Q&A for How to Grow Avocados

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Does the avocado plant need a lot of sun?

Andrew Carberry, MPH
Food Systems Expert
Andrew Carberry is a Food Systems Expert and the Senior Program Associate at the Wallace Center at Winrock International in Little Rock, Arkansas. He has worked in food systems since 2008 and has experience working on farm-to-school projects, food safety programs, and working with local and state coalitions in Arkansas. He is a graduate of the College of William and Mary and holds a Masters degree in public health and nutrition from the University of Tennessee.

Andrew Carberry, MPH

Food Systems Expert

Expert Answer

Yes, avocado trees do best in full sunlight (at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day).

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Question

How far apart should I plant my avocado trees?

Andrew Carberry, MPH
Food Systems Expert
Andrew Carberry is a Food Systems Expert and the Senior Program Associate at the Wallace Center at Winrock International in Little Rock, Arkansas. He has worked in food systems since 2008 and has experience working on farm-to-school projects, food safety programs, and working with local and state coalitions in Arkansas. He is a graduate of the College of William and Mary and holds a Masters degree in public health and nutrition from the University of Tennessee.

Andrew Carberry, MPH

Food Systems Expert

Expert Answer

Avocados should be spaced 15-20 feet apart.

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Question

Can you still prune the avocado plant when it gets over 2 feet tall?

René Hoenen

Community Answer

Yes. Leave at least 3 leaves on the branch for recovery and photosynthesis.

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Question

If I have mine planted already and it is about 6 inches high, can I still cut the plant down to 3 inches?

Community Answer

Certainly! Just make sure it's getting enough sun so that its new leaves will have enough energy to grow nice and big.

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Question

All my avocado's leaves fell off. What does this mean?

Community Answer

It might be dying. Try to change the amount of water or sunlight it gets. It might also be outgrowing its pot.

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Question

How much of the pit needs to be buried and how much exposed?

Community Answer

I bury the whole pit if it is a fresh one, but I always carefully remove the outer brown thin skin on the pit first before planting. Plant point side up in regular potting soil, and keep the soil moist but not wet. I have grown more than 20 this way with great success. The most important part is keeping it warm and in a sunny place. Always use a small planting pot that you have washed thoroughly to sterilize.

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Question

Can I use regular dirt mixed with potting soil to plant an avocado seed?

Community Answer

I have used a mix of regular soil and potting mix with great success. The most important part is that the soil retains moisture well. Add a bit of shredded coconut husk or peat moss to the mix to accomplish this.

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Question

My avocado tree is about 3 years old and I cut it only once. It's about 1.5 meters high and has a very thin stem. I want the stem to thicken, is pruning it to 1 meter a good idea?

Community Answer

That is a good idea if your plant is 100% healthy. If it's not healthy, wait until it is before cutting.

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Can I grow avocados in Orford, Tasmania?

Mzm555

Top Answerer

Theoretically, yes. However, for colder regions of Tasmania, you may need to grow a cold hardy variety of avocado, e.g. bacon.

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Question

How long can a tree stay in a pot?

Community Answer

That is your decision. If you feel it is getting too big to be in the pot, then move it.

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Question

Can I plant two or more young avocado plants in one big pot? I plan on having them as interior plants, so I don't expect for them to give fruit or become too big. I just want a fuller look.

Community Answer

No. They should be at least 15-20 feet apart.

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Question

I cut back the stems on four of my avocado plants when they were 6 inches tall, but none of them have grown any taller or produced leaves again. What should I do?

Community Answer

Make a small sliver on the trunk to see if its still living, add it into new pot with more nutrient rich soil.

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Question

If I cut the avocado pit while taking it out, will it still grow?

Community Answer

Yes, it will still grow. Because it is the inner seed that grows, cuts usually don’t have much effect on growth.

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Question

What can I do to help my young avocado plant (about 1 yr old) that was over-exposed to direct sunlight and now has brown leaves?

Community Answer

Water it frequently until newer leaves appear. Trim off any brown leaves, and cut down an inch from the top.

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Question

Can I keep avocado seeds in the refrigerator until I'm ready to plant them? How long can I keep them in there?

Community Answer

Yes. If you keep them refrigerated with a little bit of water, they can last a few weeks.

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Question

What does the flower look like? Does it need to be pollinated, and can the pollination be done by hand?

Community Answer

The flower looks yellowish white. To produce fruit it needs to be pollinated. It can be done by hand. Take a Q-tip and rub the pollen off of one flower, then apply it to another. You can also do some research on plants that self pollinate.

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Question

What is wrong with my small avocado seedling if it only has three healthy leaves at the top and the others have wilted and fallen off?

Community Answer

It's probably not in a good habitat, Try planting it in a more nutritious soil and water more often. Every other day would be fine.

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Question

Why did the main plant stop growing after I cut it back, and instead grow an offshoot branch that is longer than the original stem?

Community Answer

That is not usual. Cut back the offshoot branch about 1-2 inches, until another offshoot appears or until the stem becomes longer.

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Question

What happens if I remove the seed cover before starting?

Community Answer

It will speed up the process by a lot. It will take approximately a week for the seed to split and the root to start coming out.

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Question

I have a brand new avocado plant. The two original leaves turned brown after I moved it outside for one day. Do you think it will continue to grow?

Community Answer

You may have just exposed the plant too quickly to the outdoors. When I first started putting the trees outside, I would only leave them for an hour or two to avoid shocking the plant. Use bottled water and try to get it happy again inside before placing it outside and try to do so incrementally.

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Question

When I transfer my avocado plant from the pot to the ground, do I leave the top of the pit exposed?

Community Answer

It is optional. Most people cover it, though.

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Question

What does it mean if my avocado seed is starting to crack?

Chloe Rowlands-Singh

Community Answer

That is normal and it means that your seed is going to start germinating through the crack.

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Question

Would there be complications if i skip the budding step? As far as I'm aware there are no healthy full sized avocado trees in my area so I won't be able to take a bud.

Chloe Rowlands-Singh

Community Answer

It shouldn't hurt to skip the budding step. yYur avocado tree might just take longer to bear fruit though.

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Question

Where should I prune my avocados?

Chloe Rowlands-Singh

Community Answer

Once your avocado plant gets to be a foot tall, prune it down to half its height so that when it grows back, there will be more branches.

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Question

What can I do if my avocado plant is very tall, but still as thin as my fingers? Could this be because it lacks natural sunlight or potting?

Community Answer

If you cut down on the size of the plant, it will thicken the stem. If you decide to do this, make sure your tree is 100% healthy first.

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