Kngskid, thanx for the tip; I wasn't real comfortable in Fruits, but it was the best forum I could find. I've re-posted over in 'Tropicals' thanx to you. Hope someone has some difinitive guidance. Drew

My Don Gillogly tree is about five years old now and about 20 feet tall (so much for being a dwarf house plant..ha)Last year was the first year it had fruit. Had about 5 avocados. They were ok. This year we had about 5 like the ones you pictured and a bumper crop of about 35 regular avocados, except so far, every one we've cut open has be stringy. YUCK. I'm hoping that it's because it's a young tree and the fruit will get better. If not, I swear I'll cut the tree down and plant a Holiday. Anyway, to answer your question, this tree is not supposed to need another to produce fruit. I only have the one tree. However, keep in mind that this tree is also supposed to be a dwarf (which is why I bought it), and produce twice a year (which I certainly haven't seen)

I've been trying this for a couple years (I live in Indiana). Bought two 7' tall grafted trees in early 2016. Brought them inside in October, put them under a 400w HPS light 12 hrs/day and they flowered at the same time in November. I killed the flowers on accident while treating for mites. Then to my surprise plant #1 flowered again in early March. I hand pollinated about 300 flowers and 17 took. The fruit got about the size of a ball bearing and then it warmed up enough to put them outside in April. The fruit all died within 4 days, probably a combination of change in environment and the plant flowering twice in short succession. Also probably lacked enough fertilizer. Now I have both plants outside and tree #2 has flowered and I've gotten about 12 fruits to set (using pollen from tree #1 was more effective). I trimmed off many of the remaining flowers/buds in hopes the tree won't waste any energy on producing more flowers and instead focus on the fruit. Whether or not this tree will produce anything edible is still up in the air but my fingers are crossed. These plants are challenging but that's the point!

Simon, thanx for that helpful post. Full sun. Couldn't get better exposure. Since planting 2.5 years ago, haven't fed ava except with humus and mulch. Leaves are rich dark green. No chlorosis at all. But, it's probably time to apply a small amount. This is my first avocado, and I have no complaints. Only a little troubled that the trunk and branches are SO flexible. And, forget about it if Ava fruits this year. No way could the branches support heavy fruiting. I would have to stake. In the meantime, I feel like I'm taking a very slight chance on breakage (the branches are heavy with foliage), but I'm betting, as you pointed out, that I'm helping it become a stronger plant, physically. We get hurricanes here and I KNOW I'll have to protect her then with some significant staking, at least for the next couple of years. I've posted a picture which is not the best, but shows how it leans over and from a short distance resembles a bush, but is really just a single trunk that does not stand up. Thanks again.