Avocados are a delicious, versatile, and expensive fruit, so it’s understandable if you’ve thought about growing an avocado tree at home. However, not many people know how to grow an avocado tree that bears fruit.
Luckily, it’s possible to grow a fruitful avocado tree. Keep reading to find out how to grow an avocado tree that bears fruit and learn the secrets you need to know so that you can have access to avocados from your own backyard.
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How to Grow an Avocado Tree: The Basics
Avocados are tropical fruits native to Mexico, so they’re used to a subtropical climate. The fruit was brought over to the United States via Florida in the late nineteenth century.
Typically, an avocado plant can grow from anywhere between 50-70ft (15-21m) with appropriate care. When grown indoors, avocado trees will grow just as big as they do outdoors, assuming you have ideal conditions. But don’t worry; it will take a while for your avocado tree to outgrow your home.
When planting an avocado pit, bear in mind that the seedling could take up to 10 years to bear fruit.
Before you start, make sure that you know where the top of your avocado pit is. The roots come out of the bottom, and the stems come out of the top. So, make sure you plant the pit with the right part facing in the right direction.
How do you know? The top of an avocado pit is pointed, and the bottom is flat.
How to Plant an Avocado Seed
If you aren’t sure when you might want to start growing your avocado tree, you can still save your seeds now. Wash the avocado pit clean, and keep it in a jar of water so that it doesn’t dry out.
To plant avocado seed in a warmer climate, bury the pit in the soil and keep watering them. Seedlings will begin to grow in as little as a month.
If you plant them in pots, add the pits to the soil and cover them. Make sure the soil is damp but not wet. The pot should remain in a warm spot with direct sunlight.
Grow an Avocado Seed in Water
For this technique, start by cleaning the avocado seeds, then peel off the skin to reduce the chances of the seeds getting moldy while germinating. Then, wrap the seeds in a damp paper towel, and put them in a plastic bag or a container with a lid.
Make sure to check on the pits at least once a week. If the paper towel begins to smell or look slimy, wash the seeds and the plastic bag or container, and use a clean piece of paper towel.
Once the avocado seeds crack, look for tiny white roots sprouting from the bottom of each seed. Be careful not to damage the roots. When the roots have grown and begin to protrude beyond the bottom of the seeds, then it’s time to start growing them in water.
This next stage may take a month or two to complete. Cut off the top portion of a plastic water bottle without the lid, and place it on top of a glass jar. Then, put the sprouting avocado seed into the half-sphere and ensure that the roots are pointing down. Then, cover the bottom of the seed in water. Keep the roots submerged in water. After a few more weeks, you’ll start to see leaves and seeds growing.
The only difference between growing avocado indoors in soil and water is that avocado plants in water need to be away from the direct sun. Algae can grow in water exposed to sunlight, which may end up hindering your plants.
Tips on How to Grow an Avocado that Bears Fruit
Now that you have an idea of how to grow an avocado tree that bears fruit, you’re ready to start growing your own tree. Before you get started, here are some tips you need to know for your avocado tree to thrive.
1. Light
Your avocado tree needs some sunlight. It’s best to aim for 6-8 hours of sunlight a day. For indoor avocado trees, place them near a large window that gets a lot of sunlight. Ensure that you give your avocado tree room to absorb sunlight and grow by keeping it away from other plants.
2. Temperature Control
Try keeping your avocado tree in a warm area that’s at least 68 degrees.
Don’t place your tree under or over a vent. The furnace’s dry heat can damage your avocado tree. If your leaves do start to dry, just mist them with a spray bottle for extra humidity. You can also place a humidifier nearby.
3. Watering
It’s important to give your avocado tree enough water, but don’t allow the soil to dry between waterings to avoid oversaturation. Your avocado tree only needs to be washed once a week. If you’re not sure when to water, simply check the surrounding soil about 3 inches down – if the soil is dry, your tree needs water. Once again, make sure you mist your avocado tree’s leaves often, especially during the winter.
4. Food
Feeding your avocado tree with fertilizer is another great way to help it thrive.
After your tree makes it through its first full growing season, feed your tree with a well-balanced fertilizer blend once per season, four times per year. For best results, apply the fertilizer in the middle of each season.
5. Have Patience
It may take a little time for your young avocado tree to adjust to its new environment and then a lot longer for your tree to begin to produce fruit. For your avocado tree to thrive, you must be patient and ensure that you continue to give it the attention it needs.
6. Use an Avocado Growing Kit
If you’re still having trouble figuring out how to grow an avocado tree that bears fruit, there are always a few options to help you out. Consider getting an avocado growing kit that comes with everything you need to start growing your avocado tree from the pit. The beginning is the most difficult part of growing an avocado tree, so this kit may give you a better chance of succeeding.
Summary
An avocado tree may not be the first plant that comes to mind when you think of indoor plants, but it is an interesting tree that may end up being fruitful in the long run.
It may require a lot of work, time, and patience, but once you learn how to grow an avocado tree that bears fruit, you’ll never want to pick up an avocado from the grocery store again.