Avocado Tree Growing - How To Plant An Avocado Tree

How to grow an avocado from seed

1. Remove and clean pit. ...
2. Locate which end is "up" and which end is "down" ...
3. Pierce with three toothpicks. ...
4. Place seed half-submerged in a glass of water. ...
5. WAIT FOR YOUR AVOCADO SEED TO SPROUT. ...
6. Pot in soil when tree is about 15cm tall. ...
7. Water and watch it grow. ...
8. Pinch out top leaves to encourage bushiness.

1. Can you grow an avocado tree from a store bought avocado?
2. Do you need to plant 2 avocado trees?
3. What is the best way to plant an avocado tree?
4. Do you need a male and female avocado tree to produce fruit?
5. Can I grow an avocado tree in my backyard?
6. What is the lifespan of an avocado tree?
7. What month do avocado trees bear fruit?
8. Will a potted avocado tree bear fruit?
9. Do avocado trees need full sun?
10. What is the best fertilizer for avocado trees?
11. Does it take 9 months to grow an avocado?
12. Can I cut the top off my avocado tree?
13. How do you tell the difference between a male and female avocado tree?
14. How do I get my avocado tree to produce fruit?
15. How much space does an avocado tree need?
16. Can you keep an avocado tree small?
17. Can an avocado tree survive winter?
18. Do avocado trees attract rats?
19. Are there male and female avocado plants?
20. How do you keep an avocado tree healthy?

Can you grow an avocado tree from a store bought avocado?

Pits from store-bought avocados do germinate, so you can grow your own avocado tree from just one little pit. ... Set the avocado, pointy side up, in a cup filled with enough water to cover the bottom half of the seed. The toothpicks will rest on the edge of the cup, letting the bottom of the seed sit in the water.

Do you need to plant 2 avocado trees?

For the best yields of fruit, two avocado trees are required. ... Both flower types produce and are receptive to pollen at different times of day, and the best pollination and fruit set occur when type A and B avocado cultivars grow together.

What is the best way to plant an avocado tree?

Use three toothpicks to suspend it broad end down over a water-filled glass to cover about an inch of the seed. Put the glass in a warm place out of direct sunlight and replenish water as needed. You should see the roots and stem start to sprout in about two to six weeks.

Do you need a male and female avocado tree to produce fruit?

Pollination: While avocado trees self-fertilize and produce fruit, yields should increase if both a Type A avocado tree and a Type B avocado tree are planted in order to increase the chances for successful pollination. The avocado tree has both functional male and female organs.

Can I grow an avocado tree in my backyard?

Avocados are delicious, nutritious and expensive. So, if you live in a region where avocado trees thrive, why not try growing your own? Avocados grow well in most parts of Southern California so, chances are, you can successfully grow avocado trees right in your backyard.

What is the lifespan of an avocado tree?

Avocado trees have a long life-span and keep on producing fruit for many decades after reaching maturity. A Hass avocado tree planted in 1926 is still fruiting, and avocado trees growing in the wild in Mexico have been known to live as long as 400 years.

What month do avocado trees bear fruit?

The Hass avocado typically ripens in February and is good through June or July. These dates depend a lot on where you live and climate conditions. Some years you can pick larger fruit as early as December and they will ripen up.

Will a potted avocado tree bear fruit?

Avocado trees are evergreen and need good light year round to bear fruit. Indoor trees need the sunniest, most south-facing windows in the house. ... An avocado tree grown from a pit could eventually bear fruit, of course, but that first fruit would be long in coming and of unpredictable quality.

Do avocado trees need full sun?

Light. Like bananas, avocado plants thrive in full sun. They will tolerate some shade, but potted indoor plants generally need the brightest spot you can find. If you're starting from a seed, the seed can be kept on a bright windowsill until roots form, and the first leaves emerge.

What is the best fertilizer for avocado trees?

Avocados need nitrogen, first and foremost, and a little zinc. You can use a citrus tree fertilizer as an avocado fertilizer or go organic and use compost, coffee, fish emulsion, etc. Avocados are hardy in USDA zones 9b to 11 and in those regions soil is generally sufficiently nutrient rich to support an avocado.

Does it take 9 months to grow an avocado?

Two Crops of Avocados

Yep, that also means it takes an avocado 12-18 months to grow and become ready to eat. The avocados you see at the grocery store or farmers' market took 12-18 months to grow and mature.

Can I cut the top off my avocado tree?

Avocado trees benefit from pruning during the first two years to encourage branching. ... Snip the top of the avocado tree off when it reaches approximately 12 inches in height, cutting the tree back to 6 inches. Allow the tree to regain its original height then repeat the trimming.

How do you tell the difference between a male and female avocado tree?

The flower has both female and male organs, but they don't function at the same time. Each flower is female when it first opens. That is, its stigma will receive pollen from other avocado flowers, but its stamens (male organs) do not shed pollen at this first opening.

How do I get my avocado tree to produce fruit?

How to Get an Avocado to Set Fruit. To encourage pollination, plant more than one tree. Plant rootstock grafted seedlings rather than seeds you have started on your own. Be sure to fertilize avocado trees with a nitrogen rich fertilizer in the late winter to early spring and again in early summer.

How much space does an avocado tree need?

If you have soil that doesn't drain well, work in sand or other gritty matter to increase its drainage. Also, you need to leave 8 to 10 feet (2.5-3 m.) from buildings and up to 30 feet (10 m.) of space apart when planting avocado trees.

Can you keep an avocado tree small?

With a small number of cuts done every year, and possibly some pinches, you can keep an avocado tree down to 15 feet (my Hass), 12 feet (my Reed), even 10 feet. ... And if the pruning cuts are done at the right place and in the right time, our trees will still make quite a lot of fruit for their small size.

Can an avocado tree survive winter?

While healthy avocado trees can tolerate freezes between 30˚ F and 32˚ F, severe freezes are capable of destroying individual avocado trees — particularly freeze temperatures falling below 30˚ F. The colder and longer the freeze, the greater the potential for damage to your avocado grove.

Do avocado trees attract rats?

 Rats and mice feed on a variety of fruits including oranges, avocados, peaches, lemon, and figs. They are fond of walnuts, almonds, and peanut butter. All fallen fruit and nuts should be regularly removed and discarded in the trash.  Rodents also feed on bird seed, snails, garden vegetables and dog droppings.

Are there male and female avocado plants?

The flowers of avocado trees are perfect, because they have both male and female parts, but both of these parts are not accessible at all times for pollination. The flowers only open for two days. On the first day, the female part opens for two to four hours and during this time, it can receive pollen.

How do you keep an avocado tree healthy?

Water deeply and regularly; let the tree dry out slightly before watering again. To conserve moisture, mulch trees with 3 or 4 inches of coarse wood chips. Always leave several inches between the mulch and tree trunk. Some experts don't recommend fertilizing avocado trees the first year.