This sounds like a frustrating result after what looked like a promising sign of an avocado crop. But don’t be discouraged. Avocados grown from seeds can take up to 13 years to produce fruit. It can happen sooner, but it is a crop that requires some patience. With that being said, there are a few factors that can prevent flowers from turning into fruit. One is fertilization and maintaining a regular schedule.
Another has to do with the flowers and their pollination. Avocados have a unique flowering behavior called ‘protogynous dichogamy,’ which means that the tree has both functional male and female organs in each flower. Avocado flowering patterns are divided into two groups: “A” and “B” type flowers. Over a 2-day period, A types open first as a female before closing and then reopening as a male. B type flowers are opposite. One way to help with pollination is to have another avocado tree nearby to increase the amount of pollen available to be transferred to female flowers when they are open.
Avocado trees have the ability to self-pollinate as well, but it can take time for it to happen.
Hi Patrick,
This sounds like a frustrating result after what looked like a promising sign of an avocado crop. But don’t be discouraged. Avocados grown from seeds can take up to 13 years to produce fruit. It can happen sooner, but it is a crop that requires some patience. With that being said, there are a few factors that can prevent flowers from turning into fruit. One is fertilization and maintaining a regular schedule.
Another has to do with the flowers and their pollination. Avocados have a unique flowering behavior called ‘protogynous dichogamy,’ which means that the tree has both functional male and female organs in each flower. Avocado flowering patterns are divided into two groups: “A” and “B” type flowers. Over a 2-day period, A types open first as a female before closing and then reopening as a male. B type flowers are opposite. One way to help with pollination is to have another avocado tree nearby to increase the amount of pollen available to be transferred to female flowers when they are open.
Avocado trees have the ability to self-pollinate as well, but it can take time for it to happen.
Hope this helps!