Out of season right now. The next sowing window opens in March.
Growing Calendar
This month: Oct
Plan ahead for this crop
- •Check growing conditions
- •Prepare for next stage
Watch Out For
Cold draughts and temperatures below 10°C will damage or kill the plant: never leave it in an unheated room over winter
Overwatering causes root rot and yellowing leaves: let the top few centimetres of compost dry out between waterings
Don't expect fruit: avocados grown from a shop-bought stone in the UK almost never flower or fruit; grow it for the foliage
Common Questions
About growing Avocado in the UK
Will my avocado tree ever produce fruit?
Almost certainly not. Avocados grown from a supermarket stone in the UK are grown for their foliage, not fruit: they need years of growth, a specific variety, cross-pollination from a second tree, and a much warmer, frost-free climate to flower and fruit reliably. Treat it as a long-term houseplant, not a food crop.
Why won't my avocado stone sprout?
Refrigerated supermarket avocados often have stones that are already partly dead from cold storage, so a low success rate is normal: expect roughly one in three to sprout. Nicking the base lightly and soaking overnight before planting improves your odds.
My avocado plant is tall and leggy. What should I do?
Pinch out the growing tip once the main stem reaches about 15cm, and again after each new flush of 5–6 leaves. Left alone, avocados grow as a single tall cane; regular pinching forces side shoots and produces a fuller, sturdier plant.
Can I put my avocado plant outside in summer?
Yes, from June to August, once nights are reliably above 12°C, a sheltered, warm, partly shaded spot outdoors can boost growth. Acclimatise it gradually over a week and bring it back inside well before the first autumn frost.
Written from real growing experience, organic methods only. Our story · Our approach
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