How Many Years Does Avocado Tree To Bear Fruit

Growth Habits

Avocado tree generally starts to bear fruit about three to four years after planting, but trees can literally take decades to reach peak productivity. Avocado farming is a long-term investment that requires patience, as a 55-year-old tree can have a thousand fruits.
For large, mature trees, the rise time from becoming pollinated to having a ripe fruit varies from 6 to 8 months. The season for avocado can be affected by the type of tree and the climate, though avocado season normally lasts from about May to September.

Environmental Factors

The environment is a large factor in the growth of avocado trees and the bearing of fruit. It takes six months in a growth cycle, with cool winter nights and warm summer days. Other factors such as soil type, water and fertilizer are also important.
The tree needs a minimum of six sun hours per day and with water they should be evenly distributed. Excessive or overly infrequent fertilizer can lead the fruit to be of smaller size, so the right amount of fertilizer and micro-nutrients should be given at the right time of the year to maximize fruit production.

Flowering

Avocado trees produce either sterile or fertile flowers, but only fertile flowers can turn out to be fruit after pollination. The presence of sterile flowers affects the proportion of the flower’s variety, so knowing the tree’s fertility can maximize fruit bearing.
Also, the presence of pollination is necessary for the fruit to grow, and the pollination process can happen with the help of bees, wind and birds; but when depending on bees, the presence of flowers should be big enough.

Growth Stages

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Avocados are formed by a process that takes ten months, with different stages going through winter and summer. In the first stage, the flower opens up and fertilization occurs. For the second stage, the fruit starts to grow and the seed grows bigger as well.
The third stage consists in increasing the green color of the fruit and the fourth is when the skin becomes thicker. The fifth stage is when the fruit is approaching its peak color. The sixth and seventh stages occur when the fruit is ready to be harvested.

Harvesting

Harvesting avocado is a difficult process and should be left to the professional. Normally, ready-to-harvest avocados have a slightly sunken surface on the fruit’s shoulders that indicates that the best time for harvesting has arrived.
But in other cases, there are varieties of avocados that can be picked when the fruit is still green. These types of avocado require longer ripening time but their flesh will be firmer and easier to handle.

Diseases

Many disease can compromise the fruit bearing of the avocado tree. One of the most common diseases is the Phytophthora, which produces a blight and root rot on the avocado tree. This fungus can be present in the soil and, once the tree starts rotting, it becomes difficult to heal.
Prolonged drought also can be harmful to the fruit bearing of the tree, as well as many insects such as the avocado lace bug, that can attack the tree’s leaves and produce a severe yellow necrotic mottling.

Care

When properly cared for, an avocado tree can bear fruit for many years and stay productive through the decades. Knowing what type of tree, soil and climate are factors to consider so the best care can be given.
Keeping the tree healthy with appropriate amounts of water, organic fertilizer and eliminating diseases are the right steps to bear fruitful fruits. In all the stages of growth, the right care is the key factor to keep the tree productive.

Environmentally Friendly Farming

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When caring for an avocado tree, being mindful of the environment is a key factor to consider. Enhancing natural pollination by supplying bees with flower buds can be a great way to avoid the need of pesticides or other chemical compounds, producing a healthier and more delicious fruit.
Organic fertilizer can also be used to increase the soil’s nutrient content in an ecological way. Also, selecting the right varieties of trees that work with the climate and terrain can increase fruit production and help the environment.

Propagation

Propagating an avocado tree can be done in a couple of ways, either by cutting propagation or seed propagation. The cutting propagation requires a piece from a mature tree, which must be rooted; after some time the cutting is ready to be planted outside.
Seed propagation is a simple practice by which a seed that has been taken out of the fruit is placed in water and the process of germination start. When the seed sprouts and the roots emerge, the seed is ready to be planted in a pot. After several months, the trees can be transplanted.

Tastes

The taste of avocados is one of its main features, as its creamy texture, accompanied by its unique flavor, sets it apart from other fruits. The textures and flavors are directly related to the way the tree has been taken care of, enhancing or worsening its quality.
Avocados can taste sweet, nutty, nutty-smokey, citrusy and fatty, depending on the variety. Generally, mature trees produce more enjoyable avocados when it comes to taste, as their flavor is more intense and rich.

Maintenance

Maintaining an avocado tree over the years is a long process, but with the right care, the tree can keep producing tasty avocados for many years. Keeping the tree free of disease, providing enough water and the right amount of fertilizer are the main practices to keep the tree alive and in good condition.
In cases when the tree is attacked by insects, using insecticides should be a last resort to avoid damaging the tree. The key is to identify what type of bug is causing the damage and control it without overusing insecticides.

rootstock

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The rootstock of an avocado tree is an important piece for the tree’s health and for bearing fruit. When planting a tree in an area that is not suitable for its growth, rootstock should be chosen carefully, selecting one adapted to the climate, terrain and soil.
Different traities can be selected in the rootstock, such as disease resistance or cold tolerance. When selecting the right rootstock, the location and type of tree should be considered, as well as the climate and weather conditions.

Soil

The soil where the avocado tree is planted is a key factor for the tree to grow and bear fruit. For example, in an acidic soil, plants take longer to develop, while in a compost enriched soil, fertility can be increased.
Avocado trees prefer soils that can hold some amount of water, but that also drain the excess water away. Depending on the climate, organic compost can be used, as well as other fertilizers, to increase the soil’s content of nutrients and minerals.

Pruning

Heavy pruning of avocado trees should be avoided, as this can interrupt the flow of development of the tree and affect its fruit bearing abilities. Pruning can be done in terms of sanitation, removing dead and diseased branches to promote a healthier, more efficient growth.
The best season for pruning is during winter, when the tree is still and most of the leaves have been shed. Pruning should be carefully done and the excess wood should be removed and discarded, as it can attract parasites.

Varieties

When talking about avocado tree varieties, there are hundreds of them, with different sizes, shapes and textures. There are varieties that are thicker and smoother and others that are more bumpy and rough.
The type, size, texture and flavor of the fruit depend on the variety, climate and soil. Knowing what type of variety works best for where the tree is planted, can help improve the tree’s productivity as well as the quality of the fruits.