Avocado Tree

My Avocado tree is quite large (5 meters) and really got beat up by last years typhoon, so I trimmed it down quite a bit; however, it bounced back and is actually flowering this year. This tree is roughly seven years old and flowering for the first time. I am not sure if it will produce Avocado, but I sprayed the flowers with honey water and look forward to seeing if it actually produces fruit. 

Avocado Tree

I started this Avocado tree from seed in 2018. A couple years ago it was doing well, but suddenly started to die; therefore, I trimmed it and feed it well. Last year it was in pretty poor condition, but it bounced back and recovered beautifully. Avocado tress grown from seed generally take 8-15 years before they start to produce fruit, so I just need to be patient. 

Corner Garden

The plants in this corner garden need to be trimmed. They are starting to cover one another and there is too much red.

This corner garden is just messy. I need to work on it soon.

This Biwa (Loquat) tree is doing so well considering the size of the pot. Biwa are now producing fruit, but this tree is still young and hope I get fruit next year or the year after. I have a few trees spotted around my property.

I threw Nasturtium seeds in this planter last year, because it was difficult to attract pollinators to this Avocado tree when it was flowering. I've since trimmed the tree, but it is re-growing and hope I will have better luck next year.

Avocado Tree

The Avocado tree in the back of my house is doing great with a lot of new growth. It is still young, but I'm hoping it gets through this year's typhoon season with little damage and flowers next year.

Shikuwasa and Avocado Trees

I planted a few Shikuwasa seeds last November. I have one tree on my second floor balcony that I started in a large planter, but just got around to transplanting this one yesterday (left planter). The plant on the right is an Avocado tree. You can see a picture of this tree on the table from my Featured Post "My Balcony Garden". It has really grown.

Avocado Tree

Had a nice surprise today when I was trimming the Red Cucumber (Moi) plants in the front of the house. I found an Avocado tree. I'll keep it trimmed so it does not overgrow the palm trees.

Avocado Tree (Transplant)

I will walk you through how I transplant my Avocado trees. Now I intend to keep this in a pot rather than planting it in the ground, but you can use similar soils and just increase the amount.

 

Just a note for those transplanting a tree in poor soil, like red clay. Okinawa is notorious for it's red clay. In this situation plant your tree on a raised mound. If the primary root grows into the red clay, it will most likely die of root rot.

 

Avocado trees need the following nutrients for healthy growth:

• Nitrogen — for growth and development.
• Potassium — for growth and fruit bearing.
• Boron — growth.
• Zinc — fruit.
• Phosphorous — healthy metabolism.
• Calcium — roots, good structure.
• Magnesium — photosynthesis.
• Sulfur.

 

Well, lets get started...

This is the sapling I've been growing in water for months. It did not start to grow until recently, but when it started to grow it grew quickly. Normally, I cut the tip off when it gets 8 to 10 inches tall to promote more branches, but I waited too long, so I'm transplanting it now before it gets any taller. 

High quality flower and vegetable potting soil. 

Red soil beads. I use this soil to help keep the mix loose. It adds space and helps the roots breath and water drain. 

Fertilizer pellets. These pellets really charge the soil quickly. I will need more Potassium later, but will add more nutrients when I feed the tree, which I will do about every two weeks using liquid fertilize.

• Nitrogen 5
• Phosphate 4
• Potassium 1

Standard potting soil for fill. 

Straw, grass cutting or mulch for bedding. 

Some people use pebbles or some sort of screen at the bottom of their pots, but I typically use mulch, straw or grass cuttings.

I add one third part of each soil, plus throw a handful of fertilizer pellets in the mix. 

Mix well.

Fill the planter halfway. Hold the tree and gently sit the roots on the soil without letting go and slow add soil around the tree. The roots are super sensitive, so it is critical to take your time. 

Water well and place in a location that does not get too much direct sun or wind until the roots settle. I usually sit it inside near a window for a week or so before moving outside.

 

 

 

Avocado Tree

I have Avocado trees growing inside two of my Banana pods. I knew the tree was inside the pod below, but did not plant the one above. I suspect one of my neighbors planted it. Thank you!

My neighbor gave me this Banana tree when it was still in a pot. It looks like they planted the Banana on top an Avocado seed. The Avocado plant was starting to appear when I transplanted the Banana tree and I was not sure it would survive, but it seems to be thriving. You can actually see three branches of the Avocado tree.

Avocado Tree Album

Avacado are easy to grow from seed. Simply take any store bought Avacado and remove the skin surrounding the seed, put three tooth picks in the seed and place in a container of water. Make sure the pointy side is up. If you make a mistake, you can flip it around later. I wait until the stem has leaves and is about 8-10 inches tall before I transplant it to soil, but the roots are very sensitive and I generally loose about 50% of my plants after transplanting.

Avacado can take between 8 and 15 years to produce fruit if grown from a seed. And, because Avacado will cross pollinate you never know what you will get. If you want to get a particular fruit it is best to purchase one from a nursery that has been grafted. A grafted tree will generally produce fruit faster since the root stock used has generally matured.

Avocado trees are pretty and add a nice touch to any room.

I set this Avocado in my yard waiting for it to mature before transplanting it into the ground, but it rooting.

This is the plant from the above picture a year later. The top was broken off during a typhoon, but it is doing well. This tree is roughly 4 years old. Most of it's growth occurred in the past two years after it rooted in the ground.