How to grow Avocado in Australia
Grow avocado in full sun with deep, free-draining soil and total protection from frost, as roots rot in wet ground. Water often but never let it sit soggy, and mulch well to keep roots cool.
At a glance
- Difficulty: Advanced
- Sun: Full sun
- Water: 25 litres a week, watered every 3 days
- Spacing: 700 cm
- Time to harvest: 1095 days (about 3 years)
- Time to germinate: 1 days
- Soil pH: 6 to 6.5
- Frost tolerance: Half hardy
When to sow by region
| Region | When to sow | 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 | Dry season establishment May to Sep. Avocado grows well in tropical north; extend sow window for heat. |
| Darwin & Top End | May to September | Dry season establishment May to Sep. Avocado grows well in tropical north; extend sow window for heat. |
Varieties
- Hass (Type A)
- Shepard (Type B)
- Reed (Type A)
- Bacon (Type B)
Harvest and storage
Harvest tip
Avocados ripen off the tree, so pick mature fruit at full size when a test one softens evenly indoors. Clip the stalk with secateurs rather than pulling.
Storage
Bench until ripe, then fridge for 2 to 3 days. Freeze mashed with lemon juice.