Maybe I should dig a 5th hole. Thought you and others might be interested in knowing that Gwen avocados are currently available at Elis Farmstand in Fallbrook. It is a heavy regular bearer, with fruit averaging 10 to 18 ounces with skin black when ripe. Ive got a small Reed already picked out, since I really love the flavor. Lamb Hass Avocado. And I started reading about rootstocks. For commercial purposes the fruits are picked while unripe and ripened after harvesting. Its season should complement the GEM even better, and the growing pattern seems like its columnar as well. We have acreage The Land located above Hilo, Hawaii, at 800 foot elevation. 2) in the same context, which would be the best pair for Pinkerton tree Hass, Fuerte or Bacon? They should do well for you. So I need to know the characteristics of other types of Avocado trees. And if its a tiny tree youre after, then it doesnt get much smaller than Holiday (XX3). The only tough part is that you must whitewash exposed bark. Hi Greg. Nice work! The Pinkerton tree itself gets a bit sunburned and tattered looking but it holds onto its fruit very well, which Id say is what we most care about. My 15-foot Hass averages roughly 100 avocados per year, and Ive found that we need more than that during the Hass season. I see a lot of posts about cold tolerant avocado trees, how about heat tolerant (besides reed)? The grove manager said he prefers Hass at no closer than 12 feet. On the other hand, if a tree doesnt have a heavy set and you want to try to prevent the few fruitlets that it has set from dropping, the best thing you can do is make sure it doesnt become stressed from heat or thirst. Also my grandfather said growing up in Los Angeles they had Mcarthur avocados, Have you ever heard of them? Edranol, Ettinger, Hass, Sharwil and Zutano were mid-season flowerers. Hi Greg, My trees are young now, but Im a few years I will ask for your location and send you a barrel of all my varieties. Hi Robert, If its fresh and thick, youll soon notice a lot of fungal growth (hyphae white webby stuff) if you poke inside, but thats never had bad consequences as far as Ive observed. I have been in contact with them for Carmen, GEM and Ettinger trees and late January was told to ask later in April for the trees. The challenge Ive heard others in your area having is with occasional cold snaps in winter (taken care of by your greenhouse) and such cool spring weather that B types dont set much fruit. The difference is that the A type trees have flowers that will open as females in the morning one day, close in the afternoon, then open the next afternoon as male and then close in the evening. I havent seen it with my own two eyes growing in a location quite as hot as Norco. Yet Pinkerton, Mexicola, Bacon, Jim Lamb, Wurtz and Reed do well here. I dont usually talk about high density because its a term that commercial growers use whereas my website is oriented toward home gardeners. So from Armstrong and Evergreen and Walter Andersen, etc. I wish you luck with the planting this is a perfect time for it. But the distinctive smooth texture and nutty yellow flesh of a perfect Fuerte is so appealing to me that I dont even want to adulterate it as guacamole. (See more about Lamb in my post, The Lamb/Hass avocado tree: a profile.). Sorry to hear about the decline of such a wonderful tree. Im in a hot area of Bay Area northern Ca. It becomes hydrophobic whereas the mulch never does.) Our Avocado Varieties. My Reed, as well as those I know nearby, does relatively well. However, apart from my own garden, I do some gardening in my parish churchs park, also in Nice. Then I would eliminate the Holiday on the basis of its lower production in comparison to Pinkerton and GEM. Ps. We are Sunset zone 17. First, there is no best rootstock. I also started hearing about a lunchbox avocado that is being developed for high density planting. All of this is very complicated, but very inspiring!!!! Edranol, Ettinger, Sharwil and Zutano demonstrated a closer timing to Hass than Bacon, Fuerte and Shepard . Three, how big will you let the Hass trees get? Anything you can pass my way will be appreciated. There are some Hawaiians that do well in CA and FL, like Kona Sharwil. Hi Greg, Hass x 4 Reed x 3 Sharwil x 1 Unknown grafted x 1 Fuerte x 2 Ettinger x 2 Wurtz x 1 And a few seedlings. Really, grafted avocado trees can kill themselves by fruiting too much too soon. As far as Reed vs. Sharwil for this type of climate, Id tentatively give the edge to Reed. Youll just want to be prepared to protect them in cold snaps during their first winter or two. (I have numerous other avocado trees near my Gwen.) I have two questions for you: Id probably still go Fuerte. It has set more fruit while young than most of my other varieties. Its me from up North again. Im guessing youre referring to Van Nuys as being slightly cooler in winter (compared to spots closer to the beach). From what I hear it is a great tasting avocado but they dont seem to produce much up here. The tree is vigorous and upright, but apparently can be keep to about 2.5 metres in height by intensive pruning. But thats actually not why Id choose it to grow as my only tree. We have a central coast house with three citrus trees and was looking for one Avocado tree, I was leaning towards the Sir Prize, with your discussion should I lean towards the Haas as a single tree, or is either a good choice. So, I want versions that handle topping well or are naturally small. I listen for the sound of a chainsaw. Thats a good question. I hope that in a few years I can have more avocado than I can eat! Avocado - Hass (A Flowering Variety): Possibly the most popular of all avocados, Hass bears incredibly flavoursome fruits that keep well. Its just easier to maintain over the long haul. For the summer/fall varieties, Im unsure about Gwen. Although I enjoy the diversity of tastes in most all avocado varieties, theres something about Fuerte fruits that hit the target for me. I have never tasted anything but supermarket Hass from distant lands so all I can do is read or watch videos of people describing how each variety tastes like. Greg, Who knows? You ought to add either Lamb or Reed for avocados to be eaten in summer into fall, yes; your grafting idea there is a good one. Until then, let me say that every one of the varieties you mentioned has great tasting fruit (except that Ive never eaten Green Gold so cant comment with experience on that one). Come to think of it, Id say Nabal fruits taste a tad richer than Reed, actually. Many thanks in advance for your help and advice! Ive found that 30% shade cloth over the top of young trees is enough unless its over about 105 degrees. From your experience what avocado tree should I plant? Maybe I shouldnt have put Reed in that list, but Reed isnt as vigorous as some other varieties such as Bacon, Fuerte, or Hass. But where to find this information otherwise? I would stick to A types though. The owners are nice and said I welcomed to the tree. Then you can add a third one strictly based a flavor. My twist is I want to keep them to 10 12 ft high. Im guessing it was the chlorine that did the damage. Theyre rich in flavor and creamy in texture without any strings. Its one that I have thought a lot about, read a lot about, still wrestle with, but have some good experience to share. I also gave some wood to others up here who are much better at grafting in case the tree disappears. Gwen has sensitivity to dry soil and heat. FWIW I think Fuerte, Reed and obviously a great Hass are among my top 5 so your advice is excellent. Ettinger, I have tried a bunch of places with no luck, its even hard finding a Fuerte. It could be something I acquired from eating Fuertes as a kid, I dont know. Tree 1: Im really leaning towards a GEM. Check the photos and descriptions of cankers and discoloration on avocados at this UC IPM page, and maybe one will fit your Gwen: http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/C008/m008bpcanker.html. . Once you have tried a GreyStar avocado, you will quickly conclude that GreyStar is several rungs up the ladder from Hass in flavour, quality and value. I would recommend buying a new and healthy tree within the next month and planting it straight away no keeping it for months on your deck first. To mitigate the clay soil, the planting area is raised, and the adjacent rock wall is free standing to allow drainage. Both ornamental and fruit trees are being affected, Its only about 8 miles to the Tijuana River valley from here which Im told is having a serious problem with shot hole borers, hope Im wrong but that may be the problem. In terms of the harvest season complementing your Hass and Fuerte, advantage probably goes to Reed here also. The main reason that I usually buy small avocado trees is because theyre so much cheaper. I went to Fallbrook and paid Eli a visit, and I came back with a Reed, a Sirprize, and a GEM. Im inclined to just replant everything because I dont find that damaged young trees recover very well. I do know MacArthur avocados. During the big freeze a few years ago, the temp got so low that it killed a lot of local avocados. SOLD OUT FOR 2022. Thats said, I learnt a lot))), At first I wanted to plant a Hass(A-type) and a Fuerte (B-type), because some people said they pollinise well each other (I read several articles about avocado pollination, though I still dont understant how an A-variety can complement a B-variety, if they do not flower during the same months?! Adam Tropics is located in the center of Temecula, we offer many varieties, Gem is a new type very similar to Hass Avocado in tree shape and quality of fruits but mature trees grow a little smaller than . by Laurie Meadows. A couple other options might be Fuerte and Bacon. I am looking for a variety that would : Yes, thats my thought and what I suspected you might think as well! They grow great but just dont produce as much fruit. Started producing at 3? Spacing six feet apart with ten feet between rows is very workable, depending on a few factors. Black on trunk and brown leaves suggest sunburn and lack of water. I moved mine into a barrel. If I had the space for two avocado trees, I would plant a Hass and a Reed. https://ucanr.edu/sites/alternativefruits/files/121265.pdf The main negative is that, to me, Pinkertons dont taste quite as good as Fuertes. In 1992, the USDA banned shipment of the Sharwil avocados after an oriental fruit fly larva was found in a Hawaiian packinghouse that processed Sharwil avocados and other local produce. Thanks again for all the information. Just a couple days ago, I visited the largest organic avocado orchard in California, and they recently planted a lot of Sharwil trees. Both can crop well as solo trees, and they have different harvest seasons, and they both are extremely high-quality in terms of eating. Old mexicana only a few a year, sometimes none. SUPPORTERS (we thank you! I have to do that with my avocados here in Sunset Zone 20 too. The fruit is the 'Hass' type, with a pebbly green skin that ripens off the tree to nearly black. I really appreciate reading your expert advice and opinion about your experiences. They will always stay true to who they are (unlike Hass, who with one whiff of heat or pressure shapeshift quicker than a Harry Potter character). Thanks for the feedback on Holiday. I plan on keeping the trees no taller than about 12, so I dont have to get on a ladder. . As for why Gwen hasnt become a more popular backyard avocado tree in Southern California, I dont know. I dont know anything about salt in soil, never heard of it on the French Riviera. If the only Hass avocados youve had are from the grocery store, then you have no idea. Im really benefiting from your observations. You just need to make sure that you plant on a mound. Youd likely still have a window with no fruit, or no great fruit, sometime in fall. Also, there is nothing written about growing avocados in France. Most of the other retail nurseries buy from the same wholesale growers (La Verne and Durling). Avocado flowers are cross-pollinated which means that developing independent genetic lines is difficult. Were trying to get avocados all year round with varieties weve tried and like. But Ill definitely write profiles of them when I feel like I know them well enough. North American market for . or either OK? Thank you for all the great information! I saw such a video recently displaying some trees in the front yard of friends of mine down here in San Diego County and it made me very angry. I confess I began gardening only very recently, and I am super interested in all the different varieties and the scientific details. Australia's avocado industry is largely populated by two varieties: Hass and Shepard. I wanted to say I appreciate all you do with your website and videos. The trees are doing spectacularly, especially the Nabal with 18 almost baseball size avocados on it. I decided to go pairwise; Im curious and want to understand whatre the best varieties to eat & grow here in our climate and my particular soil and I hope to avoid alternate bearing issues. Are they light producing or is that they are slow growing therefore they are light producing because they are small? I would eliminate the Wertz on the basis of the others tasting better. See his website for details: https://www.elisfarms.com/farmers-markets. Thanks for the kind words. Spraying the underside of leaves with a forceful stream of water can reduce mite presence on a few small trees where this is feasible.. Youve spurred me to finally post on some portion of the topic at least. But not until the end of summer. I couldnt send the photos here. And I hope this post helps you choose your own best kind. The rest of it rocky, not very rich, not clayey (I guess this should mean it is well ventilated. But a couple are right on the cusp of that top tier. So sorry to hear about your trees. One, get only the hardier varieties, such as Fuerte, Bacon, Zutano, or Puebla. As I mentioned in a different post I have a Fuerte and a Hass here in temecula, Ive been thinking of putting in a third to open the possibility of year round avocados. Theyre both great varieties, and good complementary trees for a Reed. We can all hope, cant we? 'Greengold' and 'Murashige' are other green-skinned cultivars recommended by CTAHR for commercial planting. The Reed avocado variety is a chance seedling of Nabal, selected by James Reed in California in 1948. I have many thoughts on this topic, but dont have the experience so I am curious to get your thoughts on this! Thank you for your wonderful blog! Sun exposure. The Sharwil avocados have a 15-26 percent oil content and are very popular in Hawaii. We got a Hass today, and were planning to plant it tomorrow in the sunniest spot in our yard, which usually stays pretty warm, even when its chilly. I visited a grove with a soil pH of 8 and saw that their GEM trees on Dusa were stunted and chlorotic. I saw that you have a Gwen and was curious what your take is on that. Stay sharp! If you want the tree to grow more vertically, Id plant a Reed. come up with some heat resistant varieties. Big and green are the two fatal qualities that prevent Reeds acceptance as a commercial variety in todays small and black Hass world. Pinkertons are very productive, especially considering that they are a smaller tree, and like Fuerte, Pinkertons also mature a bit earlier than Hass. Better now than never. Yulia. Like Lamb, it will drop some fruit about now in spring before its mature, but you still always end up with a good crop. I realize it cant live forever there but at least I will get to try the fruit someday. In fact, it is precisely the microbes in there doing their work that produce the enzyme called cellulase which is said to fight the pathogenic fungus that causes root rot disease in avocados (Phytophthora cinnamomi). The correct spelling is "Hass." The word "Hass" rhymes with "class," and is often mistaken to rhyme with "Hoss" or "Hozz." Why is it "Hass Avocado?" Because the Hass Avocado is named after Rudolph Hass, a California postman who patented the Hass Avocado in 1935. Ive found a Gem and a Carmen Hass semi-locally and am torn about which to plant! Thank you for sharing your knowledge freely and generously. Ive watched some young trees in your area get zapped by cold every couple years recently. My experience with Sharwil in my own yard and my observations of other Sharwils confirm that its not the most predictable bearer, unfortunately. I have bought a number of trees there. What's more - I don't want to mush up my avo on my toast. Ill write it within the next couple weeks and title it something like Avocado varieties for year-round fruit.. Is there something I can do to prevent the drop, or is it just survival of the fittest? Full sun Wrapping the trees creates an oven. Being in Montecito, its likely that your Hass will set very well without a pollenizer. We had problems with root rot our persimmontree died of root rot). Let me get things together on my side before I share too much about the Lamorinda tree. (Compare that to many peaches, which cant hold their mature fruit for more than a couple weeks!). I hesitate to even talk about the taste of Kahaluu since Ive only eaten one. Im glad youre happy with your Zutano. SHIPPING. The variety has been grown in Southern California for about a hundred years, having been brought up from Guatemala by Wilson Popenoe. Its single disadvantage is its black color, which has been associated in the minds of the public with poor quality fruits, wrote H.B. I was trying to think of any varieties that cant be kept to 10-12 feet tall, but Im at a loss. This avocado is the only Hawaiian avocado authorized for . Its only the second time I have seen one in 5 years so I took it as fate and bought it to replace a Bacon I had which was burnt away by the sun yet I am convinced it was mislabeled and wasnt actually a Bacon. It is simply an awesome fruit. http://www.riversun.co.nz/assets/Uploads/Avocado-Rootstock-Characteristics.pdf Im also wondering if I might be happier going with a pair of smaller trees that let me enjoy avocados closer to year-round. I enjoy your videos! I want to reorder a Hass (on Duke-7), as you recommended earlier. It makes me feel geriatric. Most of them dont usually produce as well in such climates as A types. Atkins has a bunch of other varieties that you never see around. About the leaves, I think most people just think it looks messy. In the meantime, well work on protecting it from sunburn when it hits 100 F or 110 F in a few months! I am really lost on here. It generates more than $1 billion a year in revenues in the U.S. And it all started with one tree planted by a postman in his own backyard. Avocado varieties are of two flower types A or B and it has been observed in California since almost the beginning that A-type varieties fruit more reliably overall. I have a Hass that is a few years old from Durling Nursery. years, 7 now. However, if youd like a B type to complement Hass for pollination and season extension then Id go with Fuerte, Sharwil, or Nabal.