This article appears as part of the 27 March 2026 issue of Guacamole, our e-Newsletter.

Lunch & Learn Webinar Recording Now Available

A recording of the recent Lunch & Learn webinar Growing Robust Avocados is now available for those who were unable to attend. Delivered as part of the Australian Avocado Industry Development and Extension Project (AV23010), in collaboration with the AV21005 Growing Robust Avocados project, the session focused on practical strategies to improve fruit robustness and quality outcomes.

The webinar explored how calcium management and orchard practices influence fruit performance, with a strong focus on applying the ‘Robustness Wheel’ principles in a commercial setting.

Grower take-home messages include:

• Optimise fruit calcium uptake using the interacting ‘Robustness Wheel’ principles
• Fruit calcium uptake occurs only through the transpiration stream
• Calcium investment in fruit is limited to the 6–10 weeks following fruit set
• Strategic gypsum management is required to achieve peak soil calcium levels during this critical period
• Timing and rate of gypsum applications depend on gypsum form and soil release patterns
• Measure and manage robustness through soil solution and fruit nutrient skin monitoring
• Effective soil calcium loading also supports improved nitrogen nutrition

Missed the webinar? You can now watch the recording at a time that suits you…

👉 CLICK HERE to access the webinar recording in the BPR Library (log in and you will be automatically directed to the webpage)

🔗 Additional resources are also available on the BPR Nutrition page.

If you have any questions, please contact Geoff Dickinson geoff.dickinson@dpi.qld.gov.au the Growing Robust Avocados project leader, or your regional lead.