Do you have an avocado tree in your garden? If you're wondering how to get your avocado tree to flower, don't worry. To help you, we did thorough research to find the best way to achieve it.
The avocado tree will show flowers when you provide the essential nutrients and care. Perform these simple yet effective techniques to promote flowering for your avocado tree:
- Apply the suitable type and amount of fertilizer.
- Schedule regular watering.
- Trim the root zone.
- Protect it from freezing.
In this post, we have a detailed discussion of avocado trees. Keep reading to learn more as we explore its growth, primary care, flowering, and ideal companion plants.
How To Get Flowers On My Avocado Tree?
In this section, you will know the specific things to do to encourage flowering.
Apply The Suitable Fertilizer
Identical to other plants, feeding the avocado with fertilizer will satisfy nutrient requirements for the soil. The citrus mix type is compatible with this fruit tree, even though it is not from the same family of lemons. It is because of the need for acidity.
Follow the product's instructions for the right amount. Nonetheless, apply it once in the spring, summer, and fall months while it is young. Then, skip it during late autumn.
Upon maturity, measure the soil's pH level with a test kit. It helps monitor whether it is in the optimal condition. Otherwise, it calls for fertilizing.
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Schedule Regular Watering
Soak the soil with water two to three times per week. However, reduce it to weekly during deep watering. The average volume for mature trees is 1 to 2 gallons.
Trim The Root Zone
Promote blooming by root pruning. The decrease in the feeder roots will allow for new growth.
Protect It From The Freeze
Most species of avocado cannot withstand freeze. Thus, you must prevent its parts from burns and damage during extreme cold. Here are some ways to protect it.
- Place reusable plant sheets on top and girth.
- Spray chemicals designed for countering frost.
- Ensure good air drainage
- Water before the frost.
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What Is An Avocado Tree?
Avocado or Persea Americana is an evergreen tree widespread in subtropical and tropical places such as Mexico and Central America. The major commercial producers of avocados in the US come from San Diego, California.
The oval-shaped fruits with leather skin are rich in vitamins and good fat. The Aztecs called these crops the "fertility vegetables" because of their effects. In contrast, its leaves are not safe for animal consumption.
How Many Types Of Avocados Are There?
Across the globe, there are at least 500 types of avocados. They vary in size, texture, shape, development, and nutrient value. Besides these factors, you will notice the distinction when you taste them, ranging from mild to bitter flavor.
Avocados have primary categories based on location: Mexican, Guatemalan, and West Indian. Meanwhile, here are the common varieties of this tree with different bearing seasons.
- Bacon
- Donnie
- Fuerte
- Gwen
- Hass
- Jim
- Lamb Hass
- Mexicola
- Reed
- Pinkerton
- Zutano
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What Does An Avocado Tree Look Like?
Each variety has unique physical qualities. Despite the differences, look for these parts of an avocado tree to know its general appearance.
Flowers
Yellow-green blossoms in panicles do not have "true" petals. They are visible during winter and springtime.
Fruits
People call it avocado or alligator pear because of the fruit's shape and thick, coarse skin, whereas botanists classify avocado as a berry.
The average size of a single, large fruit ranges from 100 to 1000 grams. Even after you pick the fruits from this tree, they will still ripen for a few days, making them climacteric.
Their skin is green, black, or violet when they mature, depending on their species. They also offer a nutty flavor and butter-like texture to salads or desserts.
Seed
You can find its large mono-seed at the center of the fruit flesh. Its diameter measures 3 to 5 centimeters with two cotyledons or leaves of an embryo.
Guidelines To Grow Avocado Trees
Propagation methods for this plant include grafting a rootstock and sowing a pit or seed. Regardless of the approach, remember to meet these brief guidelines for taking care of avocado trees.
- Sowing season: spring and summer
- Maturation period: 5 to 20 years from seed; 3 to 4 years from a sapling
- Average height and spread: 60 feet high and 30 feet wide
- Average lifespan: at least 100 years
- Soil condition: well-drained loam or sand that is acidic to neutral
- Light exposure: full to partial sun
- Water needs: average
- Spacing: 30 feet for multiple planting
- USDA hardiness zones: 9 to 11
Similarly, watch out for these common problems you might experience when conditions are poor: insect infestation, bacterial canker, root rot, sun blotch, and Verticillium fungi, to name a few.
Why Is My Avocado Tree Not Flowering?
Avocados are vulnerable to alternate bearing cycles. It means after the large fruit harvest, off-crop or limited yield follows. The minimal or absence of fruits allows the tree to rest from the previous stress on its branches. You can expect this concern to happen when shoots are fewer.
Another factor to consider is the age of your avocado tree. It takes a few years before the young ones develop and produce flowers. Likewise, check whether pollination occurs and the vegetation receives essential care.
It is time to replant if you have a 10-year-old tree that never flowered. Opt for grafted avocado over the seed because it has a shorter growth timeline.
Watch this clip to know more about the advantages of grafted avocados.
Do Avocado Flowers Become Fruits?
Not all blossoms will turn into avocado fruits, despite mass flowering. A bunch of flowers will attract pollinators like honey bees and eventually drop. The others will become edible crops.
Are There Female And Male Avocado Trees?
All avocado trees have female and male flower parts. For this reason, it can self-pollinate. However, there is another classification based on the opening time of blossoms: type A and type B. The opening time lasts two hours, and the ideal temperature (over 70 degrees Fahrenheit) triggers it.
Type A is female every morning and male in the afternoon. The Duke, Gwen, Hass, and Reed belong to this kind. In contrast, type B is the opposite. It includes Jim, Stewart, and Sir Prize.
Do I Need Two Avocado Trees To Get Fruit?
A single avocado tree can produce fruit. However, two trees are better for a higher yield. Orchards practice this cross-pollination technique to accommodate the high demands of people for avocados worldwide.
Likewise, it is handy for trees having difficulties getting fruit. Thus, growers even raise A and B flower types in one hole.
What Month Do Avocado Trees Bear Fruit?
In a year, this evergreen can produce a large harvest. However, the species and state of your plant determine the bearing months.
The first type that bears fruits is the Mexican between June and October. Anticipate the mature West Indian avocados from May until September. Meanwhile, Guatemalan avocados are ideal for fruit picking from September to January.
Will A Potted Avocado Tree Produce Fruits?
The avocado tree has dwarf varieties: the Wurtz (Little Cado) and the Condo. They are perfect potted houseplants because they only reach around 10 feet high when maintained.
Avocados in containers will bear fruits. However, they will require a longer duration and the taste may be blander than in-ground plants. Hence, you act as the manual pollinator. Shake the dwarf greeneries to distribute the pollen grains in other areas. It will make up for the lack of insects inside the house.
How To Store Your Avocados?
The method for keeping your avocados will depend on their condition. Room temperature storage is ideal for unripe fruit. Wait for at least five days before you can enjoy it.
However, if you have a surplus of uncut and ripe ones, place them in the fridge to prolong their freshness for up to three days. Remember, the limited airflow will delay the oxidation process and spoilage.
What Fruit Makes Avocado Ripen Faster?
Inside a paper bag, put your avocados with another fruit such as an apple, banana, kiwi, pear, or plums. After fold-sealing, the other crop emits ethylene gas, boosting the ripening. Nonetheless, you can trap the avocado alone.
How To Know If An Avocado Is Ripe?
Do these three steps to know if the avocados are ready to eat or mash.
- See the color. The best skin color is black or dark green.
- Press the portion without the stem lightly. You should feel the subtle softness at the bottom.
- Feel the skin. The ripe ones have an uneven texture.
What To Plant Under Avocado Trees?
Consider growing these herbs and crops alongside your avocado trees. They serve vital functions: attracting insect pollinators, improving soil quality, and repelling pests.
- Banana
- Basil
- Borage
- Comfrey
- Coriander
- Garlic
- Lavender
- Onions
- Pumpkins
- Rosemary
- Strawberries
- Sweet potatoes
Final Thoughts
To have bountiful flowering, fertilize and water your avocado tree regularly. Likewise, don't forget to trim the root for re-growth and cover it during cold months. Aside from blossoming, practicing these strategies will make your plant last longer and free from diseases.
If you enjoyed this post, explore these related articles on other fruit trees:
How Much Fertilizer Should You Use For Fruit Trees?
When And How To Prune Fruit Trees?
What Is The Best Time To Graft Fruit Trees?
