How to Grow Avocados Indoors and Out

How to grow avocados is a question with a few answers possible. First it depends on how soon and if you want the tree to fruit. Grown from the seed an avocado fruit will take about ten years to mature and bear fruit - and this will only happen if you live in the tropics. It’s therefore not a suitable tree for most American fruit gardens; This option might be tempting but is open to just a few of us.

But you can still grow an avocado tree indoors. If you want them to bear fruit its best plant a few of them and place them outdoors in summer. The reason to give them fresh air in summer really is the old story of the birds and the bees, it will aid their pollination. These (small) trees are decorative and make great eye catchers on your patio or porch container garden. They can bear fruit in about five years when grown this way.

Your Container Grown Avocado

When you just want one avocado tree as house plant, it will bear no fruit but is an interesting project for yourself or the children to see if you can germinate an avocado seed. Some people like to leave them out in the sun until the outer shell splits, and then plant them like you would an amaryllis bulb, with part of it exposed.

Tips and tricks to Germinate the Seed

Others like to suspend the seed in a glass of water using toothpicks on each side. The fattest part should be under the water, while the pointed end should remain in the fresh air. Make sure you replenish the water as it evaporates. Place the glass on a sunny windowsill for best results. Not all seeds will germinate this way. Allow six weeks and if there is no sign of germination throw it away and start again. Better still, do it with several seeds to save time. You are sure to get at least one germination.

Taking Care of the Seedlings

Once the seed shoots and grows a bit, it should be planted in a pot with good quality potting mix. Keep the top half of the seed out of the ground, just as it was out of the water. Water it lightly - if the leaves turn yellow you have given it too much water.

Your Outdoors Avocado Tree

The easiest way to grow an avocado is by purchasing a tree from your nursery. The more mature the tree is, the less time you'll have to wait for fruit. The best site for an avocado tree to grow is on a gentle slope because they hate having waterlogged roots. Nitrogen is the main fertilizer for avocados, but they also need phosphorous and potassium so your fertilizer mix should be NPK 7-4-2, with some zinc added.

Do not plant an avocado in the lawn, as it will not grow well in competition with grass. It should be in a garden with plenty of compost, and sheltered from frost and wind. Each tree needs from 1/3 to ½ a pound of nitrogen annually, but not all at once. Application can be spread throughout the year. Water it at least twice a week; three times in dry, hot conditions. A mature tree can take up to 20 gallons a week. The question how to grow avocados can only be answered with pointers along the way. As with all living things no hard and fast rules exist, life even avocado life comes without guarantee, but it will improve the probability on success.
Tree

The easiest way to grow an avocado is by purchasing a tree from your nursery. The more mature the tree is, the less time you'll have to wait for fruit. The best site for an avocado tree to grow is on a gentle slope because they hate having waterlogged roots. Nitrogen is the main fertilizer for avocados, but they also need phosphorous and potassium so your fertilizer mix should be NPK 7-4-2, with some zinc added.

Do Not Plant Avocado Trees in your Lawn

Do not plant an avocado in the lawn, as it will not grow well in competition with grass. It should be in a garden with plenty of compost, and sheltered from frost and wind. Each tree needs from 1/3 to ½ a pound of nitrogen annually, but not all at once. Application can be spread throughout the year. Water it at least twice a week; three times in dry, hot conditions. A mature tree can take up to 20 gallons a week. The question how to grow avocados can only be answered with pointers along the way. As with all living things no hard and fast rules exist, life even avocado life comes without guarantee, but it will improve the probability on success.