by johnah on November 25, 2020
Avocados are one of the most popular fruits in the world. They have been cultivated since ancient times and their popularity continues to increase due to their high nutritional value, low fat content, mild flavor and convenient size. Avocados are widely used in many cuisines around the world including Mexican cuisine, Chinese food, Indian food etc. In fact, they were even introduced into America during Spanish colonization of Mexico where they became known as “Spanish oranges”. Today, avocados are among the most popular fruits in the United States.
How to Grow an Avocado Tree?
The first thing you need to decide is whether you want to start with a small or large avocado tree. Smaller trees tend to be easier and cheaper to maintain while larger ones require more effort and money. There are several types of avocado trees available. Some varieties can bear only one type of fruit while others can bear both kinds. You will need to choose which kind you prefer based upon your budget and desired taste preference.
Once you have decided what size tree you would like to start with, there are various ways to go about it. One method involves planting the seeds directly into the ground and then waiting for them to germinate naturally after some time passes. This method provides the tree with a lot of room to grow and roots throughout the ground. This results in a strong, sturdy tree that can endure adverse weather conditions.
The downside is it takes quite some time for the tree to bear fruit and some crops may not grow at all resulting in a loss of seeds and money.
The other method involves planting the seeds in small pots or cups filled with soil and transplanting them into the ground when they are big enough to sustain themselves. This method allows for quicker growth and a higher success rate but takes a lot of maintenance. You will have to make sure the seed has enough sunlight, room to grow and enough water. You will also need to transplant it into the ground as soon as possible or risk damaging the roots.
The final method involves buying an already established tree from a nursery. This is the easiest and most convenient way but also the most expensive.
Make sure you provide your tree with enough sunlight. This can be done by planting it near a window that receives a lot of sun or putting a shade screen over that window. The more sunlight it gets, the faster and healthier it will grow. Even if you have a lot of windows in your house or place of residence, most likely there are still some areas that get more sunlight than others.
Find the sunny spots and put the trees there – this will ensure they receive adequate light.
Make sure you water your tree regularly. The ground should always feel slightly damp when you stick a finger into it, but not soaked. If you don’t know much about soil and watering plants, get a soil meter to measure the moisture content in the ground.
Fertilize the soil with organic nutrients such as manure or chicken manure tea. This will help the tree grow healthy and strong and will also make the fruit taste better. Use the fertilizer once every month or so.
Pruning helps your tree get the right amount of light and sunlight to make it grow better and produce more fruit. Wait until the tree is around 4 to 5 feet tall and then begin pruning. Cut off no more than 1/3 of the branches at any time. This will make the tree branch out and bush out more, encouraging more fruit growth.
Pollination is an important step in growing avocados. There are two types of trees: A and B. Both female and male trees of each kind exist in the world, though it is still unknown why this is the case. The type of tree you have will determine whether you buy a male or female tree.
It is important that the two trees are of different types in order for the fruit to grow.
It is best to keep your trees indoors in a pot for the first year. This allows you time to examine the type of growth and allows you to transfer it into a better pot if necessary. After one year, transplant the tree outside into a bigger pot or into the ground if you live in an area that supports avocado trees. The soil needs to be deep, fertile and well draining.
Watering the tree is vital for its survival. It is important to not let the tree dry out, but the soil cannot be left soggy or rotting either.
Caring for your tree is simple and easy. The fruit should be big and delicious in no time!
Sources & references used in this article:
Diurnal fluctuation in size in various parts of the avocado tree and fruit by CA Schroeder, PA Wieland – Proc. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci, 1956 – avocadosource.com
Nutrient composition and seasonal losses of avocado trees by SH Cameron, RT Mueller, A Wallace – California Avocado …, 1952 – 209.143.153.251
Starch in the avocado tree by SH Cameron, G Borst – Proc. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci, 1938 – avocadosource.com
Development of a phenological model of avocado tree growth in California by PW Robinson, MV Mickelbart, X Liu, C Adams… – … Symposium on Tropical …, 2000 – actahort.org
‘Hass’ avocado tree growth on four rootstocks in California. II. Shoot and root growth by MV Mickelbart, PW Robinson, G Witney, ML Arpaia – Scientia horticulturae, 2012 – Elsevier
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