How Big Do Avocado Trees Get?

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It is only right that you know how big avocado trees get, especially if you intend to plant yours in a limited space or indoors.

So, how big do avocado trees get?

Avocado trees can grow as tall as 80 feet.

But the range for each type of avocado tree might fall short of this maximum. Some types of avocado trees only grow as tall as 10 feet. Then again, some reach 30 to 65 feet.

In finding out the maximum height an avocado tree can reach, it is important to be specific. You should know the variety of avocado tree you have to get the most accurate height range.

The information in this article explores the size and growth rate of avocado trees. We discuss the factors that affect the size of avocado trees and much more.

How Big Do Avocado Trees Get?

As we already mentioned, avocado trees can reach a maximum of 80 feet (over 24 meters).

But on average, they stand at around 30-40 feet (9-12 meters).

The final size of an avocado tree depends on several factors. Some of these factors include soil condition, irrigation, fertilization, and pruning. We will look at some of these factors below.

Soil Conditions

Avocado trees thrive and grow to be pretty big when they are planted in well-drained soil. Such soil should be humus-rich and slightly acidic or neutral.

If you want to plant a new tree in clay soil, you must dig a hole first. It should be approximately 2 feet deep and 6 feet wide.

After digging, fill the hole with loamy soil. The loamy soil will allow the tree’s root system to grow larger.

Your avocado tree may not reach its maximum size if your soil is not well-drained. You might need to install a French drain connected to the planting hole.

When the soil is not well-drained, an avocado tree will become unhealthy and remain quite small. The tree may also be prone to root diseases when not well-drained.

Planting an avocado tree in a container will also affect the size of the tree.

Poorly aerated containers with limited space will restrict the growth of your tree. But you can have better luck with a terracotta container.

Terracotta containers measuring at least 2 feet in diameter will provide proper aeration for the roots while allowing the tree to grow to a modest width and height.

Fertilizer

How much fertilizer you apply to your tree will affect its size.

Avocado trees flourish when they receive enough nitrogen and some zinc.

You can apply liquid fertilizer using irrigation water, or you can apply granular fertilizers to the trees.

You can also apply organic fertilizers like coffee grounds, bone meal, fish-meal, and fish emulsion. These fertilizers provide potassium, nitrogen, and phosphorous in moderate amounts.

Irrigation

For your avocado tree to reach its full size, it is vital to water it regularly in dry and warm weather conditions.

During the growing season, avocado trees require deep watering twice a week. To prevent diseases in the root system, you should allow the soil to dry a little between watering.

Pruning

Another factor that affects the overall size of an avocado tree is pruning. Avocado trees should not be pruned excessively (except when you are removing dead branches).

Before planting, it is important to check if the space available will accommodate your avocado.

Make sure you know what type of avocado you are planting. The different types of avocado trees have different space requirements in line with their average size.

You should also pay attention to the kind of care that variety of avocado will need. This way, you will know how often and to what extent you should prune it.

How Wide Do Avocado Trees Get?

Avocado trees generally like to grow wide and broad.

When an avocado tree grows, it can spread laterally to a width of approximately 30 feet (9 meters).

A small tree typically comes from the grower with a few branches that contain some lateral growth. These features will combine as the tree grows to create a canopy that offers shade.

Because avocado trees want to grow 30 feet wide, you should plant them at least 15 feet apart. This way, each tree will get enough sunlight.

The table below shows a list of different avocado trees and their corresponding height and width:

Avocado Tree	Height	Width
Hass	15-20 ft.	5-8 ft.
Dwarf	8-10 ft.	–
Fuerte	30 – 40 ft.	25 – 35 ft.
Mexican	25 – 30 ft.	15 – 20 ft.
Florida	30-65 ft.	–
Pinkerton	30 – 40 ft.	20 – 30ft.

How Fast Do Avocado Trees Grow?

Another factor to consider when looking at the size of an avocado tree is its growth rate.

Avocado trees have a relatively rapid growth rate, and this can be both good and bad. It all depends on how things pan out for you.

Avocado trees typically grow at least 2 feet in a growing season. On average, it can take 15-30 years for them to hit maturity.

One factor that influences the growth rate of avocado trees is climate. When these trees are exposed to extreme temperatures, their growth is paused. In some cases, they may even die.

However, if the trees manage to survive the extreme conditions, they will return to growing rapidly.

It is important to note that mature avocado trees can tolerate cold weather better than young trees. However, the difference in tolerance between both groups is only a few degrees.

How Big Does an Avocado Tree Need to Be to Bear Fruit (and How Long Does It Take)?

After germinating, it takes quite a while before an avocado tree will start bearing fruit. So, you may have to be patient before you get any avocados from your tree.

The good news is if you provide the ideal conditions for the tree to thrive, you will be rewarded with tasty and fresh fruit on a large scale for years to come.

So, how big does an avocado tree need to be to bear fruit?

Well, the size of avocado trees varies depending on the variety. So, there is no universal answer to this question.

However, you should know that when planted in a container, the tree may have to be around 6 to 8 feet tall to bear fruit.

The time it takes for avocado trees to bear fruit might be a better predictive value.

When avocado trees are cultivated from nursery trees, it takes an average of 3-4 years to start producing fruits. But if cultivated from a seed, it would take longer—from 5-15 years.

Avocado trees typically bear fruits between April and September.

But it could come earlier and continue for longer periods in your region. It all depends on the climatic conditions, and to an extent, the variety of the avocado tree.

Below are some avocado fruit production periods in some regions:

Fruit production in Australia takes place between June and late July. The fruits produced are of medium size and fall off the tree when they ripen. These avocados do not follow the ripening conditions of other avocados.
In California, the avocados pollinate during spring. Fruit production starts in late winter and continues till early summer.
In Asian countries like Indonesia production of fruit is at its peak from October to March. There is pretty much no break here as the trees keep producing fruits all year round.

Final Thoughts

Avocado trees can grow to be as small as 8 feet or as tall as 80 feet. It all depends on the variety of the tree and some other factors. All in all, in well-drained humus-rich soil and favorable weather, avocado trees will grow well.