Blog article by Brenda Altman and Snugs
I have been trying to grow avocados for several years. I have started the seeds with toothpicks many times, often forgetting to water them or letting the water become gooey with scum. I have planted many seeds, but they all died. I had an avocado plant that I transplanted from inside to an outside hot environment. I bought a few trees, but I failed to take care of them. But in anticipation of the high tariffs on Mexican avocados, I decided to try again.
I was told to get a type A tree and a type B tree. At the nursery, they said I did not need both. The trees would give me avocados if I wait for them to mature. Aha, but maturity means up to 5 years—two more years if you start from a seed.
Today, I have a nursery-bought avocado tree that is going on its fourth or fifth year. I see flowers everywhere, but I saw similar growth last year, and all I got was new leaves (healthy purplish green leaves). This year might be the year I see lots of flowers.
Will there be avocados? Well, the flowers must be pollinated. No problem, right? The avocado flower has both male and female organs (protogynous dichogamy). The flower changes sexes by time of day, wow, that is wild. The flowers stay open about half of the day. I guess it is better to name your avocado tree a gender-neutral name like Chris or Bobby. To complicate matters more, then there are two types of avocados Type A with female flowers one morning and Type B is the opposite with male flowers followed by female. AHA you need to buy both a type A and B.
The gardeners at the nursery have assured me that you do not need both types. Unless you want a lot of avocados. It is the temperature regulates plant so it has an overlapping period when both male and female flowers are present. Buying both a type A and a type B will give you better cross-pollination and more avocados. Temperatures between 50 -70 degrees Fahrenheit are ideal for getting fruit from a single tree. Water your new tree 3-5 times a week in its first year. Protect your young tree from frost in the winter. Consult with a UC Master Gardener on when to fertilize or see the link below, and then wait four years to enjoy the guacamole. Don’t be afraid to talk to your local nursery for tips on growing avocados.
Don’t rely on your cat.
Snugs says why grow avocados? Just buy them!
For further reading:
https://askthgreengenie.com/the-sex-life-of-an-avocado
Grow Organic “Understanding Avocados Types A and B”
When to Fertilize Avocado and Citrus in California
https://ucanr.edu/blog/topics-subtropics/article/when-fertilize-avocado-and-citrus-california