How to Grow an Avocado Tree That Bears Fruit? Avocados are the epitome of “millennial.” Avocados were popularised by millennials due to their exotic aspect, yet they are great for individuals of all ages. You might also use them as a face mask. If you’ve ever considered growing an avocado tree, keep reading for our tips and techniques!
Origins of the Avocado
Avocados (Persea Americana) are Mexican tropical fruits. The avocado, which was discovered over 10,000 years ago and domesticated by the Aztecs 5,000 years ago, was brought to the United States in 1833 by a horticulture who planted trees in Florida. However, the fruit’s popularity skyrocketed in the twentieth century, as more people began to recognise its worth as a cash crop.
Should I Plant An Avocado Tree?
Avocados are pricey, but going the DIY method will not save you any money. Avocado planting is a time, labour, and financial investment. If you want to save money, you should probably avoid planting avocado trees. If you’re looking for a fun life project, perhaps planting an avocado tree is for you.
The Ideal Environment For Avocado Growth
1. Climate
Because avocado is a tropical fruit, it thrives in warm settings with plenty of sunlight. If you live in the United States, USDA Zones 9 through 11 are ideal. This means that if you live in Florida, California, Hawaii, or Texas, you have a better chance of cultivating avocados. Avocado trees are vulnerable to cold weather, so if you reside in a colder climate, you’re out of luck.
2. Avocado Varieties
The three most prevalent types of avocado fruit in the United States are West Indian (Persea americana var. americana), Mexican (Persea americana var. drymifolia), and Guatemalan (Persea americana var. guatemalensis).
Knowing the avocado tree variety is essential for growing these trees. Different types flourish in different environments, yet they do share some characteristics. The West Indian type is the most sensitive to frost, whereas the Mexican variety is more forgiving of colder weather.
3. Soil and Water
Avocado trees do not flourish in damp soil but do well in moist soil. They aren’t affected by soil pH, however they thrive in soil with a pH of 6 to 6.5. Keep an eye out for saltiness. Avocado trees do not grow well in salty soil. You should also keep an eye on the salinity of your water.
When to Plant an Avocado Tree
There is an optimal period to plant an avocado tree: early spring. In the spring, you can be certain that the soil is warm enough and free of frost, while also avoiding intense, direct sunlight. The same guideline applies whether you’re transplanting a potted avocado tree or planting avocado saplings in your backyard.
How to Grow an Avocado Tree From Seeds?
Starting from the ground up, you won’t see your trees grow fruit until you’ve changed occupations, had children, or relocated to a different city. Because it will take years for your seed-grown avocado to bear fruit. Perhaps a decade or more. It only takes 4 years for graft-grown seedlings to begin yielding fruit. On the other hand, if you’re lucky, it takes about 10-15 years for an avocado tree to develop sufficiently to bear fruit.
Avocados aren’t true to flavour. This makes it much more difficult for your plants to pollinate and bear fruit. This is why commercial avocado trees are grafted, or modified to produce more fruit. However, you might always try planting a tree to experiment and have fun. And if things don’t work out, you’ll at least have a houseplant. If you want to grow a fruit-bearing avocado tree, skip forward to the section on cultivating avocados from saplings.
1. Water-Sprouting to Grow an Avocado Tree That Bears Fruit
This is the most frequent method for planting and growing avocado plants. It’s also rather simple to make at home.
Prepare Seed for Planting:
Wash the avocado seeds in water before planting them. Then determine which side of the avocado is the “top” and which side is the “bottom.” The pointier side of the seed is normally on top, and the broader side is on the bottom. Poke four toothpicks halfway through the pit on either side of the seed. The avocado pit is solid, but you can easily poke holes in it with a toothpick.
Fill a glass halfway with water. Then, suspend the avocado pit, broad end down, above the glass of water, making sure the toothpick is aligned with the walls of your glass or container. Make sure the bottom third of the seed is submerged in water.
Wait for Sprouts to Grow:
Make careful to keep your glass with the avocado somewhere warm but not directly in the sun. Every day, check to see if the water covers the bottom third of the pit and adjust the water as needed.
This process will take 2 to 8 weeks, or until sprouts and roots begin to grow from the seed. As the stem grows, take measurements. When your stem is 7 inches long, cut it down to 3 inches to encourage root growth.
Potting the Avocado Sprout:
When you notice fresh top leaves sprouting from the avocado pit, it’s time to move it to the pot. Make sure the pot you purchase has a minimum diameter of 6 inches. It’s also critical to buy a pot with drainage holes because avocado plants flourish in well-drained soil.
When selecting soil, use a sandier kind with less salt. Place the seed in the dirt, covering it completely. Only the stem should be visible above the dirt. All you have to do now is remember to water your plant on a regular basis. When your potted plant is about 2 years old, transplant it to ground soil.
2. Soil-Sprouting to Grow an Avocado Tree That Bears Fruit
Though water-sprouting is the most prevalent method, some gardeners prefer soil-sprouting. When done correctly, it may be easier and faster than water sprouting. The procedure is similar to the water-sprouting approach, except that you will not be sprouting your avocado seed over water. Instead, you’ll sit and watch your avocado sprout in your pot.
Prepare Seed for Planting:
Make sure to clean the avocado pit and thoroughly rinse the fruit flesh. Try to peel or at least score the seed’s brown outer skin. That’s all the seed preparation you’ll need to perform.
Prepare Soil:
The rules for selecting soil are the same as they were in the water-sprouting approach. We recommend sandier soil that is not very salty. The pH of your soil should ideally be between 6 and 6.5.
Plant Seed in Pot:
Make certain that you do not bury the entire seed in the soil. The top half of the seed should be exposed to air, while the bottom half should be buried in soil. As with water-sprouted pits, make sure your avocado gets enough water without flooding. And always place the pot in warm, indirect sunlight.
How to Grow an Avocado Tree From Saplings?
The easiest approach to assure that you obtain an avocado tree that will bear fruit for you is to get a sapling from your local nursery. You can even acquire seedlings from Amazon these days! Unlike seed-grown avocado trees, grafted avocado plants are more likely to produce fruit. It will only take 3-4 years, far less than the decade required for seed-grown avocado trees.
1. Purchasing Your Sapling
Whether you buy your sapling from a nursery or through Amazon, ensure sure it is grafted. Some nurseries or dealers will indicate whether the seedling was “grafted for earliest fruit” or “grafted for bigger fruit yields.” There are numerous alternatives, so select what you want from your avocado tree before purchasing a sapling.
Choose more than one seedling if you want higher produce from your trees. Consider going for two! Cross-pollination will help you improve your annual fruit output. If you buy two trees, make sure to purchase one of the “A” variety and one of the “B” variety.
The purpose of pairing a “A” variety with a “B” variety is to allow for cross-pollination. The male portions of a Type A avocado tree should open at the same time as the female parts of a Type B avocado tree.
Type A avocado trees include the popular “Hass” variety. This could be paired with the Type B “Bacon” avocado tree. USDA Zones 9b and 10a are suitable for both. These two varieties complement each other perfectly in terms of pollination and climate.
However, if you live in another region, you can try to discover a list of common variations for each flowering type here. If you reside in an avocado-growing area, you won’t have to bother about purchasing two saplings. One avocado tree in your lawn should suffice.
2. Choosing A Planting Site
Choose an appropriate planting location for your avocado tree once you’ve obtained some avocado saplings. When deciding where to plant an avocado tree, two factors must be considered: soil and climate.
When selecting a plot in your backyard, make certain that the soil drains effectively. Remember that avocado trees despise waterlogged soil! Also, make sure to plant in an area that gets plenty of sunlight.
3. Transplanting The Sapling
Irrigate your plot before transplanting the seedling. Water your seedling as well. However, be cautious not to overwater your plot or the seedling. Make a hole three times the width and depth of your tree.
After digging, gently remove the sapling from its container, being careful not to pull too hard. After you’ve placed your tree in the hole, backfill it with native soil. Tamp the dirt near the tree’s roots to remove air pockets.
Remember, no fertiliser should be added at this stage. It is critical for your tree to adapt to local variables such as climate and soil. And there you have it: a fruit-bearing avocado tree in your backyard, ready to provide you with some tasty avocados.
How to Give Your Avocado Tree the Care It Needs?
1. Fertilizer to Grow an Avocado Tree That Bears Fruit
Only begin fertilising your tree once it has adapted to native soil, and try to time it when frost is likely. The fertiliser will prepare your tree for cold winters, so apply it before they arrive. When your tree is 1-3 years old, try to fertilise it six times a year. Reduce feeding to four times per year after the fourth year.
2. Pruning and Staking
Pruning is necessary to make avocado harvesting more convenient for you. During the autumn and winter months, make sure to prune every after harvest. Any earlier or later, and the avocado will become sunburned on the areas you’ve cut away and trimmed.
3. Watering to Grow an Avocado Tree That Bears Fruit
We recommend watering your avocado tree once a week to ensure that it receives the necessary hydration without becoming flooded. When there is a drought or low rainfall in your location, you should water more frequently. If you’re not sure whether to water, assess the state of your soil around a couple of inches (2 to 3 inches) deep. If the ground is dry, you should water your tree.
Conclusion
It is difficult to grow avocado trees that give fruit. Aside from the environment, there is also the human component to consider. You’ll need a lot of dedication and patience before your avocado trees bear fruit. Treat your avocado tree as if it were a pet. Give it your heart and soul. Your tree will repay you, possibly with fruit!
Also Read: How to Grow Strawberries in Pots?
