How Long Does it Take for an Avocado Tree to Grow?

The avocado tree is a member of the Persea genus, which includes approximately 150 species of evergreen trees. The superstar member of this genus is Persea Americana – a type of evergreen native to the Americas.

This medium-sized tree (which grows in frost-free tropical and Mediterranean climates) is widely cultivated for its pear-shaped, nutrient-dense fruit. This tree can grow as high as 65 feet and nearly 30 feet in width. From a botanical point of view, the fruit of the seasonal blooming avocado tree is an unusual-looking large type of berry with one large seed.

Growing an avocado tree is not necessarily challenging as it can be adaptable to the conditions in which it grows. Avocado fruit is categorized as either an A-type cultivar (which includes the popular Hass variety) or a B-type (which includes Israel’s Ettinger variety) cultivar, with the fundamental difference referencing the flower’s pollination and opening time.

But to answer the question – How long does it take for an avocado tree to Grow? is, like most things, a bit complicated. The time it takes will depend on whether you choose to grow the tree from an avocado seed/pit or if you decide to transplant a sapling. The reality is that the time and attention you have to give to growing an avocado tree will determine which growing-starting-point will be most suitable.

Growing An Avocado from a Pit/Seed

Not every avocado seed is viable, so it is a good idea to start this project with several pits at the same time. This helps to ensure you get at least one sprouted seed to plant.

Step One – Preparing the Avocado Pit for Planting

After making tasty guacamole (or any other delicious avocado dish), wash and dry the pits. Be sure no leftover avocado flesh still clings to any of the pits you intend to use. When completely dry, each pit will be placed in a large glass jar filled with water.

Find the broadest end of the avocado pit, which is the portion of the pit that will be facing down when placed in the jar. But before you put the pit in the water, press a few toothpicks into several areas of the pit. The reason for the toothpicks is to allow the pit to be only partially immersed – more like suspended, in the water.

The goal is to place the toothpicks in the pit in a way that will allow only an inch or so of the pit to sit below the water line.

Find A Warm Sunny Place With Good Lighting

Take the now semi-suspended avocado pit in the glass jar and place it in a location that gets maximum direct sunlight. Over time, the water in the jar will need to be replenished the water as it will evaporate and be used by the growing seedling.

In two to six weeks, the avocado seed should sprout roots and a stem. By the eighth week, if the seed does not sprout, it is not a viable seed.

When the roots from the pit have grown thicker and the stem begins to grow leaves, your seed is ready to be planted.

Step Two – Planting the Sprouted Seed

The sprouted avocado seed should first be planted in a small pot of soil so it is given time to acclimate to a new growing environment. Using a small pot is also the way to get the best shot at the tree firmly taking root.

Plant the seed with half above the soil line in a pot of about 10 inches in diameter. Keep the soil moist.

In time, a root ball will develop from the seed that can be planted outside. To plant it outside, dig a hole that is slightly wider and deeper than the root ball you intend to plant. Avocado trees tend to have shallow roots. Most of the Avocado tree’s root system is found within six inches of the soil’s surface.

But note that avocado trees must be planted during the right time of year to ensure the new planting has sufficient time to establish itself prior to the colder months during the year. For avocado trees, the best time to plant them is from March through June. Note that this planting suggestion applies to those areas even where the fluctuation in temperatures is relatively small.

An avocado tree started from a seed may take 13 to 15 years to begin to produce avocado fruit.

Transplanting an Avocado Tree Sapling

One can buy a sapling from a specialty store as much of the starter work has been done.

To ensure the avocado adjusts well to its new location, be sure to follow recommended transplanting suggestions –

1. Select an appropriate location. Avocado trees love tons of sun, so plant them spaciously, avoiding other large trees or buildings.
2. Dig a hole approximately four times as big as the sapling’s root ball. Keep in mind that avocado trees thrive best when their root systems are primarily located about a half-foot from the soil’s surface.
3. Place the loosened and broken-up dirt into the original hole.
4. Re-dig a hole in the same location (using the dirt you have just loosened), only this time, the hole you dig is smaller and a bit larger than the root ball being planted.
5. Transport the avocado tree sapling to its newly dug location.
6. Take time to pack the soil around the freshly planted avocado tree and water it heavily.

An avocado tree started from a sapling that has been bought from a local nursery (or online) will begin to produce delicious fruit annually sometime between the third and fifth year – if conditions and climate support this type of tree.

Watching the Avocado Tree Grow

From a Seedling

This first year in the life of an avocado tree is among its most vulnerable – especially if it is a seedling. Be mindful of potential wilt or a slowdown in its growth.

From a Sapling

If you have selected to transplant an avocado tree sapling, you will effectively bypass the vulnerabilities the tree faces in its first year. However, as a young tree, passing the first year does not mean that the tree is not without risk.

However, either way, the young tree should be kept in a pot until it is large and established enough to be successfully transplanted in a proper outdoor location in the appropriate climate.

Sustaining A Healthy Avocado Tree – Years 1 Through 3

During the first three years, an avocado tree is in the sapling stage of the tree’s life cycle. A sapling will grow and thrive indoors before it is moved to an outdoor location. When living indoors, the sapling’s climate and environment can be controlled and kept close to ideal conditions – like warm and slightly humid air.

Be sure that the avocado tree is well established and ready for elemental changes prior to transplanting it to an outdoor location.

When the avocado tree is transplanted outside, the tree’s growth will likely change from how it grew indoors. Its growth rate will depend on its outdoor environment, plus a number of other vital factors. Outdoor environmental factors like drier or cooler air (or varying amounts of sunlight) may impact the tree’s growth capacity compared to when it was living inside.

The modified climate conditions (from inside to outdoors) may challenge the avocado tree’s ability to grow as fast. But note for those planting avocado trees in ideal climates (like California or Mexico, etc.), this potential for elemental change to impact the tree’s growth may be less of a concern. Regardless of the location, avocado trees that have been transplanted will exhibit a period of adjustment as the trees acclimate to their new host environment.

The Avocado Tree’s Fruit-Producing Years

Note that an avocado tree may not be entirely mature when it begins to bear fruit; however, if enough time has passed – where the energy of the tree can be focused on producing fruit rather than growing upward and outward, the tree will generate fruit.

It is noted that the avocado tree’s fruit is climacteric. This means that the fruit from the avocado tree will mature on the tree but ripen once it has been picked. Other climacteric fruit includes bananas, apples, melons, and pears.

While it does take patience, watching an avocado tree come full circle in its growth cycle is quite momentous.

Keeping an Avocado Tree Healthy

Avocado trees tend to perform best if they are planted in climates that mimic the climate from which they originate. As a result, the avocado tree prefers a warm sunny location that offers consistent humidity. These conditions are critical while the tree is young and growing in a pot – prior to being replanted in the earth’s soil. This can be easily accomplished for the tree living indoors. If you live in a location with a climate that does not support an avocado tree, it may be worth finding the right location to replant to ensure it thrives.

The soil of the avocado tree should be well-drained because this type of tree requires frequent watering, even a deep soak once in a while. An avocado tree does not withstand standing water well.

To grow a fuller, bushier-looking avocado tree, you can pinch back the stem occasionally (after it grows about six inches) to help add to the tree’s aesthetic appeal.

FAQs

What is the most popular variety of avocados?

The Hass is the most popular avocado variety that is mainly grown in California as well as Central American countries, particularly Mexico. It is a nutrient-dense food that is buttery, nutty, and available all year. Its production accounts for up to 80% of all avocados produced. The spherical-shaped fruit’s skin begins from a bright, bold green to a darkish black/purple as it ripens and is ready to eat.

The Choquette is a type of avocado that is native and grown in South Florida. While the look and texture of the fruit differ, their nutritional base is essentially the same.

What hardiness zone is best to plant an avocado seed/tree?

Avocado trees should be grown in USDA hardiness zones that range from 8 to 11.

Each USDA hardiness zone represents a variation of 10 degrees Fahrenheit. Each USDA hardiness zone is broken in half, creating a dual subzone. The lower portion of the zone is illustrated with an ‘a’ (i.e., 8a or 9a), and the second part of the zone is referenced as ‘b.’

For example, Zone 8 represents temperatures between 10F and 20F. The subzone known as 8a would mean temps from 10F to 15F, and the subzone 8b would represent temps from 15F to 20F.

Are Avocados superfoods?

Yes, the fruit from the avocado tree is highly nutritious, with tremendous amounts of potassium, folate, and Vitamins K, E & C, as well as phytonutrients. In addition, the avocado’s fruit contains these minerals – magnesium, iron, copper, zinc, phosphorus, and manganese.

Avocados also contain massive amounts of healthy monounsaturated fats, which help fight inflammation and support heart health. Some studies suggest that oleic acid in avocados may have anticancer properties. The fat in the avocado also satiates someone and helps them feel full after eating a meal.

In addition to the vitamins and minerals, avocados are full of fiber which, along with the healthy fat, offers a food choice with a low glycemic index. This superfood also has antioxidants that support brain (i.e., neuro-degenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s) and eye health (i.e., macular degeneration).