Avocado trees are flowering evergreen, with pinnate leaves that are arranged alternately. the avocado fruit has a smooth green skin that turns black when ripe. avocado trees grow faster in warmer climates, even though they are native to central Mexico.
The climate of the particular region where the trees are grown, as well as how much water they receive will affect their growth rate. In this article I am going to answer how fast do avocado trees grow and the factors affecting the growth time.
How Fast do Avocado Trees grow?
The Latin Name for avocado is Persea Americana or persica Americana, the trees are dioecious and polygamous. they have a long life span and can grow in different sizes depending on their conditions in growth.
It takes approximately 3 to 5 years before you get your first fruit if you planted a tree if you are planning to grow from a seed it can take anywhere from 6 to 16 years before you see the first fruit. The rate of growth is affected by location, climate, and soil composition.
These conditions are also influenced by the species of avocado tree that you are growing and in which region of the world you are planting it.
Factors affecting how fast avocado trees grow
1. Temperature:
Avocado trees grow in different climates and the rate of growth is affected by the temperature. You can raise the temperature of your tree by either introducing heat or cold.
For example, if you live in a temperate zone with cold winters you can use row covers to insulate your tree and prevent it from being exposed to extreme temperatures. In addition, microclimate is also important to consider. Since avocado trees prefer warmer climates ( 68 and 73 °Fehrenheit) in their later years, extreme heat will reduce the growth rate.
2. Water:
Avocado trees require roughly 1/2 to 2/3 of an inch of rainfall each month and adequate amounts of water during the growing season but do not require excessive amounts of water. If your tree does not receive enough water or if it receives too much it will promote leaf drop, which is a result of stress. It will also slow down the growth rate and increase the chance of disease.
3. Nutrition:
The nutrition of your avocado tree will affect the growth rate, since the trees need a lot of nutrients and minerals to grow, you should fertilize it with something organic like compost or manure to enrich its soil.
Other nutrients include magnesium, calcium, potassium and phosphorous. Copper, zinc and manganese are also important for proper growth but in smaller amounts. lack of nutrition is likely to cause irregular growth and a decrease in yield.
4. Sunlight:
Avocados require full sun exposure of at least 8 hours a day. if you have been growing your avocado tree in shade it will not grow as fast or be as healthy as one that is grown in full sunlight.
The optimal temperature for avocado trees is 68 to 73 degrees Fahrenheit and an ideal relative humidity is 40 to 60 percent. However relative humidity is not very important, since in humid conditions avocado trees will still grow.
5. Location:
Avocado trees need to be planted in well-drained soil, if your soil is heavy or clay you can add sand to it so that it drains properly. However, avocado trees do best on sandy loam with a neutral pH level of 6.0 to 7.0.
If the pH is too acidic or alkaline the trees will not grow. The placement and proximity of your avocado tree to other plants will also affect its growth rate since they need proper ventilation and sunlight exposure to grow properly and healthily.
6. Soil:
Avocado trees need well-drained soil to grow, if you have heavy or clay soil you can add sand and organic material to it, this will help the tree’s roots breathe.
If the pH of your soil is too acidic or alkaline it will affect the growth rate. The best pH level is between 6.0 and 7.0. If you don’t want to test your soil you can plant your avocado tree in containers where you control the growing conditions more easily.
How can I make my avocado tree grow faster?
There are many things that you can do to help your avocado tree grow faster:
1. Fertilizer:
Fertilizing your tree will give it more nutrients and help it grow faster. Organic material such as compost, manure, and mulch can be added to the soil around the tree to enrich it. You should also fertilize your tree with an organic fertilizer from a garden center or home improvement store.
2. Water:
Avocado trees need to receive a lot of water, if you notice that your tree is drying out then you should water it frequently until the soil is completely moist. If you live in a particularly dry climate or if your tree does not receive enough water it will promote leaf drop and slow down growth.
3. Sunlight:
Full sunlight will also help your avocado tree grow faster. If your avocado tree is growing in the shade of another plant you should transplant it to somewhere sunny since the optimal temperature for avocado trees is 68 to 73 degrees Fahrenheit and ideal relative humidity is 40 to 60 percent. However relative humidity is not very important, since in humid conditions avocado trees will still grow.
Conclusion:
The rate of growth is affected by many factors and depending on your conditions you can make your tree grow faster. The best thing to do is to give your tree proper care and focus on the things mentioned above. I hope you found this article informative!.