I am interested in growing an avocado plant indoors. My question is, what do
I have to do for the plant to be able to bear fruit? Will I have to have two
separate plants, so one will pollonate the other? Or is the idea of having a
fruit bearing avacado tree indoors unfeasable. I have never done this before
so any help would be appreciated.

Also, which are better to grow, California or Florida avocados?

Thanks.

I believe an avocado plant needs to grow into a large tree before it bears
fruit, not sure about this.

"David DeMar" wrote in message
...
I am interested in growing an avocado plant indoors. My question is, what
do
I have to do for the plant to be able to bear fruit? Will I have to have
two
separate plants, so one will pollonate the other? Or is the idea of having
a
fruit bearing avacado tree indoors unfeasable. I have never done this
before
so any help would be appreciated.

Also, which are better to grow, California or Florida avocados?

Thanks.

In article ,
David DeMar wrote:
I am interested in growing an avocado plant indoors. My question is, what do
I have to do for the plant to be able to bear fruit? Will I have to have two
separate plants, so one will pollonate the other? Or is the idea of having a
fruit bearing avacado tree indoors unfeasable. I have never done this before
so any help would be appreciated.

Also, which are better to grow, California or Florida avocados?

Thanks.

I have read more than once that indoor avocados do not bear
fruit (other than in greenhouses, presumably.) I don't know
this for certain myself, but they certainly do make wonderful
foliage houseplants. I had one that lived for many years and
was about 5 feet tall and wide.

- Naomi D.

On Thu, 30 Jan 2003 15:33:29 GMT, David DeMar
wrote:

I am interested in growing an avocado plant indoors. My question is, what do
I have to do for the plant to be able to bear fruit? Will I have to have two
separate plants, so one will pollonate the other? Or is the idea of having a
fruit bearing avacado tree indoors unfeasable. I have never done this before
so any help would be appreciated.

Also, which are better to grow, California or Florida avocados?

Thanks.

According to http://ak.essortment.com/growingavocado_rwfi.htm it is
possible and gives directions how to start and plant.

In Florida I believe the most commonly grown varieties are the West
Indian and Guatemalan, in California mainly those of the Mexican and
Guatemalan races. The fat percentage varies with variety; highest in
the Mexican and lowest in the West Indian races.

It has been found that non-setting of fruit is due mainly to an
unusual sex-reversal of the flowers that prevents pollination. The
difficulty is overcome by interplanting compatible varieties to insure
cross-pollination.

My list of compatible varieties is woefully out of date but if you
like I can send it along to you. It might at least be a starting
point for research.

zhan

On Thu, 30 Jan 2003 16:51:53 GMT, "mt2"
wrote:

I believe an avocado plant needs to grow into a large tree before it bears
fruit, not sure about this.

"David DeMar" wrote in message
m...
I am interested in growing an avocado plant indoors. My question is, what
do
I have to do for the plant to be able to bear fruit?

Avocados make terrible houseplants, although they are irresistible to
germinate because of that PIT. However even in California and Florida,
they are highly specialized crop plants and require "management" in
order to grow fruit. they also need all the footcandles of the full
sun. I have never seen one grown indoors which resembled the ones
outdoors in Southern California, even the ones which just show up in
somebody's yard. i would have to say that of all my childhood plant
growing experiences, avocados were the least joyful.
hermine

Avocado trees sold in nurseries are usually grafted, as are trees in groves.
The plants grown from seeds are pretty, though.
Carolyn
"hermine stover" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 30 Jan 2003 16:51:53 GMT, "mt2"
wrote:

I believe an avocado plant needs to grow into a large tree before it
bears
fruit, not sure about this.

"David DeMar" wrote in message
m...
I am interested in growing an avocado plant indoors. My question is,
what
do
I have to do for the plant to be able to bear fruit?

Avocados make terrible houseplants, although they are irresistible to
germinate because of that PIT. However even in California and Florida,
they are highly specialized crop plants and require "management" in
order to grow fruit. they also need all the footcandles of the full
sun. I have never seen one grown indoors which resembled the ones
outdoors in Southern California, even the ones which just show up in
somebody's yard. i would have to say that of all my childhood plant
growing experiences, avocados were the least joyful.
hermine

Avocados like plenty of light and plenty of warmth.
Keep an eye on the leaves because they give a good indication of when watering is needed.

Water slowly and thoroughly.

Drainage needs to be good.


Compost - multipurpose is adequate.

Feed the plant regularly during the summer months with a general purpose feed it should thrive quite happily.

The avocado bears both male and female flowers although these tend to open at different times of the day. If there are insects in the conservatory you will very likely find that pollination has occurred and fruits will develop.
So fruit bairing in greenhouses/conservatories you need to collect pollen from the male flowers with an artists paintbrush and help along the pollination when the female flowers open to increase fruit bearing