There are many things to think
about when choosing how to landscape a yard. One of the best plants for
California is the Avocado tree.
Southern California has a dry,
sunny atmosphere, perfect for the avocado fruit tree which demands full
sunlight. The trees are shallow rooted, so nutrients can be absorbed quickly,
allowing for even a poor soil quality to breed healthy trees. They love mulch,
especially organic compost added to the soil a couple times a year.
Avocados do require frequent
watering, as they grow year round. The deeper the irrigation, the better the
trees will do since they are sensitive to salty soil. Salt build up . Pairing
up avocado trees and planting them near one another can aid in the pollination
and future vitality of each tree.
The best time to plant an avocado
tree is between March and June, before the hot summer months hit. Here are few
tips on how to grow an avocado tree from the pit of the fruit. Thanks to
avocado.org for the info.
Growing an Avocado Houseplant
Don't
throw out that seed! You can grow a beautiful houseplant or even your own tree
following these simple steps.
1.
Wash the seed. Using
three toothpick, suspend it broad end down over a water-filled glass to cover
about an inch of the seed.
2.
Put it in a warm place
out of direct sunlight and replenish water as needed. You should see roots and
stem sprout in about two to six weeks.
3.
When the stem is six to
seven inches long, cut it back to about three inches.
4.
When the roots are thick
and the stem has leafed out again, plant it in a rich humus soil in a
10-1/2" diameter pot, leaving the seed half exposed.
5.
Give it frequent, light
waterings with an occasional deep soak. Generally, the soil should be moist but
not saturated. Yellowing leaves are a sign of over-watering; let the plant dry
out for a few days.
6.
The more sunlight, the
better.
7.
If leaves turn brown and
fry at the tips, too much salt has accumulated in the soil. Let water run
freely into the pot and drain for several minutes.
8.
When the stem is 12
inches high, cut it back to 6 inches to encourage the growth of new shoots.
9.
While it is true that
you can grow a tree from an avocado seed, keep in mind that a tree grown
from seed will be very different from its parent variety and may take 7-15
years to begin producing fruit. Fruit
from a tree grown from seed tends to have different flavor characteristics than
their parent variety. Known varieties such as Hass avocados are grafted to
preserve their varietal characteristics rather than grown from a seed.
