The Basics
Planting an avocado tree is a relatively easy job but knowing when to plant it outside–and also when to take it back inside–can be tricky. To help soon-to-be avocado tree owners make the right move, here’s what to keep in mind when deciding when to transplant it outside.
Avocado trees are a perfect choice for many backyard vegetable gardens. They’re evergreen, and they bear fruit after they’ve been growing outside for four years. However, they’re not winter-hardy plants, so they won’t survive freezing temperatures.
When planting an avocado tree, you’ll want to make sure the temperature will stay above 40 degrees Fahrenheit for the first two years. An avocado tree will usually thrive best when planted in warm soil and air. You’ll also want to protect the tree from strong winds that can break its branches. This can be done with a shelter such as a wall, hedge, or fence.
When deciding when to put the tree outside, it helps to know what type of avocado tree it is. Most likely, it’s either a hanging or a bush type. Hanging avocado trees need a support structure that must be in place for the first two years, since it will take time for the support system to establish itself into the soil. A bush type can be planted directly into the ground, but still requires some protection from the elements.
No matter what type of tree you have, it’s important to start off slow and give the tree plenty of time to settle into its new environment. If you want to put the tree outside in the summer months, be sure to start by giving it short doses of outdoor time. Start by leaving it outside for a few hours during the day and then build up to longer periods as the weeks go by. That way, it’ll be well acclimated to outdoor temperatures and won’t be a shock to the system when it needs to spend the whole summer outdoors.
Climate Considerations
When deciding when to put an avocado tree outside, it’s important to also consider your climate and the temperature fluctuations it may experience throughout the year. If you live in an area that experiences extreme temperatures, your avocado tree may not survive outside during the winter months.
In colder climates, you may want to keep the tree indoors during the winter months and only bring it outside in the late spring and the summer months. If the temperature outside gets below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, you’ll want to bring the tree inside right away, as chilly weather can cause damage to the tree’s branches and leaves.
On the other hand, if you live in a climate that doesn’t experience extremely cold temperatures, you can leave your tree outside year-round and enjoy its fruit as soon as it begins to produce. However, you will still want to provide some basic protection. Utilize a portable overhead shelter, such as a shade tent, to provide canopy-style protection from the sun, wind, and rain.
Finally, don’t forget to check the soil around your tree for moisture levels. Avocado trees need slightly moist soil that doesn’t get flooded for long periods of time, so it’s important to monitor the moisture level in the top inch of soil near the trunk.
Fertilization
When deciding when to put your avocado tree outside, it’s important to note that you’ll need to fertilize it as it starts to grow. Fertilizer provides essential nutrients that help a tree thrive, so you’ll want to give your tree fertilizer regularly to ensure it gets enough of these nutrients.
Most avocado trees need about three to four applications of fertilizer each year. You can usually buy the fertilizer at your local garden store, and the store staff can help you find the right kind for your tree. A good rule of thumb is to use a fertilizer with a 5-10-5 NPK ratio.
When applying fertilizer, you’ll want to use it sparingly. Avocado trees don’t like to be over fertilized, and too much fertilizer can damage the soil and, in turn, the tree. You’ll also want to water your tree well after fertilizing, as “flushing” the soil helps ensure that the fertilizer doesn’t get to the roots.
Finally, mind the season when applying fertilizer. For example, avocado trees should be fertilized more often during the summer months, as they are actively growing and will benefit from more food. On the other hand, during fall and winter months—when the tree isn’t as active—you can fertilize far less often.
Pest and Disease Control
When deciding when to put your avocado tree outside, it’s also important to consider the potential for pests and diseases. Avocado trees can suffer from a variety of pest infestations, such as spider mites, mealybugs, thrips, and scale. All of these pests can have a big impact on the tree’s health and future fruit production, so you’ll want to take steps to prevent and control them.
The best way to protect your avocado tree from these pests is to set up an integrated pest management system. This involves using a combination of methods to detect, monitor, and control pests, such as physical barriers, insect traps, and natural predators. Additionally, regularly monitoring the tree for signs of pest infestation can help you catch problems early and take steps to control them quickly.
In addition to pests, avocado trees can also suffer from a variety of fungal and bacterial diseases. Common avocado diseases include leaf spot, root rot, and blight. To protect your tree from these diseases, you’ll want to ensure that it gets plenty of sunlight, that it’s fertilized regularly, and that the soil around it drains well. Additionally, it’s important to promptly remove any diseased branches, leaves, or fruits, so that the disease doesn’t spread further.
Watering Requirements
Avocado trees need lots of water, as they require consistently moist soil in order to produce fruit. However, they don’t like soaking wet soils, as this can lead to root rot. Therefore, it’s important to monitor the soil’s moisture content and make sure it never gets too dry or too wet.
When deciding when to put your avocado tree outside, be sure to factor in its watering requirements. That way, you’ll know that the tree is getting adequate water and won’t suffer from drought stress. As a general rule, avocado trees need about one inch of water each week, either from rainfall or supplemental irrigation. Increase the amount slightly in warmer summer months and decrease it slightly in colder winter months.
It’s also important to water avocado trees deeply and slowly. Deep watering encourages deep root growth, which helps the tree become more drought-tolerant. Additionally, setting up a drip irrigation system or an underground watering system can help ensure that the tree gets the right amount of water.
Harvesting
Finally, when it comes to deciding when to put an avocado tree outside, it’s important to know when to harvest the fruit. Unlike other fruits which can be harvested as soon as they’re ripe, avocado fruits need to mature and ripen off the tree in order for the flavor and texture to be optimal. For this reason, it’s best to wait until the fruit is almost fully grown before harvesting it.
Avocado fruits mature slowly, so it’s important to be patient and wait until they’re ready. You’ll know they’re ripe when they’re dark green in color and their flesh yields slightly to a gentle squeeze. Once the fruits are ripe, you can harvest them by clipping their stems with a pair of garden scissors.
Finally, it’s also important to keep in mind that avocado fruits don’t all mature and ripen at the same time. That means you’ll likely need to make multiple trips to the tree to harvest all the ripe fruits.
Storage
Once you’ve harvested the ripe avocado fruits, the next step is to store them properly. Avocado fruits can be stored for several weeks at a time in a cool, dry place. You can also store them in the refrigerator to prolong their shelf-life, although this will cause the fruits to ripen more slowly.
If you want to speed up the ripening process, you can place the avocados in a brown paper bag together with an apple. The apple releases a gas that helps the avocados ripen more quickly. Additionally, you can also wrap them loosely in a newspaper and store them in a cool, dark spot.
No matter how you choose to store them, it’s important to remember to check your avocados regularly. As avocado fruits ripen, they can turn brown or mushy if they’re not used promptly.
