Preparing My Avocado Tree For Fall and Winter
It's pretty darn chilly outside today. I had to wear a sweater outside just a bit ago to fight off the chill in the air. My tomato plants aren't enjoying the cold at all and the leaves are turning yellow. I'm leaving the remaining tomatoes on the plants as long as I can because they are still green.
Avocado trees definitely don't enjoy the cold.
The above picture is of my avocado tree back on August 17th. Since then, the weather started cooling off and it went through a growth spurt and grew around three more inches. I brought my little baby avocado tree in the house because the temperature dropped into the 40s last night.
Today It Was Transplanted To It's Permanent Pot
I found a big pot at Lowes so it will have room to spread it's roots as it grows. It'll be interesting to see how much it grows over the winter in it's new pot. I might not do an update post for a long time but at least I'll have this post to look back on to see how it looked on September 7th, 2017.
I pinched off the top leaves to encourage it to bush out. As it continues to grow I'll keep pinching off the top leaves. I'm not sure if it'll stay in the kitchen or the living room but the kitchen has a nice sliding glass door for lots of sunshine this winter. I'm very proud of this little guy. He's grown really well this summer. I've never grown one in Tennessee before. The ones I grew in Alabama loved the heat and thrived. My first Tennessee avocado tree exceeded my expectations. Hopefully it'll do well this winter in my old drafty house.
Clam Shells: Aka Cat Deterrant
If you remember my post a from last week I planned on using clam shells in my garden. Since I decided to plant the avocado tree in a big pot I needed something to keep the cats from cuddling up in the empty space. I turned the shells sideways and stuck them sticking out of the dirt. Very uncomfortable looking to lay on I hope.
Do you think it will fruit in the summer?
I don't think so. I've read it can take years to fruit. I expect it'll be around waist high to me by the end of next summer if it keeps growing so still too small for fruit. I started it from a pit so starting from scratch takes longer.
That thing has done really well! I'm betting it'll will like it's new pot just fine & continue to get bigger. Good idea on the clam shells!
I hope so. My last tree was in a smaller pot but it got as high as my chest before an ant invasion killed it. This is the first time I've put such a young one in a huge pot so it'll be interesting to see how big it gets.
Oh wow, that's pretty big! I'm betting you'll be keeping a pretty close eye on how this one does. (Remember, diatomaceous earth will take care of ants if needed. Non-toxic, too.) Being in a nice warm house all winter will make it very happy!
Wow you guys are in the 40s also!!! I swear every year the cold fells, well, colder lol!
I know. I had to kick the heat on last night and I hated to do it. I was hoping for a normal warmish fall where I didn't need heat or air to save on the electric bill but noo....mother nature has different plans.
Nice job!