Tag: growing avocados in Portland

Our Avocado, Manuel

Dear Liza,

Living in Portland after so many years in California can sometimes be confusing. The different climate up here means that “outdoor” plant in Salinas become “indoor” plants in Portland.

This has lead to our having a small forest in our guest bathroom every winter. About five years ago, Auntie Bridgett decided to try and sprout an avocado seed. After a few duds, one took root, and has been growing ever since!

Here he is in 2021, the first picture after we were sure he was going to live. We were still keeping him inside.

A few years later, we put him out on the balcony for the warmer seasons, and he continued to do well.

And this year, he is nearly five years old and back out in the balcony for summer, as tall as the railing!

We may never get fruit from Manuel, but he has been a fine plant friend. I suppose I will need to have a plan for when her is too big for the bathroom… but that’s a worry for later.

Love,

Grandma Judy

Manuel, our Avocado Plant

Dear Liza,

I don’t know if you remember Manuel. He is an avocado plant we started from a seed in a jar way back in 2021. I didn’t take pictures of him when he was little. To be sadly honest, several previous avocado starts had died, and I didn’t want to get attached.

Here he is in November of 2022, not more than a healthy, skinny stick.

And with careful tending, he has continued to grow. Here he is now, 30 inches tall and loaded with leaves. As you can see, he’s inside. Still too chilly!

We put him on the balcony every late spring through early fall, and bring him into the sunny bathroom for winter. The irony is, since our balcony faces north, he only gets direct sun on bright days of the winter.

I imagine he must be a little confused.

Still, I am happy we have him with us. I doubt we will ever see an avocado on him, but then, he has surprised me before.

Love,

Grandma Judy