Dwarf Avocado Trees

10/10/2010

Growing Dwarf Avocado Trees is a fantastic way to get the freshest Avocado fruits in town. Especially when the town grocery store is right at your doorstep, produced by you!

Really what could be better?
I could think of a few things, but this is right up there!
"hmmmm", maybe chocolate cake, naaaa,,,I just love Avocados!
I actually love them that much I took on a job for two seasons managing 500 established trees.
But that is another story. Today we are here to discuss how to grow these lovely little dwarf Avocado fruit trees just for us, family and a few friends.

I think it just great that almost anyone with sunshine in a small space can grow a variety of foods that can be placed on the kitchen plate.

Perfect Dwarf Avocado Trees Just For You!

Below are some tips to on how to produce wonderful Dwarf Avocado Trees.

IMPORTANT - The first thing to get you started with Avocado Dwarf Fruits is to remember the container/ pot needs to be free draining. Please view the photo in the slide show as an example.

Buy trees that have been grafted onto dwarf root stock. Avoid seedling trees!
Look for straight strong central leader, avoid crooked bent storks
Check for diseases on the leaf and stork. This can be brown spotting or leaf curl
Check for aphids or ants on the trees. If they are there buy a different tree. Actually go to a different nursery!
Remove flowers and fruits in the first season. This helps the tree establish and save energy. You will get a much more productive trees this way.
Use an organic premium potting mix.
Mix into the potting mix one third of organic compost to help the overall plants health and productivity.
Cover the top of the container with compost as Avocado trees have surface feeder roots and like to keep cool.
Keep leaf growth over the top of the container/pot to keep the trees roots cool and protected
Rotate the tree once a week so the tree grows evenly and produces fruit all over the whole tree.
If the pot is too heavy to move purchase some wheels for the container so it can be moved easily. These can be found at hardware stores and nurseries.
Keep in a protected position away from strong winds.
Place water nearby to encourage birds to come and visit. These guys will clean up unwanted pests.
Remove any pest by hand. Try to avoid sprays when possible.
Fertilize once a fortnight with liquid seaweed in the growing season to produce more flowers and fruits.
Fertilize three times a year with an organic fertilizer that has a mixture of chicken manure, seaweed and fish emulsion. This is used for the production of new leaf growth.
Keep your new tree staked for the first few months until the roots have established in its new container.
Enjoy and love your Dwarf Avocado Trees and they will return three times fold.
Show them off to friends and family!

Dwarf Avocado Trees

Dwarf Avocado Tree Educational Slide Show!

Do you have a comment or Question about Avocado Dwarf Fruit Trees?

If you have a question or a comment please leave it for Karin and I. We really appreciate all comments and promise to get back to you!

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See you soon and Happy Gardening from Marty, Karin and the Potted Vegetable Garden

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Comments

Liz

10/12/2010 04:28

Hi Marty
I'm not a blogger but love reading good ones. You live in a great spot, I have family to the north of you and love the area. I'll look forward to reading more in the future.

Marty

10/12/2010 21:20

Hi Liz
I am really happy that you like my Blog/website.
I hope you found what you were looking for?
Happy Gardening
Marty

Janine

04/15/2011 07:01

Hi Marty,

I came across your blog whilst searching for avo info and found this post most useful.

We're about to start building our new house and I'm planning the garden. Want to include an avo tree but I'm concerned at how big they get! Thought to perhaps plant it in a container and then the container in the ground. Is this container size you have here the size that the dwarf tree will ultimately need? And what size do dwarf trees get to be?

Sunny South African regards,
Janine

Marty link

04/15/2011 15:36

Hi Janine.
This is a great question.
Avocado tree grow huge, but you can prune them and keep them to about 6ft high so you can manage them properly.
This would be my choice rather than put them in a container in the ground, because the roots can spread and grow well to feed the Avocado with vital nutrients and lots of water.
You will need a lot of drainage in your soil though as Avo's hate wet feet and suffer from certain disease with soils that lack drainage.
I hope this answered your question.
Happy Gardening
Marty.

ps: Prune the tree in a Christmas tree shape for best fruiting results.

04/15/2011 15:37

04/18/2011 02:11

Thanks so much Marty, appreciate your advice. I do have a few more questions though, just to make sure I get this right! :)

- I presume you're talking of the normal tree being pruned to 6ft, not the dwarf?

- How big does the dwarf avo grow?

- Is it better to grow a dwarf or the normal tree, but then prune the normal one?

- When is the best time to prune (season and age of tree) and does one just jump in and prune till it looks like a christmas tree, without having to select specific branches?

Sunny SA regards,
Janine

cassie link

04/20/2011 17:43

i love this! i am currently growing 3 trees on my balcony. i was wondering if it would fruit since i don't have a huge space for a giant tree..they are only a small right now in a 7 gallon pot. i am not sure when do i prune them??? thank you!

04/20/2011 20:52

Hi Cassie Good question. Yes they will fruit in about a year as the top part of the tree believes it is mature already.
If the tree is still quite small pull the flowers off and let it fruit the following year. This way the tree will grow nice and strong and produce wonderful fruits every season.
They loose a bit of vitality fruiting in the first year
Dwarf Avocado tree do not need a prune unless they get too big and this is not usually the case.
I hope this answers your question
Happy Gardening
Marty

shabbir ballim

04/30/2011 04:36

i am trying to locate dwarf fruit tree suppliers in south africa

05/01/2011 02:52

Sorry my friend I live in Australia so I don't know how to help you find a tree in South Africa!
I wish you the best with that though!
Marty

Susie

05/11/2011 15:34

hi Marty. Love your blog. I planted an avocado tree last year which now has no leaves. I think my soil is very heavy/clay like and we also had a wet winter. (for us in Socal). I think I'm going to start over and just saw a 4n1 tree at my local nursery? That's right. They say four varieties on one true. Sounds too good to be true ha? I am thinking about building a raised box for the tree for better drainage. Any thoughts on the 4n1?

05/11/2011 19:15

Hi Susie
Yes, Avo's must have a very deep soil profile with great drainage. It actually needs to be at least 6ft deep (2 meters.
You will need to raise the bed at least 3 feet.
For dwarf trees a couple of feet will do above the ground. Add gravel at the bottom to help with extra drainage!
The 4, to 1 tree is a series of grafted species.
More of a novelty really! But worth a try if you wish. They do this a lot with citrus and have moderate success.
I hope this answers you questions
Happy Gardening
Marty

Ruthie

05/21/2011 10:13

I would like to know when one should
prune he avo tree.
Thanks, Ruthie

05/21/2011 15:10

Hi Ruthie
This is a great question and I do plan to come back soon and create a whole article on this!
Avocado trees, don't need to be pruned as naturally they grow into very tall trees.
However if you want to keep the fruit within reach by hand then prune the trees down to height after fruiting.

Never take more than one third of the tree and leave enough old wood, so they fruit again next season on the limbs that are mature.
Dwarf varieties don't need pruning!
Also remove suckers below the graft.
Very old trees are sometimes lopped above the graft and then left to grow again for better management.
I hope this answers your question?
Happy Gardening
Marty

Susanna

06/07/2011 05:37

Can you recommend any dwarf tree suppliers in Europe? Or do you think it would be possible to send a tree over from Australia to Sweden? I am eager to try to grow an avocado tree in our green house. I don't think the temperature will be a problem, but it is quite dark here during the winter. Have you heard of other avocado enthusiastic people in scandinavia? It would be great to hear about the experience of others.

Mark

06/30/2011 06:01

Hi Marty,
Love your blog. I'm from Adelaide, SA.
I wish to grow a dwarf avocado tree in my backyard (on ground)not pot.
Can you please recommend me the species that is suitable for the climate here?
Is the 'Gwen' a dwarf tree? What is the normal size of a dwarf avocado tree?
Thank you in anticipation of your advise.
Cheers,
Mark

Marie

08/06/2011 21:44

HI Marty
We live in Melbourne Vic.
We wish to plant a sting of avocado trees across our back fence, and create a hedge like appearance.
We wish to keep them at approx fence height (6foot ish)
We have approx 5.5 m in length to play with, and sandy soil.
Could you pls recommend a couple of varieties that would suit and weather to go dwarf or norm varieties.
Also can you pls list any suitable places to purchase from.
Many THanks, Love your work!!!
Cheers Marie

08/06/2011 21:56

Hi Marie
Avocado's are a subtropical tree!
Not sure how they would go so far down south there!
I would go to a local tree nursery and see what they have to say!
I would test a few trees first!
They don't hedge well either as each tree needs space for air to circulate!
You can cut them back as long as you prune above the graft.
They will grow wider every time you prune so allow lots of space!
I hope this helps
Marty

Heather

04/09/2012 09:05

Hi there,
I am wanting to try to plant my avocado tree in an earth box, are you familiar with these? I am growing lots of veggies in them and they are happy. Will this work? What do you suggest? The tree is a cold hardy variety from fast growing trees.com they say it will grow up to 7 feet in a container, 20+ feet in the ground. I plan on bringing it inside during winter.
Thanks

04/09/2012 15:01

I wouldn't recommend this type of container! They are great for shallow rooted plants such as veggies, herbs etc! Go for a much deeper container that is very free flowing, lots of drainage. Also make sure it has a reseviour as Avocados do not like wet feet!

Rikki

06/09/2012 10:46

Had my Little Cado AvocadoTree for 3 years & still no fruit??? It is planted in the largest wine barrel with 4 holes on wheels, any suggestions?

06/09/2012 16:10

If your tree hasn't fruited then it may need a companion nearby, Avocado's come in type A and type B Varieties and if they are not fruiting the best bet it to introduce another tree of a different type. You will then surely get fruit. Also make sure it is a grafted tree otherwise you may have to wait up to 7 years or possibly not get any fruit at all.
Happy Gardening
Marty