Avocados are cultivated in tropical and Mediterranean climates throughout the world. Avocado is medium to large evergreen tree that blooms large, leathery, deep green leaves. The tree produces green-skinned, pear-shaped fruit that ripens after harvesting.
Avocados are widely cultivated in tropical to subtropical climates. They may grow in shade but require full exposure to sunlight for excellent productivity. High winds can reduce the humidity and dehydrate the tree. Some trees are killed outright due to severe frost.
Poor drainage and flooding can adversely affect the growth rate of the avocado. Avocado trees cannot stand in poorly drained soils, nor will it tolerate temporarily waterlog. This is why planting the seed in areas where soil holds water should be avoided. Also, an avocado tree can grow large, hence it should be planted 8 to 10 feet away from the house, or any domestic structure.
Avocados have three distinct horticultural races that include West Indian, Guatemalan and Mexican. The West Indian and Guatemalan races are two expressions of one botanical species, Persea americana, while Mexican race belongs to Persea drymifolia. West Indian types are the most sensitive to cold climate, but they have the greatest tolerance to salinity and certain diseases. On the other hand, the Mexican race is the most cold tolerant but the least salt tolerant among the two other races. Because they have a very thin skin to cover the whole fruit, fruits of the Mexican race are also very susceptible to diseases. The Guatemalan race is essentially intermediate between the other two races. These three horticultural races do not exactly reproduce the parent fruit. For instance, round green seedlings from the West Indian race may produce oblong-shaped, red or purple fruits. Nevertheless, these seedlings will always reproduce the same race despite bearing individual characteristics.
The traditional home gardening of avocado (from seed) involves poking it with three toothpicks into the sides of the seed. You can then immerse it halfway in the water while the three sticks rest on the rim of a drinking glass. Keep the seed warm, but out of direct sunlight. Make sure that you change the water at least every couple of weeks, before it gets dirty and dry as well as depleted of oxygen. Also, once the stem has already grown a few inches, it should be planted in a pot with a healthy soil. If you don’t want to watch how the roots grow, the seed can be planted directly into a potting soil. Like most other plants, avocado roots need oxygen, so it is still better to plant the seed directly into the soil.
As mentioned, avocado trees are very sensitive to diseases. Bacterial, viral, fungal and nutritional diseases can cause spotting, rotting, cankers, pitting and discoloration of the plant. This is why elimination of weed is very critical during the first two to three years after planting. Under good conditions, growing avocado takes many years, even up to a decade or two, to bear fruit. Nevertheless, avocado’s nutrition and taste is well worth the time investment.