How to Grow Avocados at Home in India — Even If You’ve Never Grown a Thing Before
How often have you visited the fruit store, eager to pick an avocado to include in your health-conscious diet plan, only to be deterred by the exorbitant prices? Imagine if you could bypass these costly trips by growing your avocados at home!
Amritsar-based farmer Harmanpreet Singh and Bhopal-based Harshit Godha share a step-by-step guide to growing avocados at home.
1. Choosing the right variety
Identify avocado varieties suitable for your local climate. For hot regions, opt for drought-resistant varieties, like those developed in Israel. Ensure the source is reputable; purchase grafted plants grown on commercial rootstocks to maximise yield.
2. Choose your container
If you have a polybag, fill it with a mix of soil, coco peat, and compost. In the absence of a polybag, use an old plastic bottle or container with drainage holes.
3. Place the seed correctly
Place the avocado seed in the soil mixture with the pointier side facing up. Ensure the upper half of the seed is above the soil to prevent it from spoiling. Over the next 20 days, gradually add a kilogram of vermicompost to support the germination process.
Place the seed in a mix of soil, coco peat, and compost.
4. Planting technique
Transplant the seedling when the stem is about 15 cm. You can also cut it short to 10 cm to encourage faster growth. Place the cracked seed in a pot and ensure that the top of the seed is exposed above the soil. Spray water slightly.
5. Keep the container in ample sunlight
Avocado plants thrive in sunlight. Position your pot in a well-lit area like a balcony or near a window that gets plenty of light.
6. Graft for better yield
Begin grafting 60-90 days after transplanting, once the seedling’s stem is about the size of a pencil. For this, align and tape the graft between the mother plant’s sprout and a sapling stem. Leave the setup undisturbed for a month, then remove the tape when new growth appears. Grafting helps improve avocado production and fruit quality.
7. Supporting growth
Use balanced fertilisers to promote healthy growth. Follow a fertilisation schedule appropriate for your variety and soil condition. Additionally, prune young trees to encourage a strong structure and manageable size, ideally around 10 to 12 feet for ease of harvesting.
Avocados take about 5-7 years to bear fruit when grown from seed.
8. When to water
In summer, water twice a week, but only once every 15 days in winter. The soil should remain moist but not waterlogged. Only keep the soil moist. Yellowing leaves indicate overwatering, so adjust accordingly.
9. Monitoring and maintenance
Ensure the environment maintains temperatures above 25 degrees Celsius. Good air circulation is crucial for growth.
10. When to harvest
Avocados take about 5-7 years to bear fruit when grown from seed or 2-3 years from a grafted tree. Avocados should be harvested when their colour changes to a dark green or nearly black. Bright green avocados are typically not ready for harvest and should remain on the tree until they mature.
Harvest when fruits are mature but still firm to ensure proper ripening. Handle fruits gently to avoid bruising, which can affect quality and shelf life.
Following these steps, you can grow your own organic avocado plant and enjoy the fruits of your labour.
Happy gardening!
Edited by Vidya Gowri
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