Fruit:
Avocados
1. When – We recommend buying a tree but if you start from seed, we recommend starting the seed indoors. Unless you live in a tropical climate, the winter freeze will kill the seedling. If you live in a tropical climate, plant it during March-April as the tree needs time to establish before the winter.
2. Where – Full sun in very well draining soil. Do not plant near other trees to prevent overcrowding. Planting in a container will limit the growth however an avocado tree in the ground can grow 40 feet tall or more.
3. How – Dig a hole twice the diameter of the root ball, and around 1 1/2 times as deep as the root ball. Fill up with organic compost until the hole is only as deep as the root ball. Place your tree in the hole and fill with compost, be sure not to cover too much of the trunk bark with compost, or else it could become infected. If the tree is not planted deep enough, the roots can become exposed and damage the tree.
4. Harvesting – The best way to harvest avocados is to pick one or two of the larger fruits and allow them to set them inside for about a week. If it matures properly then the rest are ready as well to pick as needed. After maturing they should not be too tough and not shrink in size. Also when pressing on the mature avocado it should have a slight give, sort of similar to pressing on your nose.
5. Tips – The reason we recommend growing avocados from an already started tree, is that growing from seed can take up to 13 years to finally get fruit. We will mention that although the timeline is long, it is a fun process to watch. The seed is started in a glass container with toothpicks stuck through it to keep it suspended at the top of the glass. The roots are fascinating to watch slowly grow and the leaves are gorgeous to see sprouting.
Type:
Perennial
Time to harvest:
5 to 7 years from tree
Plant Origin:
Mexico nearly 10,000 years ago
How to Cultivate 