Growing avocado trees in Florida is a fairly easy task, with enough space and a warm environment. The origin of guacamole, avocados are chock full of healthy fat and essential minerals, and quite versatile in the kitchen.
| Avocado | Persea americana |
| Season (FL) | Fruits in summer |
| Soil type | Well-drained |
| Light | Full sun |
| Water | Moderate |
| Mature plant size | 30-65’ tall |
| Harvest in | 3-7 years after planting |
Growing avocados in Florida
Avocados are abundant in Central America and the majority of avocados in the USA are grown in California. The avocado likes a subtropical climate, warm and humid.
Avocado trees are bisexual, so you will not need more than one tree to produce fruit. However, two or more are recommended if there are not other avocado trees in your neighborhood.
Recommended varieties for Florida
Avocados will not tolerate cold very well, and generally grow best in the southeast and southwest coastal areas. Based on cold tolerance, the following can be used as a planting guide.
North Florida:
- ‘Tonnage’
- ‘Taylor’
- ‘Lula’
- ‘Kampong’
- ‘Meya’
- ‘Brookslate’
Central Florida:
- ‘Beta’
- ‘Choquette’
- ‘Loretta’
- ‘Booth 8’
- ‘Hall’
- ‘Monroe’
- ‘Reed’
South Florida:
- ‘Donnie’
- ‘Dupuis’
- ‘Simmonds’
- ‘Pollock’
- ‘Nadir’
- ‘Hardee’
- ‘Waldin’
When to plant avocado trees in Florida
Season doesn’t matter so much with avocados, as they should start indoors in a cup of water until rooting and sprouting. This could take many weeks or months, and it could be a year before the seedling is ready to brace the elements of the outdoors. To be on the safe side, plant in the fall or spring, make sure the seedling won’t be exposed to freezing temperatures, and try to protect it from the hottest of summer sun.
What you’ll need
While you can grow avocado from seed, trees grown from seed don’t generally provide the tastiest fruit. Avocados are not ‘true to seed’.
For best results, source a grafted avocado tree from a local registered nursery. A healthy tree should come in a 3-gallon container standing 2 to 4 feet tall
How to plant an avocado tree in 5 steps
- Remove any grass covering the top of the soil.
- Dig a hole 3 times the diameter and 3 times the depth of the container the tree is in.
- Remove the container and place the tree in the hole.
- Fill in the hole with the original soil. For best results turn on a hose at this stage, using the water to help eliminate air pockets between the root ball and the native soil.
- While filling, lift the tree so the top of its soil media is even with the ground. It should not sit lower than the soil line.
Growing avocado trees in containers
Check with your local nursery for dwarf varieties. A tree grown in a pot will grow as large as the pot will allow. Make sure it gets plenty of sunlight. Prune from the top to produce a thicker bushier plant.
3 tips on caring for your avocado tree
- Mulch regularly to retain moisture and keep weeds at bay
- Prune regularly (especially in the first two years) to keep under 15 feet, this way you can reach the fruit easily
- Monitor for diseases and treat manually before things get out of control
When to harvest avocados
An avocado tree can take years to mature and produce fruit, depending on its size when planted. When you start to see the fruit littering the ground, you’ll know the fruit is ready for picking. The fruit won’t ripen on the tree, so pick when firm and green, then let it ripen a few days in the kitchen.
Suggested recipe for avocados
Guacamole of course! Mash up your avocados with your other home-grown goodies like minced peppers, onions and cilantro.
Sources
https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/edibles/vegetables/avocados.html