How to grow Avocado

Persea americana

The subtropical species needs a climate without frost and with little wind. High winds reduce the humidity, dehydrate the flowers, and affect pollination. In particular, the West Indian type requires humidity and a tropical climate which is important for flowering. When even a mild frost occurs, premature fruit drop may occur, although the Hass cultivar can tolerate temperatures down to −1°C. The trees also need well-aerated soils, ideally more than 1 m deep.

Plants can be grown in a container, but full sized varieties will quickly outgrow it.7 The one dwarf cultivar is the ‘Little Cado" or “Wurtz”. This small tree only grows to about 10’ tall and can be planted in a large container.8 It is also good for a small yard in a frost free climate.8

If grown as a house plant it can survive being trimmed back, but as it is a tree it quickly forms a new leader and is off again! It does not really have a bush type habit and really wants to grow into a tree.

Growing Avocado from seed

Suspend half way in a pot of water with toothpicks and change water regularly until shoots form on the base.
Alternatively, cover the fresh cleaned stone (leave on the brown outer case) half way in a pot of compost. Place the wider base, leaving the pointed tip showing above the compost. Keep moist but not wet.

For optimal germination, soil temperature should be a minimum of 10°C / 50°F.

Transplanting Avocado

When growing from seed sow in a 15cm pot of moist seed compost with the point of the seed just below the surface.
Pot on as the plant grows.
With care, it can be grown outside at the limits of its hardiness by providing cover from other mature trees in a woodland situation,(Kent UK) or with the shelter of warm walls in a city environment(London UK)

Avocado is half hardy, so ensure you wait until all danger of frost has passed in your area before considering planting outside - as a guideline, the minimum temperature outside should be approximately 10°C / 50°F.

Harvesting Avocado

The avocado is a climacteric fruit (the banana is another), which means that it matures on the tree but ripens off the tree. Avocados used in commerce are picked hard and green and kept in coolers at 38 to 42°F (3.3 to 5.6°C) until they reach their final destination. Avocados must be mature to ripen properly. Avocados that fall off the tree ripen on the ground, and depending on the amount of oil they contain, their taste and texture may vary greatly.

Seed Saving Avocado

The seed may be saved from any fresh ripe avocado. Planting it soon is better then storing for long periods. Seeds may not grow true to type.

How long does Avocado take to grow?

These estimates for how long Avocado takes to sprout, grow and harvest are from real observations from real gardeners, right around the world.

Days to Germination How long does it take Avocado to germinate?
37 days

Average 37 days | Min 13 days | Max 354 days (15)

Days to Transplant How long until I can plant out Avocado?
+ days

Average days | Min days | Max days (0)

Days to Maturity How long until Avocado is ready for harvest / bloom?
+ days

Average days | Min days | Max days (0)

Total Growing Days How long does it take to grow Avocado?
= days

Avocado Etymology

The word ‘avocado’ comes from the Nahuatl word ahuacatl which means ‘testicle’. Some Spanish changed the word to aguacate6, others subsituted a known word ‘avacado’, which was Spanish for lawyer at the time (later lawyer was changed to the word abogado’).3 The word ahacatl was compound into ‘ahuacamolli’ meaning ‘avocado sauce’, today we know it as guacamole. 4

The Latin word “Americana” means “of the Americas”.2

Avocado Folklore & Trivia

The avocado may have originated in Puebla, Mexico. There is a cave in Coxcatlán, Puebla, Mexico with evidence of avocado use dating to around 7,000 BC.5 Avacados were first domesticated around 5,000 BC.5

Aztecs accepted avocados as tribute.5

The Maya king Pakal the Great had avocados as well as images of his ancestors and cacao on his sarcophagus.5

Avocados are fruit.6

The oldest living tree is at the University Of California Berkley, it was planted in 1879.6

Other names for Avocado

Butter pear, Avocado pear, Ahuacati

Misspellings: Avacado, Avo, Avocedo

Footnotes

1 University of Florida

2 Latin Dictionary

3 The Free Dictionary

4 Mexico Files-Holy Guacamole!

5 About.com

6 What’s Cooking America

7 Organic Gardening

8 University of California-Hardy Avacados

9 University of California-Natural Resources


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