How to Grow Avocado Reed
Wikimedia Commons
Avocado Reed
Persea americana 'Reed'
treeReed is a medium-sized avocado cultivar prized for its rich, creamy fruit with excellent flavor and relatively small seed. It's a consistent producer that bears fruit year-round in suitable climates and is less prone to alternate bearing than some avocado varieties.
When should you plant Avocado Reed in your zone?
Get a personalized planting timeline — when to start seeds, transplant, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Free to start.
Example Avocado Reed timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
-
Plant Avocado Reed
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
-
Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
-
Harvest Avocado Reed
Late summer into fallBefore the first fall frost (≈ Nov 8)
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Avocado Reed dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in USDA zones 9b-11, with best production in zones 10-11
Sign up free to see if Avocado Reed grows in your zone — and get a personalized planting timeline.
Get my Avocado Reed timeline →Growth Stages
Nursery/Establishment
6-12 monthsYoung grafted tree 2-4 feet tall with developing branch structure and shallow root system
Stake for wind protection, mulch lightly (4-6 inches away from trunk), water regularly but allow slight drying between waterings, prune to establish strong scaffold branches
Vegetative Growth
1-2 yearsTree rapidly grows in height and canopy spread, developing more branches and leaves
Continue staking support, maintain consistent soil moisture, apply balanced fertilizer every 6-8 weeks, thin competing branches to promote open canopy structure
Pre-Flowering
6-12 months before first floweringTree reaches mature size (25-30 feet for Reed) with full canopy, begins producing flower buds
Apply zinc sulfate annually (zinc deficiency common in avocados), switch to higher potassium fertilizer, maintain good air circulation to prevent fungal disease
Flowering & Fruit Set
3-4 monthsSmall cream-colored flowers appear in clusters; many flowers drop, but some develop into tiny green fruit
Avoid heavy pruning, maintain steady soil moisture (critical during fruit set), do not over-fertilize with nitrogen, thin fruit if excessive set to prevent branch breakage and small fruit
Fruit Development & Maturation
5-8 monthsFruit gradually enlarges to 4-6 inches long, ripening on tree over several months; skin darkens to deep purple-black
Continue consistent watering, apply potassium if needed, support heavy branches with props, monitor for pests/disease, fruit continues to ripen after picking
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
-
Spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil during bloom and early fruit development; maintain good air circulation; monitor fruit for scarring
-
Spray with horticultural oil or neem oil; prune affected leaves; encourage natural predators
-
Increase humidity through irrigation, spray with water to dislodge, use miticide if severe
-
Prune out infested branches and burn; apply sticky bands to trunk; difficult to control chemically
-
Horticultural oil spray during dormant season; hand-prune heavily infested branches
-
Not controllable; use disease-free certified nursery stock; propagate only from virus-free budwood
Uses
Fresh consumption and guacamole
CulinaryReed avocados have creamy, buttery flesh with rich flavor, ideal for eating fresh with salt and lime or for making guacamole. The small seed relative to fruit size provides more usable flesh than many varieties. [source]
Salads and toast topping
CulinaryThe dense, rich flesh holds its shape well when sliced, making it excellent for salads, sandwiches, and avocado toast. [source]
Heart health and nutrient source
MedicinalAvocados are rich in potassium, folate, vitamin E, and monounsaturated fats, supporting cardiovascular health and providing anti-inflammatory compounds. [source]
Natural skin and hair care
HouseholdAvocado oil and flesh are used in homemade face masks, moisturizers, and hair treatments for their skin-nourishing properties. [source]
Habitat and food for pollinators
WildlifeAvocado flowers attract bees and other pollinators, supporting pollinator populations while providing food through fruit for birds and wildlife. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
Reed avocados ripen off the tree and should be harvested when fruit reaches full size (typically October-April for most climates). Gently twist and lift fruit, or use hand pruners to cut stem. Fruit is mature when skin has fully darkened. Allow picked fruit to ripen at room temperature (3-5 days) until yield slightly to palm pressure. Store ripe fruit in refrigerator to extend shelf life.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Reed is notable for its ability to bear fruit nearly year-round in favorable climates, unlike many avocado varieties that have pronounced alternate bearing patterns (heavy crop one year, light crop the next)
- 🌱 Avocado trees have an unusual flowering mechanism called 'protogynous' dichogamy—flowers open as females in the morning, close at midday, then reopen as males in the afternoon, reducing self-pollination
- 🌱 Reed avocados can remain on the tree for several months after ripening without quality loss, serving as a natural storage mechanism that extends harvest season
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
Join 30,000 gardeners planning their gardens with LizPlants.
Get your personalized Avocado Reed planting timeline
Tell us your zip code and we'll calculate exactly when to start Avocado Reed seeds, transplant seedlings, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Includes calendar reminders and printable task lists. Free to start.
Get my Avocado Reed timeline →