Avocado Chicken Salad Boats

Avocado

• Plant avocado trees in a location with full sun and well-drained soil, protecting them from frost in cooler climates.
• For container growing, select a dwarf variety and use a large pot (at least 15-20 gallons) with good drainage.
• Ensure consistent moisture, especially during flowering and fruiting, to prevent fruit drop.

Cucumber

• Sow cucumber seeds directly after the last frost, or start indoors a few weeks prior, ensuring they have consistent moisture and rich soil.
• Provide a sturdy trellis or cage for vining varieties to support growth and keep fruit clean and off the ground.
• Fertilize regularly with a balanced fertilizer once plants start to flower and fruit.

Romaine Lettuce

• Sow seeds in early spring or fall, as lettuce prefers cooler temperatures (10-20°C) and can bolt in hot weather.
• Plant in well-drained, fertile soil and provide consistent moisture to encourage tender, crisp leaves.
• For a continuous harvest, sow small batches of seeds every 2-3 weeks.

• Aphids (Cucumber, Romaine Lettuce): Use sticky traps to monitor populations and spray with a gentle stream of water to dislodge them.

• Slugs & Snails (Romaine Lettuce): Place shallow dishes of beer or use copper tape barriers to deter these pests from leaves.

• Cucumber Beetles (Cucumber): Hand-pick beetles in the morning and evening, or use row covers for young plants to prevent early infestation.

Avocado

• Pick avocados when they are mature in size and their skin color has darkened slightly, then allow them to ripen off the tree at room temperature.

Cucumber

• Harvest cucumbers when they are firm, bright green, and reach the desired length for their type, typically before they swell excessively.

Romaine Lettuce

• Harvest outer leaves as needed (cut-and-come-again) or cut the entire head at the base once it is firm and fully formed.