Hi Jan, cindeea, and Barb, I see that all three of you live in zone 10. I can't imagine why you don't have your limes in the ground. Two and a half years ago I gave my son, who lives in Cape Coral, a Key Lime seedling that is so large now that he said it is just loaded with fruit. Because I live in zone 9a, I have to protect mine and have it growing as an understory plant under an oak tree . Even in a colder area it is still better to grow it in the ground and protect it from freezes when necessary. I also have a 1 1/2 year old variegated pink lemon tree in the ground in a less protected area and it is growing just fine even without cold protection. That one surprised me about being more cold tolerant that what the tag said. So, the "secret" is to plant it in the ground--then just watch it grow!

wow, i think this is an old post... but i am a first time curious avacado grower as well. i tried the tooth pick thing for a while but had no luck(or patience), so i gave up and decided to just plant the seeds(since i felt bad throwing it out. i totaly forgot about them, and a few months later had a 2 foot tall growth amongst another plant. So perhaps patience is the key... i now have 10 baby avacado tress, planted from organic avacado seeds. They range from a few weeks old to a few months. I am very new to this, but they seem to be doing great. my oldest is about 3 feet high, and it has 12 leaves now. they are all in my bathroom, soaking up the humidity from the showers. there isnt a whole lot of light, but they are near a window. they all seem to be growing very rapidly. everytime i eat a avacado, i feel i must plant the seed. so i think we will have many trees. i have heard many different things about growing them and getting them to bear fruit, but it does seem to depend on the climate and where you are located, right? i am located in new mexico, near santa fe. it does get cold here in the winter, so i am hoping they will be ok. i definitly hope they will bear fruit someday, but in the mean time am enjoying thier beauty. but i am curious about this whole grafting thing. i have no clue anything about it, if some could give me some tips, or a website, it would be greatly appreciated! If i do not graft then is the only other way to pollinate by putting them outside, both male and female? also, it is mentioned often about fertilizing, but these are organic fruit, and i do not want to use chemicals, and i have also heard of some natural fertilzers, but i am also vegitarian... so i dont want any fish emulsion or bone meal, any tips? do you HAVE to fertilize indoor fruit trees?or does it just help? and about clipping off the top, does that really help? i feel so bad clipping off the top, its doing so well, and is so beautiful... any help is appreciated! Thank YOU Much! sprite

HI everyone This may look like a late reply but I've just come accross this post! I'm from paris France and an avocado tree lover too!! Most people will shoot graft a very young avocado tree, about eighteen inches tall. Just cut the top off the tree, split the trunk in half for about two inches, cut the scion in a long vee shape, and insert it into the cut. Wrap the graft with a long 1/4 inch wide rubber band. The scion is best when it is the same diameter as the trunk. You can do it with a bigger tree but then you'll have to graft onto smaller branches!!! Now if anyone has access to an avocado tree (Mexicola, HAss, Bacon.... ) and could help me out and send me some cutting so I can try grafting my trees started from seed I'd definitely be grateful!!!!!!!!! Let me know... feel free to send a mail!

anyone?