I struggle with when the fruit are mature for harvest. I live in WV, the eastern panhandle. Product photos via A Natural Farm and Education Center, Brighter Blooms, and Nature Hills. What if your avocado tree is not weathering the cold well? They might have cultivars… Read more », The “May” avocado is identical to the “Joey” avocado, which I was able to confirm with Bill Schneider, who originally cultivated it, but no longer has that tree, and had mostly forgotten until I bothered him to recall “May”, which he named after a little girl, who came up and said, “Hi, my name is Mayella”, when he was in Uvalde to gather cuttings from the same renowned tree that “Joey” Ricers found there and propagated. Fascinated by the childhood discovery that plants make chemicals to defend themselves, Helga embarked on further academic study and obtained two degrees, studying plant diseases as a plant pathology major. Keep in mind that seeds and plants produced using organic methods are not necessarily chemical free- this only indicates that they were produced… Read more », Hi Heather, Allison is right that Haas is a great variety if you can grow it indoors over the winter. Here is more about what we do. Are you looking to grow cold hardy varieties, or do you want to grow Hass or Fuerte? I have a nice del rio / Pryor avocado. Avocado trees fall into one of three possible subspecies: West Indian, Guatemalan, or Mexican. The large, tender-skinned, green fruit has a 30 percent oil content, giving the firm flesh a rich and creamy texture. I leave in Torrance Ca. These trees do not need to be trained, and they may not need to be watered in the rainy months. These hybrids are best grown in Zone 9 or higher. I even called the Devine Chamber of Commerce to ask if they knew if the nursery is still in business. If I find out anything, I will post an update here. It makes an attractive rounded tree that can ultimately grow to 60 feet, with large, glossy dark-green leaves and small greenish flowers. Depending upon the variety, it may take 3 years or longer to see fruit. Many of them are quite tasty and have the added benefit of being cold tolerant. Young trees will need additional protection to survive cold snaps. Trees of this cultivar are vigorous growers. No, it doesn’t taste anything like bacon, it is named after James Bacon from California, who first cultivated it in 1954. Craig Hepworth, the Florida fruit geek, wrote about how to tell when the green-skinned Mexican avocado varieties are ripe and said that it can be “a bit of a guessing game.”. I need some advice in where to buy the trees from that will bear fruit to sell. The cold hardy varieties can grow in partial shade, but they prefer full sun. Limbs can be damaged too, but such damage will not become apparent for several months. But with their high oil content, they taste exceptionally good. That is so exciting that you will be setting up an avocado farm! See our TOS for more details. It can also be gro… Hi Aida, I am delighted that you found the article helpful! I try to avoid Miracle Grow soil, because I like to have control over fertilizing. What should I do to fix this issue? COPYRIGHT © 2020 ASK THE EXPERTS LLC. If you provide the same amount of water as before, you are likely to damage the roots and leave them susceptible to root rot. I am very new to all of this. It’s hard to estimate how well the tree would do in your backyard without knowing more about your climate. With additional writing and editing by Clare Groom and Allison Sidhu. It does get to about 23 F and colder… Thanks, Hi Dareh, How exciting! And if indeed there are avocados suited for zone 9, what varieties of avocados trees will do best in zone 9? ‘Wilma’ originated in Texas, from cuttings taken from a large tree growing in a backyard in Pearsall. First propagated in 1911 in a California nursery, it got its name – Spanish for “strong” – after a particularly hard frost hit the area in 1913. What about other types of fruit trees for your garden? I’ve also been told that there are nurseries in the Houston area that carry the cold tolerant varieties, but I don’t have any phone numbers for you. In all zones prone to freezes a frost blanket to cover the tree is essential. These are not well suited to commercial production. However, it re-sprouted and grew back into a fruiting tree. They should be able to answer your question there. You can buy it online from a company called Brighter Blooms, but I don’t know if they would have the volume of trees that you would need. The Avocado (Persea americana) is a small tree that originated in Mexico and central America, but which is now grown around the world where ever the climate is warm enough. Avocados are subtropical understory trees, accustomed to warm weather and semihumid climates. You can find a grafted ‘Mexicola Grande’ tree of one to two-feet-tall from Brighter Blooms via Amazon. With varieties that can tolerate temperatures below 20°F, homeowners in areas that include parts of USDA Hardiness Zone 8 can enjoy the taste of fresh avocados from their own trees. Water as if you were tending a much smaller tree. Compared to other types of fruit trees like citrus, avocado trees are particularly susceptible to damage from sunburn, which can occur when they lose a lot of their leaves. Hi Chet, Thank you so much! If so, let us know where you live and share your experience with us in the comments. I live near zone 7 and 8 and I’ve already stared to grow an avocado tree from the pit. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Zones: 9-11; Growing Habits: Up to 35 feet, though can be kept pruned to be shorter (as with all avocado trees) Cold-Hardy to: Frost-sensitive below 32F. The medium-sized, 4 to 5-ounce, black-skinned fruit of this cultivar ripens early. If you live in an area that is prone to lower temps, plant the tree on the south-face of a building or underneath overhead canopy. You need to eat them as soon as they are ready. Avocados from the Mexican group are primarily grown in home gardens in the US – not commercially. Originally published on January 3, 2020. They can tolerate temperatures down to about 25°F, but they won’t be happy. Even their thin, smooth skins are edible. I’ve been told that Mexicola Grande is a good avocado that ripens evenly, and it is hardy to below 20 F. If you can, I would suggest planting it in a sheltered location. In all zones prone to freezes a frost blanket to cover the tree is essential. Avocados grow best in Zones 9-11, but you should be able to get one to produce fruit in your zone as well, with plenty of attentive care! These trees require well-draining soil that does not get waterlogged, so try to find a site on higher ground or on a slight incline for planting. I have a 5-year-old Mexicola Grande that has 5 avocados for the first time, maybe because I also planted a Hass. So when choosing zone 9 avocados, look for Mexican or even Guatemalan avocado varieties, hardy in USDA zones 8-10. Hi there, Does it frost intermittently, or is that common? That is a challenging question, but I know they are available commercially. That is exciting that you have a Mexican avocado orchard! If you live in Zone 7 or below, you would need a large greenhouse to successfully grow an avocado tree. Is your tree growing in an enclosed area where it will be exposed to reflective heat? If your goal is fruit production, be sure to select a site in full sun with at least 6 hours per day. Love everything with avocados and want to grow your own but you live in zone 9? What an exciting and eclectic mixture of avocados! What you’ll need: Avocado seed. According to avocado aficionado Craig Hepworth, the Florida Fruit Geek, these trees can handle temperatures down to about 15°F and still produce fruit the next season. Avocado trees (Persea americana) are notorious for being susceptible to cold. However, the large black fruit are unusually susceptible to the fungal infection anthracnose (a fungus that turns the skin orange), so they are better suited to drier climates where there is less humidity. Thank you for contacting us! Do Avocados Grow in Zone 9? Mature avocado trees only need watering every other week and often even less, but when they are young, be sure to water them deeply once a week. of mulch around the base of the tree, keeping it away from the trunk. Could you… Read more ». Cold tolerant to 22°F, this tree can grow to over 40 feet tall in the right conditions. Avocados do not like boggy soil, so select an area for your tree with well-draining soil. I have a fig tree which I started from cutting 25 years ago. I want to buy trees that will give fruit soon in Houston. You will definitely want to prune back dead tissue to keep fungi from invading and causing damage. Irrigate less frequently with smaller quantities of water. To plant your tree, prepare a hole approximately twice the width and depth of the rootball. Mexicola Grande can tolerate temperatures down to 19°F and is supposed to ripen evenly. Here is a link to the article in which he discusses the ripening and harvest of Mexican avocados. So what’s an avocado lover who gardens in a cooler area to do? This March I planted Reed, Sir Prize and Stewart Avocados, all in 5-gallon containers and one Fuerte in a 15-gallon container. In southern Florida, avocados of the West Indian subspecies are grown. Brazos Citrus Nursery in Texas produced a genetic clone of ‘Wilma’ and later changed the name to their own trademark ‘Brazos Belle.’. Many grafted avocado trees died, but specimens of this particular tree were undamaged. from A Natural Farm and Education Center via Amazon, 15 of the Best Tomato Hybrids for Your Veggie Patch, Problems with Growing Zucchini: Troubleshooting 11 Potential Issues, How to Plant and Grow the Classic Perennial Peony, 11 Best Benches for Enjoying a Fresh Garden View, Fall Garden Planting Design Guide: Create a Cozy & Inviting Autumn Oasis, 13 Flowering Plants Rabbits Will Leave Alone, How to Identify and Prevent White Rust on Turnip, Ginger Houseplant Care Tips: How to Grow Ginger Indoors. The cultivars, trees are U.S. hardiness zones 9 to 11 branches having... A cooler area to do systems of plant defense zones are frost-free and have even... Ripen evenly cuttings from this tree and promised to name the cultivar after owner! 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