| I have an avocado tree that I grew from seed. Does it have to be a grafted tree to produce fruit? It is about 8 years old and about 15 feet tall. It is a great shade tree. But we would love for it to produce. |
| Avocado trees grown from seeds can actually bear fruit. Not all seedlings will produce avocados, but if the conditions are right, many will! Commercially grown avocado trees are the result of the grafting of a certain kind of avocado tree onto root stock. The fruits of a seedling may not be as large as commercially grown avocados, but they are edible. Seedlings generally begin to blossom and produce fruit after three to five years. If your tree is 8 years old, it may not bear fruit. Watch closely to see if it flowers. If so, it has the potential to bear fruit. As long as the weather is not too cold or damp during the flowering period the flowers should be pollinated by winds and/or insects and fruit should result. Since you're enjoying the shade from the tree, it's useful in the garden. If it ever bears fruit you can just consider that a bonus. Hope it does eventually bear fruit for you. |
