How to grow Avocado in Australia
Avocados (Persea americana) grow in every mainland capital except Canberra, and a good rule of thumb is that if citrus thrives in your garden, an avocado can too. The one thing they will not forgive is wet feet: drainage decides whether a tree lives or dies. Buy a grafted tree and it can fruit within a few years.
📖 Our full guide: How to Grow Avocado From Seed or a Grafted Tree in Australia
At a glance
When to plant by region
| Region | When to plant | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| South East Queensland | March to September | |
| Northern Rivers NSW | March to September | |
| Sydney & Coastal NSW | March to September | |
| Melbourne & Victoria | October and November | Marginal. Melbourne frosts run roughly mid May to mid September, and avocado is the most frost tender, so wait until October. Plant in a warm, sheltered, north facing spot and use frost cloth while young. |
| Adelaide & SA | September and October | Plant Sep to Oct on a raised mound in a warm sheltered spot, and water deeply through summer. Plains gardens rarely frost; in the Adelaide Hills, use frost cloth while young. |
| Perth & WA | March to May, August to October | Plant in autumn or from late winter to early spring, on a mound if drainage is slow. Shade young trees from hot afternoon sun and wind, mulch the sand heavily and water deeply through summer. |
| Tasmania | Not suited | Unsuitable for reliable fruit. Hardy types like Bacon survive sheltered coastal gardens but rarely crop. |
| Canberra & ACT | Not suited | Not viable outdoors. Canberra frosts are far colder than avocados survive, even hardy types like Bacon. |
| North Queensland | May to September | Plant May to Sep in the dry season. Queensland DAF says Hass flowers poorly on the coast north of about Yeppoon, so choose a variety for warm climates such as Shepard, or grow Hass only on the Atherton Tableland. |
| Darwin & Top End | May to September | Plant May to Sep in the dry season. Hass flowers poorly in the tropics, so choose a variety suited to warm, tropical climates. |
Where to plant
Plant in full sun, sheltered from strong wind, in deep, free-draining, slightly acid soil. Avocados are very prone to root rot, and a tree can die if its roots sit in waterlogged soil for a couple of days after a storm. In heavy soil, improve it with gypsum and compost well before planting and plant on a mound or slope. Never plant where water pools.
Young trees are very frost sensitive. Established trees of hardier varieties such as Hass and Bacon cope with light frosts, about minus 4°C for short periods, but shelter them while young.
- South East Queensland and the Northern Rivers: good avocado country. Plant in autumn or early spring, avoiding the hottest months while the tree establishes.
- Sydney and Perth: grow well. In Perth plant in autumn or from late winter to early spring, on a mound if drainage is slow, and mulch the sand heavily.
- Adelaide: plant in September or October on a raised mound in a warm, sheltered spot, and water deeply through summer.
- Melbourne: marginal. Wait until October, choose a warm, north-facing spot, and use frost cloth while the tree is young.
- North Queensland and Darwin: Hass flowers poorly in the tropics, so choose varieties suited to the tropics and plant early in the dry season.
- Canberra and Hobart: not suitable outdoors for reliable fruit.
Choosing a variety
- Avocados are A or B types, depending on when their flowers open as female and male. They are partly self-fertile, but planting one of each type gives bigger crops, especially in warm climates.
- Hass (A) is the most popular backyard variety and copes with cold once established. Reed (A) suits cooler, wet springs.
- Bacon (B) is the best choice for cold climates, grows to about 4 m and can fruit in about 4 years. Fuerte (B) also suits cooler areas but can take about 6 years to fruit. Shepard (B) is another common choice.
- Wurtz (A) is a dwarf, about 2.5 to 3 m, and the one to choose for a pot or small garden.
- Buy grafted trees from a nursery in the Avocado Nursery Voluntary Accreditation Scheme (ANVAS), which supplies disease-free stock.
How to plant
- Choose the best-drained spot you have, or build a wide mound in heavy soil.
- Dig a hole wider than the pot.
- Handle the root ball gently; avocado roots are easily damaged. Plant at the same depth it grew in the pot.
- Water in, then mulch thickly out to the drip line, keeping mulch off the trunk.
- Shade young trees from harsh afternoon sun and wind for the first summer.
Watering and feeding
Avocados have shallow roots that dry out quickly, so water regularly and deeply in dry weather, especially while fruit is setting and through summer, but let the top of the soil dry slightly between waterings. Never keep the ground soggy. A thick mulch to the drip line keeps the roots cool and moist.
Feed lightly and often through the growing season with a balanced fertiliser, compost or pelletised chicken manure, spread out under the canopy rather than against the trunk.
Pruning and care through the year
- Prune after harvest to keep the tree to a height you can pick and net, and to open the centre to light.
- Do not dig or cultivate under the tree, as it damages the shallow feeder roots.
Harvesting
Avocados do not ripen on the tree; they soften after picking. Fruit is mature when a test fruit picked and left at room temperature softens in about 7 to 12 days without shrivelling. Cut fruit with secateurs, leaving a short stalk, and avoid picking when the fruit is wet.
Harvest seasons vary by variety and climate. In cooler gardens Bacon is picked from about June to July and Hass from about September to January. Hass can hang on the tree for months once mature, so pick as needed.
Growing in pots
Only the dwarf Wurtz is a good choice for a pot. Use a pot at least 60 cm wide with a free-draining potting mix, water regularly without letting it sit wet, and feed lightly through the warm months.
Pests and diseases
Root rot is the biggest killer of backyard avocados. Fruit-spotting bugs and fruit fly are the main pests of the fruit in Queensland and New South Wales.
Pests to watch for
- Fruit-spotting bug Small fruit dropping, and hard, woody spots or dimples on the skin of older fruit.
- Fruit fly Sting marks on the skin and maggots in soft, rotting fruit.
- Thrips Stippled, silvery or bronzed leaves and rough, scarred patches on the fruit skin.
Diseases to watch for
- Root rot Yellowing, wilting leaves, small fruit and branch dieback, worst in wet soil. Improve drainage and plant on mounds.
- Anthracnose Black, sunken spots that spread through the flesh as the fruit ripens.
Common questions
Can I grow an avocado from a seed?
Yes, but a seedling grows into a very large tree, may take many years to fruit, and will not be the same as the fruit it came from. For reliable fruit, buy a grafted tree of a named variety.
How long does an avocado tree take to fruit?
A grafted tree usually fruits within a few years of planting. Bacon can fruit in about four years and Fuerte can take about six.
Do you need two avocado trees to get fruit?
Not always. Avocados are partly self-fertile, and a single tree, especially an A type such as Hass, can crop on its own in cooler climates. Planting an A type with a B type, such as Hass with Bacon or Shepard, gives better crops, especially in warm climates.
Why did my avocado tree die after heavy rain?
Almost certainly root rot. Avocado roots die if they sit in waterlogged soil for a day or two, and phytophthora root rot follows. Plant on a mound in very free-draining soil, and never where water pools.
How do I know when avocados are ready to pick?
Avocados ripen off the tree. Pick one or two and leave them at room temperature. If they soften in about 7 to 12 days without shrivelling, the crop is mature and you can pick as needed.
Can I grow an avocado in a pot?
Yes, if you choose the dwarf variety Wurtz, which grows to about 2.5 to 3 m. Use a pot at least 60 cm wide with free-draining mix.
Can avocados handle frost?
Young trees are very frost tender. Established trees of hardier varieties such as Hass and Bacon tolerate light frosts, about minus 4°C for short periods. Use frost cloth on young trees in frost-prone areas.
Sources we checked: Gardening Australia: Avocados; Business Queensland: Planting avocados; Business Queensland: Growing avocados; Business Queensland: Harvesting avocados; Business Queensland: Avocado pests and diseases; Diggers Club: How to grow avocado.