Your Avocado Tree Can Get a Do-Over

Have you ever grown an avocado tree and later realized you don’t really like the fruit?

Maybe you grew it from seed and waited years for it to produce. You finally get your first avocados, taste them, and think, “Yeah… this isn’t what I was hoping for.”

Or maybe you bought a variety that you thought you were going to love, but the production isn’t great, the fruit is too small, or it just doesn’t perform well in your yard.

Does that mean you have to pull the whole tree out and start over?

Not necessarily.

One of the things I really like about growing avocado trees is that you can get a do-over.

Your First Choice Doesn’t Have to Be Your Final Choice

When you grow an avocado from seed, you have no guarantee that the fruit will be anything like the avocado you originally got the seed from.

That seedling is genetically different from its parent.

And while growing from seed can be fun, there’s a big downside if your main goal is getting good fruit as quickly and reliably as possible:

You have to wait.

It can take years before a seed-grown avocado tree produces fruit, and then you have to find out whether you actually like what it produces.

That’s a long time to wait just to discover that the fruit isn’t what you wanted.

But there’s another way to look at that seedling.

If it has developed a healthy, established root system and the tree is in good condition, you may have something valuable already growing in your yard.

The root system.

Instead of throwing the entire tree away, you can potentially top-work or regraft it.

Give That Tree a New Job

This is where grafting becomes so useful.

You can take an established avocado tree and graft a variety you actually want onto it.

Instead of waiting years for a brand-new tree to develop a large root system, you’re using the root system that is already there.

You could graft varieties like Reed, GEM, Nabal, Hass, Sharwil, Fuerte or another variety that performs well for your growing conditions.

Now that old tree has a completely different purpose.

The tree you originally grew might not have produced the fruit you wanted, but the root system can still help support the new grafts.

That’s what makes top-working so interesting.

You’re basically telling the tree:

“Alright, let’s try this again.”

A Seedling Isn’t Always a Waste

I see people sometimes grow an avocado from seed and then get disappointed because they realize it isn’t going to produce the same avocado they were expecting.

But I wouldn’t automatically look at that tree as a failure.

A healthy seedling can become useful rootstock.

In fact, having a mature root system can be a big advantage when you’re grafting.

Once you have a healthy established tree, you have the opportunity to change the variety without necessarily starting completely from scratch.

Of course, the tree still needs to be healthy, and grafting isn’t a guarantee of success. You also want to consider your climate, soil, tree health, grafting technique and the variety you’re putting onto the tree.

But the basic idea is pretty simple:

You don’t always have to start over.

This Is Why I Love Avocado Trees

One of the coolest things about growing avocados is that you’re not necessarily locked into your first decision.

Maybe you planted a seed.

That’s one decision.

Maybe you waited several years and didn’t like the fruit.

That’s another decision.

Maybe you decide you want a completely different variety.

You can make another decision.

That’s the beauty of grafting.

You can change direction.

I’ve top-worked trees and put multiple varieties onto established trees, and that’s one of the reasons I enjoy experimenting with different avocados.

You can take an established tree and turn it into something completely different.

You can even have multiple varieties growing on the same tree if you manage the grafts properly.

Before You Pull That Tree Out…

The next time you look at an avocado tree and think, “I don’t really want this variety anymore,” don’t immediately grab the shovel.

Take a look at the tree.

Is the root system established?

Is the tree healthy?

Is the trunk strong enough?

Does it make sense for your space and growing conditions?

If the answer is yes, you may have another option.

Regraft it.

Sometimes you don’t need a new avocado tree.

Sometimes you just need a better variety growing on the tree you already have.

And that’s what I mean when I say avocado trees can give you a do-over.

Your first choice doesn’t always have to be your final choice.

Sometimes the tree just needs a second chance.