Question about avocado trees

[Than]

For those who have experience with avocado trees: Is it true that plants from seed grow a lot faster than grafted ones? I know that grafted ones will bear fruit faster but I am mostly interested in using the tree for canopy so I want a specimen that will grow canopy fast, fruit is a secondary concern.

Thank you!

[Silas_Sancona]

5 hours ago, Than said:

For those who have experience with avocado trees: Is it true that plants from seed grow a lot faster than grafted ones? I know that grafted ones will bear fruit faster but I am mostly interested in using the tree for canopy so I want a specimen that will grow canopy fast, fruit is a secondary concern.

Thank you!

While they can grow at a decent clip,  Seed -grown plants will typically grow faster than grafted specimens.

More often than not, grafting is often done to create ..maybe not quite the right word... a hardy and productive Avo that will produce  reliable quality fruit fairly quickly after planting.. AKA: Grafting Scions of a variety like " Haas " or " Mexicola " ..to a " hardy " root stock that might possess better disease, heat / cold, or drought tolerance  ...compared to the Scion variety.

If fruit isn't the main goal ( Seedling plants can vary quite a bit in fruit production / quality ...and it can take YEARS for seed grown trees to set fruit at all )  than a seed started / non grafted plant will work fine.

Just remember that Avocados spread out a bit ..roots n' all ( Near -surface rooters too ).. need water / regular fertilizer  to look good, and   ..leave a layer of fallen leaves below their canopy at all times..

When happy, they can grow pretty quickly ..though are not " speed demons ".

[Than]

1 hour ago, Silas_Sancona said:

While they can grow at a decent clip,  Seed -grown plants will typically grow faster than grafted specimens.

More often than not, grafting is often done to create ..maybe not quite the right word... a hardy and productive Avo that will produce  reliable quality fruit fairly quickly after planting.. AKA: Grafting Scions of a variety like " Haas " or " Mexicola " ..to a " hardy " root stock that might possess better disease, heat / cold, or drought tolerance  ...compared to the Scion variety.

If fruit isn't the main goal ( Seedling plants can vary quite a bit in fruit production / quality ...and it can take YEARS for seed grown trees to set fruit at all )  than a seed started / non grafted plant will work fine.

Just remember that Avocados spread out a bit ..roots n' all ( Near -surface rooters too ).. need water / regular fertilizer  to look good, and   ..leave a layer of fallen leaves below their canopy at all times..

When happy, they can grow pretty quickly ..though are not " speed demons ".

Very clear info. The bit about the surface roots worries me a bit but I've run out of options for a nice canopy so...

[Silas_Sancona]

19 minutes ago, Than said:

Very clear info. The bit about the surface roots worries me a bit but I've run out of options for a nice canopy so...

They're a beautiful tree, but a beast as well.. A tree that can easily reach 40ft + tall, by 40ft wide, ...it allowed to . Remember too that roots of a tree can go 2X's beyond the canopy width, so, yeahh... need some room, otherwise they'll create it on their own.

Shade created by the canopy is best suited for stuff that likes a lot of shade. Things that like brighter shade / more sun will often languish.

Additional info: https://crfg.org/homepage/library/fruitfacts/avocado/

[Than]

1 hour ago, Silas_Sancona said:

They're a beautiful tree, but a beast as well.. A tree that can easily reach 40ft + tall, by 40ft wide, ...it allowed to . Remember too that roots of a tree can go 2X's beyond the canopy width, so, yeahh... need some room, otherwise they'll create it on their own.

Shade created by the canopy is best suited for stuff that likes a lot of shade. Things that like brighter shade / more sun will often languish.

Additional info: https://crfg.org/homepage/library/fruitfacts/avocado/

Ι'm 44 man... I'll be 80 when the tree reaches 40 ft in our climate

[Palmarum]

I've seen grafted trees still grow super fast here. It comes down to how much water they get. 

Ryan

[Silas_Sancona]

1 minute ago, Than said:

Ι'm 44 man... I'll be 80 when the tree reaches 40 ft in our climate

Not quite. Grow faster than that.  At 44 ..If planted soon, you might be in your mid / later 60s when it hits 40ft.

Even here they can grow pretty quick ..Yes, while not the most ideal of locations, they are grown here ..and down in Tucson, where it is colder. Certain hardier varieties at least..

Several decades ago, Mangoes were grown in a certain part of town down there as well.

[Than]

14 minutes ago, Palmarum said:

I've seen grafted trees still grow super fast here. It comes down to how much water they get. 

Ryan

Man you are in South Florida!!! We can only dream of your climate

[Than]

14 minutes ago, Silas_Sancona said:

Not quite. Grow faster than that.  At 44 ..If planted soon, you might be in your mid / later 60s when it hits 40ft.

Even here they can grow pretty quick ..Yes, while not the most ideal of locations, they are grown here ..and down in Tucson, where it is colder. Certain hardier varieties at least..

Several decades ago, Mangoes were grown in a certain part of town down there as well.

I'll look to buy an already big one, planted from seed. 

Mangoes would be nice to grow but they are very marginal.. 

[Palmarum]

3 minutes ago, Than said:

Man you are in South Florida!!! We can only dream of your climate

It is a paradise in the plant world. A crossroads of what can be grown.

Ryan

[Silas_Sancona]

6 minutes ago, Than said:

I'll look to buy an already big one, planted from seed. 

Mangoes would be nice to grow but they are very marginal.. 

Somewhat marginal here as well, More due to the heat than whatever " cold " we experience..  Still a few good sized specimens around. Neighbor w/ the  Fruit Forest  has a couple that fruit, every year. 

Like those folks who planted them here,  If you enjoy Mangoes,  just plant one...   Constant over- worrying about things like the cold / heat ..or how old you might be when it reaches X size (  'cuz you could plant -whatever-  ...this afternoon,  ..and permanently " retire " from gardening -...tomorrow- ) , or worrying about much time ..and / or $$... it took to grow..     Toss all  of that out a window.. 

Worrying about anything beyond anyone's control  that  is a massive waste of time and energy.

No " perfect " tree, or plant.  ...The weird, human assumption(s) of  " perfect / perfection "  anyway.   Not on this planet, thankfully. 





 

[happypalms]

Hi Than be best to go a grafted variety at least you will get some good fruit to eat hass is a great variety and fuerta some good old school tough varieties iam not sure what is available in your country but my choice here would be those varieties ten years of good growing conditions will see a pretty decent below medium sized tree 

[Than]

19 hours ago, happypalms said:

Hi Than be best to go a grafted variety at least you will get some good fruit to eat hass is a great variety and fuerta some good old school tough varieties iam not sure what is available in your country but my choice here would be those varieties ten years of good growing conditions will see a pretty decent below medium sized tree 

Hass is my favourite variety too and it is readily available here. Not sure about waiting 10 years tho. I may look to buy an already big tree perhaps 

[happypalms]

3 hours ago, Than said:

Hass is my favourite variety too and it is readily available here. Not sure about waiting 10 years tho. I may look to buy an already big tree perhaps 

An advanced one would definitely be a bit better a great tree for the rainforest tropical look with a bonus of fruit on toast with lemon juice with salt an pepper start amending the soil now irrigation if you can and fertiliser every year 

[Than]

2 hours ago, happypalms said:

An advanced one would definitely be a bit better a great tree for the rainforest tropical look with a bonus of fruit on toast with lemon juice with salt an pepper start amending the soil now irrigation if you can and fertiliser every year 

Τry it also with half boiled egg and blue cheese. Paradise