Avocado trees

[megman]

Anybody had any experience growing an avocado tree indoors?

I started one and now its over 3' tall and branched out over 4' wide.

I'll post a pic once I find my camera, which could be a chore as I recently moved.

[megman]

Here's a pic as promised. I'm not sure of the variety, but the avocado was the size of a mango and the seed the size of a regular mexican avocado.

I started rooting this in a jar of water back in May.

[SETIsLady]

Megman, I can't help you I only know how to make a killer avocado salad !

[megman]

It occurred to me that I inadvertently killed 2 birds with one stone in that pic.

I promised Linnea a pic of my pirate flag and there it is in the background.

[Joolz]

Hey megman! That's a great avocado tree! I've grown them indoors from pits before, but never had one get that big. Very nice.

We have two growing outdoors now (I just covered them up today in the hope of protecting them -- we're under a highly unusual winter storm warning right now -- hope they make it!). One is a Hass and the other is a Stewart for good pollination.

It's my understanding that, in order to actually get fruit from an avocado tree, it must be grafted, and you need at least two for proper pollination. So, the ones grown from avocado pits from store-bought avocados will be sterile, not fruit-bearing. I don't mean to discourage you, but realistically, don't expect to get fruit from it. It is an awesome ornamental houseplant, though, and is well worth growing for that aspect.

It is definitely possible to grow them indoors and get fruit from them if you have the room, but as I said, you'll need two, and you'll need to buy seedlings that have been grafted.

Don't know if that info was anything like what you were asking for, but it's what I know about them.

[megman]

Thanks Joolz.

I don't ever expect to get fruit from this. From what I can gather the avocado was a Monroe, and the fruit is between 1 to 1 1/2 lbs. The tree gets to 30' x 20'.

I just started it as a curiosity and its grown waaaaay beyond expectations.

As a side note, I also have a ginger plant growing.

[Joolz]

Well, it's beautiful. You've done a really great job with it. As long as you keep it in a fairly smallish pot, it shouldn't get overwhelmingly huge in your house, either. Its growth will be limited by its environment. Your tree looks very happy.

[rumike]

I don't know why, but I love this picture!

[Bobbi Snow]

Anybody had any experience growing an avocado tree indoors?

I started one and now its over 3' tall and branched out over 4' wide.

I'll post a pic once I find my camera, which could be a chore as I recently moved.

My housekeeper's sister, in El Salvador, sent some avocados from her yard trees, home with her. (Don't ask me how she got them thru Customs; I don't want to know!) These were the LARGEST avocados I've ever seen... and absolutely the creamiest, best-tasting I've ever eaten. Rod tossed his seed out (it was three times the size of any Hass avocado), but I've saved mine. I want to see if I can get it to sprout. Megman, HOW do you start them in water? And, if I grew one from a large avocado bought at our local farm (where we buy our produce), do you think growing them side-by-side they would pollinate each other?

[rumike]

And, if I grew one from a large avocado bought at our local farm (where we buy our produce), do you think growing them side-by-side they would pollinate each other?

Not unless you mind having all those bees in your house.

http://www.botgard.ucla.edu/html/botany ... index.html

http://gears.tucson.ars.ag.gov/book/chap5/avocado.html

[Bobbi Snow]

Thanks, rumlike... guess I can't raise bees in the house; they'd sting all of us!

[Joolz]

Yeah, you'd have to hand-pollinate to get fruits to set on indoor plants, and that would be a lot of trouble to do.

You could grow avocados outside in your climate though, Bobbi, if you have room for them.

Say a prayer/send some good energy for my avocado trees, y'all! And my citrus, too! But the avocados hate the cold even more. We're getting temps in the mid-twenties for two or three nights, and that's not good for our trees. It's highly unusual here, too.

[Joolz]

Here are a couple more links that explain how to grow an avocado tree from seed, like megman did. If you're still interested in trying it, Bobbi, maybe these links will be of use:

Growing an Avocado Tree From a Seed

About Avocados, Growing Your Own Tree

[megman]

Thanks again Joolz. I really didn't do anything except sprout it and water it, but it is a happy plant.

Bobbi, the links Joolz provided show exactly how I got this going. Mine too was huge as I described further up. It actually took almost 6 weeks if I recall for the tap root to start.

I waited until the tap root hit the bottom of the mason jar and a tiny sprout appeared in the split on top (the top will shrivel and crack even in water) before I planted it.

It would probably be just as happy and quicker if you potted it as soon as the tap root showed.

For the first 3 months I had it in a 6" pot. It grew very quickly and was root-bound in no time.

[Cherry Kelly]

Looks like it is growing just fine -- only thing I would suggest is sunlight especially this time of year.

Do you fertilize it at all?

My crazy banana bushes (not trees - no hard bark on bananas) are growing like crazy even after being cut down to nubbins before bringing roots indoors. Several leaves on them and not sure what I will do with them as I really did not want them growing....oh well. Just move them to tallest ceiling area and let them go and grow...