How to Grow Avocado Trees

Contributor

By Josienita Borlongan
eHow Contributing Writer

Article Rating:

(9 Ratings)

Avocados are used in salads, deserts, shakes and dips. Buying avocados can be pricey but one way you can continue to enjoy avocados long term is by planting your very own avocado tree in your own garden.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Avodaco seed
Avocado seedling
Avocado tree transplant
Soil
Fertilizer
Huge pot or piece of land
Water
Toothpick

Growing an Avocado Tree from Seed

Step 1

Place the end of three toothpicks across the midsection of the avocado seed. Then suspend on a small jar filled with water.
Step 2

Dip the lower or wider part of the seed in clean water. The pointy side of the seed should be placed upward.
Step 3

Place in an warm area away from direct sunlight. Add water as needed.
Step 4

When stems start to grow about 6 to 7 inches, cut down to 3 inches.
Step 5

Transplant in a bigger pot when the stems redevelop in a thicker form with leaves sprouting. Roots will show proliferous as well. When transplanting to a rich humus soil in a 10-inch pot, ensure that the upper half of the seed is exposed.
Step 6

Water occasionally, do not oversoak for it will turn the leaves yellow. Give it enough sunlight.
Step 7

When the stem reaches 12 inches, cut it back to 6 inches so that new shoots will grow.
Step 8

Avocados planted from seeds do not usually bear fruit unless grafted. Once grafted it can take up to 13 years for it to bear fruit. Non fruit-bearing avocado tree can provide canopy in your garden and can be good for tree-climbing.

Growing an Avocado Tree from a Grafted Avocado Plant

Step 1

Buy a grafted avocado young tree from a nursery. Check the label if it will bear fruit. A non-grafted avocado tree may not produce a fruit.
Step 2

Dig a hole as deep as the root ball and a little wider. Plant the tree taking care not to damage the roots. You can loosen the roots by gently pulling them apart to give enough aeration. Do not use gravel or potting mix, instead use the soil that came from the pot that it came with or the soil in your garden.
Step 3

Water. At planting you can give as much as 2 gallons of water. Let the water completely soak before watering it again. Water as needed, from 1 gallon per day depending on the weather, to 2-3 times a week.
Step 4

Maintain a pH of 6 to 6.5 for your avocado to thrive. Avocados need nutrients such as Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium (known as NPK) in a 7, 4, and 2 part fertilizer respectively . Avocados need zinc as well.
Step 5

Prune as needed and harvest fruits as they are about to ripen.
Step 6

Harvest fruits when ripe.

Comments

jull14 said

Flag This Comment

on 7/6/2009 Thank you for sharing this information with me, it is very interesting, helpful for many here at ehow and the article is well written and easy to follow, thanks so much.