistant tree is grafted on as rootstock.
After that graft is established, a second graft is made with a cutting from the desired fruit.
It takes three different types of avocados to make one tree – one for the seed, one for strong roots and one for good fruit.
Avocado Seedlings
Once the little seedlings have been successfully grafted twice, they are taken outside to get used to outdoor weather.
They first stop in a covered area to harden them off.
Then, the little trees are brought out in the open.
Each tree is labeled, so they know exactly which type it is and other details.
If there is ever a problem, they can track it to the source.
The trees stay outside for about a year before they are ready to be sold.
Grafted Seedlings Growing Outside
It takes hard work and patience to start avocado trees.
They do use tools and equipment at the nursery, but much of the work must be done by hand to get good results.
Water is carefully managed, so the trees get what they need without waste.
The avocado industry wouldn’t be what it is today, if it weren’t for Brokaw Nursery.
Brokaw Nursery
5501 Elizabeth Road
Ventura, California 93004
Click HERE to learn about the California Avocado Commission.
More from Mama Likes To Cook
Check out the rest of my vegetarian recipes, so you can get more great ideas for baking, cooking, blending and juicing.
Guacamole Recipes
Avocado Recipes
- Carrot Slaw with Avocado Dressing
- Avocado Popsicles
- Vegan Mexican Avocado Salad
- Avocado Sweet Potato Toast
- Cucumber Avocado Salsa
- Strawberry Avocado Smoothie
- Avocado Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
- Vegan Creamy Avocado Yogurt Dip
- Avocado Bow Tie Pasta Salad
- Chilled Cucumber Avocado Soup
- Avocado Hummus
California Farm Tours
- Sweet Potato Joe Farm Tour – Livingston, CA
- Fiscalini Farmstead Cheese and Dairy Farm Tour – Modesto, CA
- Walnut Farm – Modesto, California
- Charles Ahelm Dairy Ranch – Hilmar, CA
- Avocado Orchard – Irvine, CA
- Urban Produce Indoor Organic Microgreens – Irvine, CA
- Brokaw Avocado Nursery Tour – Ventura, CA
- Rancho Rodoro Avocado Grove – Santa Paula, CA
- Shield’s Date Garden – Indio, CA
- SeaView Ranch – Calipatria, CA
- Lawrence Cox Ranches – Brawley, CA
- Lester Farms Tour – Winters, CA
- Lucero Olive Oil Tour – Corning, CA
- Wil-Ker-Son Kiwi Farm Tour – Gridley, CA
- Lundberg Family Farms Tour – Richvale, CA
Breweries in California
- Dust Bowl Brewing in Turlock
- Peter B’s in Monterey
- Refuge Brewery in Temecula
- Kinetic Brewing in Lancaster
- Coachella Valley Brewing Company in Thousand Palms
- Karl Strauss in Anaheim
- Sierra Nevada in Chico
Wineries in California
- Guglielmo Winery – Santa Clara Wine Trail
- Fortino Winery – Santa Clara Wine Trail
- Longoria Winery – Lompoc, CA
- Acquiesce Winery and Vineyards – Acampo, CA
- Bokisch Vineyards – Lodi, CA
- Bernardus Vineyards and Winery – Carmel Valley, CA
- Holman Ranch Vineyards – Carmel Valley, CA
- Jarman – Carmel Valley, CA
- Herzog Winery – Oxnard, CA
- Akash Winery – Temecula
- Wilson Creek – Temecula
- Cambria Winery and Vineyards – Santa Maria
- Foxen Vineyard and Winery – Santa Maria
- Nagy Wines – Orcutt, CA
- Grevino – Orcutt, CA
- Ojai Vineyard – Ojai, CA
- Keller Estate Winery – Petaluma, CA
- Adobe Road – Petaluma, CA
Are you ready to have some delicious fun in the kitchen?