I want to grow an avocado tree. (forum)

murphy starts with ...
My son found a sprouting avocado seed in the school grounds a few weeks ago. We planted the seed in a pot and it is growing. He is very excited and we are wondering what special things we will have to do to grow the tree successfully. Will it grow and fruit by itself or will we have to buy another tree later on to pollinate it. Has anyone ever successfully grown their own tree from a seed?

Thankyou
Jo

Time: 21st August 2009 10:46am

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report
About the Author murphy
gippsland
#UserID: 2697
Posts: 1
View All murphy's Edible Fruit Trees

paula-f says...
Hi there murphy.
I have a seedling avocado that I planted over 8 years ago, and it is flowering now for the first time. I have no idea if the fruit will be any good, or if it will even fruit at all. They are also very vigorous compared to grafted varieties, as my seedling has been in for the same amount of time as the grafted varieties, but is over twice the size. You could always have a go at grafting a piece onto it from someone you know who has a good fruiting avocado. I have a few seedlings in pots that I have grown from seeds,that I'm going to have a go at doing this.
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1

Time: 21st August 2009 12:33pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author paulaf1
SE Queensland
#UserID: 2568
Posts: 51
View All paulaf1's Edible Fruit Trees

culebra says...
my seed-grown ones, in WA did quite well. quite well meaning they grew well.
after a few years they bore their first fruits. which were small, scanty and had a tendency to abort, a few were larger and tasty so all in all were a bit of a disappointment. i'm not putting that down to the mere fact they were seed-raised, a water deficiency is perhaps more likely. also they had constantly yellowish leaves despite me feeding them heavily. i see the same thing in seedling avos in melbourne these days. it does not appear to cause many problems other than possible aesthetics. they burned badly on scorching summer days.
If my WA trees are still there they are probably huge by now. and my seedling mango. and my feijoa etc etc.

Avocados grow well in Victoria. contrary to popular belief, despite originating from tropical climes they actually come from quite high altitudes (cloud forest) where it is cooler. they are grown commercially in Tasmania for example. (that said protect from frosts).
seedling avocado trees are common in melbourne. some bear v. good fruit.
i grew one from seed when i first moved here, that was back in the day when Melbourne actually got frosts so yeah it got battered every year, and scorched in summer. but at least it received water. it had to be removed for a renovation.
by all means go for it. protect from frosts. try to keep the water up to it over the warmer months. protect from scorching summer days with shadecloth.

Time: 21st August 2009 6:31pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report
About the Author culebra
Melbourne
#UserID: 2458
Posts: 82
View All culebra's Edible Fruit Trees

Brad says...
there's a few avocado threads, but I just found this excellent WA link
http://www.agric.wa.gov.au/objtwr/imported_assets/content/hort/fn/cp/avocados/bulletin4484.pdf

Information includes:
The Guinness Book of Records lists the avocado as the most nutritious fruit in the world.
Ideally, grow avocado trees in a rich sandy loam. However, they can be grown quite successfully in a range of soil types from light sands through to well-drained clays, provided suitable management techniques are adopted.
The main requirement is that the soil is free draining and of a good depth, at least 1 metre, preferably 2 metres, and there should be good drainage down to at least 1 m.
Soil pH should be in the range of 5.5 to 6.5
Avocado trees are highly sensitive to salts
Boron is a minor element that requires special mention for avocados. Low levels of boron will severely retard the growth of avocado trees and affect fruit set.

Pictures - Click to enlarge
View Image
Picture: 1 View Image
Picture: 2

Time: 3rd January 2010 3:01pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report
Original Post was last edited: 3rd January 2010 3:04pm

About the Author Brad2
Como, Perth
#UserID: 2323
Posts: 762
View All Brad2's Edible Fruit Trees

Rev says...
Try reed

its a low tree, so wind avoiding.
Ive seen it do well in Adelaide - which bakes just like WA but is colder in winter

itd need to be on a lime tolerant rootstock
which i think is ...
Zutano




Time: 8th July 2010 6:41am

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author Rev
North qld
#UserID: 1806
Posts: 359
View All Rev 's Edible Fruit Trees

Jason says...
Reed is normally one of the tallest Avocados but I guess it's not always the case

Time: 10th July 2010 3:08pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author Jason10
Portland, Vic
#UserID: 3853
Posts: 218
View All Jason10's Edible Fruit Trees

Rev says...
Possibly im mistaken then.
Either way it does well in Adelaide and the trees i saw there were low, maybe pruned, as is popularly done

glowinskis table 346-348 indicates these avras as low and spreading

Fuerte "Very spreading indeed; can grow to 10m wide while 5 m tall"

Reed "small tree somewhat weeping"

Wurtz "small compact and weeping"

Rincon "Small low spreading tree"


Time: 10th July 2010 3:41pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author Rev
North qld
#UserID: 1806
Posts: 359
View All Rev 's Edible Fruit Trees

Jason says...
On avocado source where all the commercial growers and researchers hang out Reed is always described as 10 feet wide and 20-25 feet tall. But regardless of it's shape it will do well in Adelaide and anywhere else along the South Coast, all the Type A Guatemalan trees do well along there. The Description of Fuerte Wurtz and Rincon are all correct in Glowinski's book though. I have all those with enough years on them to confirm that, The Reed's I have aren't old enough to tell yet but I'm sure they will go straight up. Fuerte's allways end up looking just like the original Fuerte in Atlixco and that is/was (I couldn't find it when I looked for it) a very wide tree

Time: 10th July 2010 5:29pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author Jason10
Portland, Vic
#UserID: 3853
Posts: 218
View All Jason10's Edible Fruit Trees

Rev says...
thanks!
Avocado source hey..hmm new people to pester ;) is it an open forum? can i access whats been written. I love avos, especially at the margins

Time: 10th July 2010 5:48pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author Rev
North qld
#UserID: 1806
Posts: 359
View All Rev 's Edible Fruit Trees

Jason says...
It's not very active right now but there's a huge amount on info in both the forum and mostly the research pdf's they host

http://www.avocadosource.com/

Time: 10th July 2010 6:17pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author Jason10
Portland, Vic
#UserID: 3853
Posts: 218
View All Jason10's Edible Fruit Trees

Rev says...
many thanks

Time: 10th July 2010 7:25pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author Rev
North qld
#UserID: 1806
Posts: 359
View All Rev 's Edible Fruit Trees

Rev says...
Friends of mine on the atherton tablelands have a cluster of trees that look like theyve sprung out of a compost heap 15 years ago and grown to become a forest!
They are tall and upright. straight trunk
fruit is reed sized and shaped but with the skin of hass.
they are productive trees and the fruits are acceptable. By that i mean they are wel within the parameters of the quality ive found in Fuerte or sharwill in the shops.

so yes..it happens
The avo has been domesticated for 7000 years, longer than Maize, and until recently its been seed grown.
if you have room always plant seeds. not that you have a choice , they always seem to grow themselves out of chook runs and compost heaps!

Time: 10th July 2010 7:33pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author Rev
North qld
#UserID: 1806
Posts: 359
View All Rev 's Edible Fruit Trees