Avocado

Is anything more delicious than a fresh, ripe avocado? Used in salads, on sandwiches, to make delicious dressings and dips or eaten straight from the tree, this versatile fruit is a universal favorite. Take advantage of the gorgeous Miami climate and make friends with your neighbors by growing avocados at home.

This medium-to-large tree produces best when planted in full sun. Choose a sheltered area to protect the delicate limbs and fruit from high winds. Widely adaptable to most soils with adequate drainage, the avocado won’t tolerate flooding. The crown is either rounded and symmetrical or upright and diverse. The leaves vary in shape and are oval or spear-like. Generally evergreen, some varieties will drop their leaves in spring before blooming. The flowers are small, yellow, borne on stalks and not very showy. They are attractive to bees and other pollinators. The fruit is bright green to black and pear-shaped. Careful watering can increase yields.

In south Florida, avocado trees generally begin to bear significant fruit after three or four years. Avocados mature between June and March. Since the fruit won’t fully ripen until it is removed from the tree, the avocados from one producing tree can last for months.