The avocado tree and fruit can get quite large. If you’re thinking about planting an avocado tree in your backyard, be sure to have plenty of room for it to grow.
The tree can reach up to 60 feet in height. Because of this, it’s best to plant an avocado tree in a back corner or against a fence or wall where it won’t be pushed by prevailing winds. Avocado trees are evergreen and have large green leaves that grow in a dense pattern along branch lines.
If you’re lucky enough to get your hands on a ripe avocado, be prepared for a sizeable piece of fruit-the average avocado is about 8 inches long.
Avocado trees are evergreen. A healthy tree will produce about 4-5 pounds of avocados every year, but the yield depends on climate and production practices. While they’re called “alligator pears” for their rough, tough looks, avocados are actually a fruit. Avocado trees are native to Central and South America.
How Do We Know If the Fruit is Ready to Be Harvested?
The fruit of the tree does not ripen on its branches as one might expect. Instead, they need to be picked when fully grown and given two to three days before they are ripe enough to be eaten.
Avocados are a delicious tropical fruit that can be enjoyed year-round. When harvested, avocadoes will harden and turn green after only days in the field. But once they start ripening, their skin lightens to yellow before becoming brown with an orange hue as it matures further on towards being fully ripe.
The best time for cutting depends upon how much moisture you want inside your sandwich or salad. We recommend shaving off just enough so there’s no risk whatsoever of drying out during preparation.
When you test for ripeness, you must make sure to be gentle because too much pressure on the fruit will damage it and turn its inside dark green.
Time Period for Avocado Tree to Start Bearing Fruit
Avocados are fruit that can be grown from seed, but it takes about five to ten years for the tree’s maturity.
However, there is hope in that if you purchase an avocado grafted onto another branch or rootstock, then they may not require as much time before fruiting begins. The earliest will be three to five years, depending upon the variety and conditions believed by some growers.
In addition to that, some varieties of avocado can bear fruit in less than two years and do so well within a confined space. From experience, these trees produce just one or two fruits at first, with more coming as they age over time.
All in all, the average age at which avocado plants bear fruit varies depending on the variety and weather conditions.
Can Avocado Trees Produce More Fruit?
The avocados tree is a self-pollinating or fully fertile plant that doesn’t necessarily need another to bear its fruit. However, it does come in male as well as female varieties, which can increase pollination rates when combined for maximum production of delicious avocados.
The male and female varieties of avocado are arranged into two groups, i.e., Group A and Group B. The flower of Group A opens up in the morning at 6:00 am, as females, closing at noon, then reopening again later that following day as males at noon.
Group B opens at noon as females and closes at 4:00 pm during the noon, then reopens as males the following morning.
Both Group A and Group B have a role to play during the course of their day. During morning hours, B pollinates A and while at noontime, Group A pollinates B.
It’s easy to see why avocado farmers are so pleased with their crop yields. Having two groups of varieties around greatly increases the production, and this means more profits for them.
Growing Avocado Trees Indoors
Avocado trees are able to grow indoors in climates where the weather conditions go below 35F. Even though dwarf varieties produce less fruit than normal tree-sized plants, they’re ideal for farmers and home growers.
That is because it allows them to bring these sensitive fruits into their living spaces without worrying about exposure to too much cold or hot temperatures that could kill an avocado seedling.
A dwarf avocado tree can grow up to 3 meters or 8 feet tall when planted in the pot and bear normal-sized fruits. There are some cases where these trees have grown even taller, reaching heights over 4 meters.
The avocado tree needs consistent care and attention in order for it to thrive. It’s important that you fertilize the soil water regularly but not too much so as this can cause rot or other damage such as sunburn on your plant life.
It’s important to provide your avocado plants with the same balance of nutrients as outdoor grown varieties, i.e., NPK fertilizer ratio of 10:10:10. The trace elements that are necessary can be applied to the tree’s base. Although not directly but around canopy twice yearly with an appropriate amount according to size and health status/requirements.
When growing the potted avocado tree, be aware that it may not produce a similar result to what you would get from its parent. To create another dwarf fruit-bearing plant, you will need to graft or air layer shoots onto other plants in order for them both to survive and thrive together.
This way, there’s no risk of them getting sacrificed because their roots weren’t strong enough.
Pot Size
When you transplant a tree, it’s important to make sure that the pot size is adequate enough for your plant once it matures. A 6-10 inches diameter container would be best as this will allow them room to grow without worrying about breaking or bending anything in their destined home.
The perfect pot for your plant is one that has plenty of space and drainage holes. A good rule-of-thumb when choosing what size to get, 24 – 36 inches in diameter, will provide ample room for roots while still being small enough so as not to require extensive watering or care on behalf of you.
How to Grow Avocado Tree from Seed
Growing avocado from seed is a process that can take up to two years before it bears fruit, but it’s worth the wait. Here are some steps on how to grow an avocado tree from seed:
Remove Seed from Avocado – Cut the avocado in half, remove the seed and rinse it under cold water. Make sure that the seed includes the base, where the stem connects.
Position Seed Properly – The flat, thick part of the avocado seed should face down. The pointed end of the seed should be facing up.
Support Seed with Toothpicks: The raised points of the toothpicks should be placed over the flat surface of the avocado seed. This will allow you to suspend your avocado seed in water without it touching any other surfaces.
Place Seed in Water – Place the avocado with its stem-end down into a glass or jar filled with tepid water. Do not use cold or hot water as this can cause shock to the developing root.
Wait a Few Weeks – After a couple of weeks, you’ll begin to see roots growing from the bottom and green growth developing at the top. These roots and stems help your avocado seed convert water and nutrients into a tree.
Be Patient – Full-grown avocado trees can measure up to 5 meters tall, but they usually take about two years before they bear fruit. A mature tree needs at least six hours of sunlight each day and grows six feet per year. When your avocado is 10 years old, it will yield about 4-5 pounds of fruit per year.
That’s how you grow an avocado tree from seed! Growing avocado trees is a fun and rewarding activity, but be sure to give your plant at least five feet of space so it can grow without any limitations.
The Bottom Line
The avocado tree can reach a height of up to 60 feet, and the fruit itself can weigh as much as 5 pounds. The avocado is a unique fruit because it contains healthy monounsaturated fats that are good for your heart. It’s also high in fiber, vitamin C, and potassium.
If you’re looking for a nutritious snack that will keep you full for hours, try an avocado.
