The Growth of Avocados

Physical Description

• Avocado trees grow between 40 to 80 feet after reaching full maturity. These trees are evergreen, meaning they do not lose their foliage in the fall or winter. The avocado tree's canopy reaches low levels, and the leaves on some trees nearly touch the ground. Avocado trees produce greenish flowers that bloom from January to March before the tree's fruit appears. Flowers appear on the end of the tree's stems and branches.

Fruit

• One of the primary reasons horticulturists plant avocados is for the tree's fruit. Avocado tree fruit, simply known as avocados, are round and have hard skins to protect the fruit's flesh. The flesh's color is dark green near the skin, but it lightens into a yellowish color near the fruit's core. A hard, large, inedible seed rests in the center of avocados. When harvest time arrives, avocados have a buttery texture and sweet taste. The size of the fruit depends on the variety of avocado tree.

Varieties

• Avocado trees fall into three varieties: Guatemalan, Mexican and West Indian. As their names implies, all three avocado varieties are native to the Americas and Caribbean Islands. Mexican avocado fruit has the highest degree of cold hardiness and bears fruit weighing between 8 and 12 ounces. Mexican avocados ripen in the summer. West Indian avocados have a more watery taste than Mexican avocados. Guatemalan hybrids with the other two varieties are the most commonly sold avocados on the market, according to Texas A&M University's Department of Agriculture.

Propagation

• For avocado fruit production, horticulturists must plant their seeds in tropical and subtropical climates. Florida is the primary state for avocado production in the United States. After being planted, avocado trees require eight to 10 years of growth before producing fruit. Some homeowners prefer growing avocados as a houseplant. To grow indoors, avocado seeds require full sunlight for germination. Place the seed in a pot of soil approximately 6 to 10 inches wide and pruned to prevent overgrowth, unless the owners wish to relocate the plant outdoors.

Avocado Lace Bug

• The avocado lace bug is the prime pest for avocado trees. These bugs are native to locations where avocado trees are present, including Florida, the Caribbean Islands and Mexico. Avocado lace bugs do not eat the fruit but suck on the juices of the plant's leaves, causing yellowish spots on the leaves' surfaces. Low populations of lace bugs are not harmful to the tree. To avoid large pest problems, though, plant owners must ensure the avocado is treated well by providing frequent irrigation and good soil drainage.