How Long Does it Take for an Avocado Tree to Produce?

Overview

An avocado is a delicious and nutritious fruit. One avocado, without its skin and seed, has 227 calories and 9g of fiber. They are rich in Vitamin C and K. The fat it contains is mostly polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats. The American Heart Association recommends these types of fats, as they are helpful in lowering your risk of heart disease. There are ways to grow a tree and harvest avocados from your own backyard.

Growing

Avocado trees are a favorite among tropical fruit tree fans and are often seen in landscaping. They are easy to grow in zones 9, 10 and 11. They do best in soil that has a ph level of 6 to 6.5. The best time to plant avocado trees is from March to June; they do well in full sun. Plant them in an area where they will not encounter strong winds or frost conditions. The hole should be a little wider than the root ball but just as deep. Fill the hole with soil, being careful not to damage the tender roots. Avocado trees like to have lots of water when they are first planted. Do not let the soil completely dry, you may need to water daily at first, or weekly, depending on the weather conditions. Fertilize with 1 to 2 teaspoons of nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus-balanced fertilizer with zinc spread out over several feedings throughout the year. (see reference 4---left side bar entitled Grow Your Own Tree) Although growing an avocado from seed is a fun family project that kids love, these kinds of trees will not bear fruit for 7 to 10 years. Grafting the tree helps the avocado to keep its taste and characteristics and these will bear fruit in 1 to 3 years according to the hort.purdue.edu website. It is best to purchase the tree grafts from your local nursery to ensure quality and taste in the fruit.

Fun Facts

San Diego County is responsible for 60 percent of California avocados and is the avocado capital of the United States. California provides 90 percent of the nation's avocados. The avocado is often called the "alligator pear" due to its rough textured green skin and its pear shape.