It may take several years for your avocado tree to bear fruit, but the wait is worth it. With patience and proper care, you can have fresh avocados right off of your own backyard trees in 3-5 years. A tree grown from an avocado pit may take more like 7-10 years. Indoor-grown trees likely will not fruit much at all unless they are supplied with ample artificial light.
Fruit-bearing timeline
Most varieties of avocado trees will begin bearing fruit within three to five years after planting. However, some types may take up to seven or eight years before producing their first crop of avocados. Trees in less-than-optimal growing environments may also have delayed fruiting, and indoor trees may never fruit at all.
While the trees can start to bear fruit in 3-5 years in ideal climates, they usually don’t put on a full crop until they reach 7-10 years old.
The growth rate of an avocado tree varies depending on climate conditions and other factors such as soil quality or irrigation frequency. Generally speaking, most trees will reach between 6-10 feet tall within their first three years after planting – some even reaching heights up to 20 feet. During this time, they should also begin producing flowers, which eventually turn into fruit if pollinated.
Once established (3+ years), you can expect to start harvesting avocados from late summer through early winter each year, depending on when they were pollinated/fruited initially (usually around April). The size of these fruits will vary greatly based on how much care was given throughout their development period.
Growing avocados from nursery-bought fruit trees
Nursery-bought trees are usually already grafted and ready to go, so you don’t have to worry about the grafting process. When selecting an avocado tree from a nursery, look for one that has healthy foliage and is free of any pests or diseases. Make sure it is also labeled as being suitable for your climate zone.
When planting an avocado tree in your garden, choose a spot that gets plenty of sunlight. The tree needs 6+ hours of direct sunlight daily to fruit properly. Trees grown in the shade do not produce much fruit at all.
The soil should be well drained and amended with organic matter such as compost or aged manure before planting. Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball of the tree and deep enough so that when planted, the top of the root ball will be slightly above ground level. Place some mulch around the base of the tree after planting to help retain moisture in dry periods and reduce weeds growing around it.
Water newly planted avocado trees regularly until they become established; once established they only need occasional watering during dry spells or extended periods without rain (about 1 inch per week). Fertilize young trees every spring using a balanced fertilizer formulated specifically for fruit trees; mature trees can benefit from additional fertilization two times per year (spring & fall). Prune off dead branches throughout winter while avoiding pruning live branches if possible since this can slow down fruiting production on mature plants by up to two years.
Grafting your own avocado trees
Grafting avocado trees allows you to harvest fruit several years earlier than from seedling trees. It also gives you the ability to choose from multiple types of avocados, giving you access to a variety of flavors and textures.
Why avocado trees are often grafted
Grafted trees are generally much hardier than those grown from seedlings or cuttings because they have access to the nutrients provided by their combined root systems. They also tend to produce larger fruits faster than non-grafted trees, making them ideal for home gardeners who want quick results without sacrificing quality.
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