Norann Oleson, Editorial Director of Food Gardening Network

Welcome to avo world—the place to learn everything there is to know about planting, nurturing, growing, and eating delicious avocados. While fairly new to the American palate, avocados have seized the millennial imagination in a big way, and the rest of us love them just as much.

Because they’re so popular—and because the avocado tree is also an elegant addition to any landscape—we’ve prepared this all-in-one guide for you about growing and harvesting your own home-grown avocados, complete with some easy-to-prepare and tasty recipes for eating the finished product.

In this collection’s Introduction, you’ll first learn some history and basics about avocados, because gardeners always love information about the plants they grow. Then, in the Feature Articles, you’ll get specifics about avocado gardening—from the best site for an avocado tree to planting your seedling to fertilizing and watering.

You may already be an advanced food gardener, but while some of this may be refresher content for you, keep reading because you’re sure to learn something new in this comprehensive guide.

In Plant Profiles, you’ll learn about five popular varieties of avocados, so you’ll have specific details about the characteristics of each variety, how it fits into your landscape, and even when the different varieties ripen.

While there are dozens of varieties of avocados, we’ve chosen these five plant profiles because these are some of the most commonly grown. If you’d like us to include another avocado variety that appeals to you, please let me know by commenting below.

One of the things that makes Food Gardening Network unique is the assortment of super easy and delicious Recipes, so that you can enjoy the fruits of your gardening labor. Avocados are especially easy to harvest because they store themselves on the tree, not ripening until they’re picked.

These avocado recipes are diverse, including everything from guacamole (of course) to a twist on trendy avocado toast to avocado pops for dessert! Your family and friends will be impressed with both your gardening and your culinary efforts when you prepare these tasty dishes as a reward for your hard gardening work.

Next, you’ll learn Nutrition Facts about Avocados to find out exactly which nutrients are found in avocados, and to what degree. Home Remedies & Health Benefits of Avocados will help you learn about how key nutrients in avocados can help keep you healthy in a huge variety of ways. You’ll also learn all about other uses for avocados, besides just enjoying their garden-fresh deliciousness.

To help you explore the wonderful world of avocados even further, we’ve included a Resources section that is complementary to this collection. We aim to give you everything you need to grow, harvest, and eat delicious avocados, but you can take a deeper dive into these additional resources by visiting the links provided.

Finally, you’ll find a brief Glossary at the end of this collection in case you need a fuller explanation of any key terms and concepts.

By the time you’ve finished reading this collection, you’ll be fully prepared to become a real avocado gardener. Get out there and enjoy it!