Introduction

Ah, avocados. That fruit that tastes so good in so many things. Any salad, taco, party dip or even steak sandwich so much better with some guacamole in the mix. Yes, you can grow them pretty much anywhere. Try the Little Cado or the Holiday in a large container on porch or patio. If you have the room and the weather, the Hass is second to none in flavor. Pair it with the Fuerte for a pollination boost and you could have fruit nearly year round. Contact us for soil preparation tips prior to planting if you feel you need to.

The avocado has become a staple part of our everyday lives. Their delicious taste and versatility make them one of the most sought after fruits in the world. The bottom line is that we are constantly striving to grow more avocados since they have continued to grow in popularity. We have gone so far as to create an entire industry around them and their uses, from guacamole to avocado toast! We are going all out on an unprecedented level because it’s just not enough anymore for us to eat these wonderful fruits in moderation or even just once or twice per year. No matter what your personal dietary preferences may be, there will always be a way for you to enjoy an avocado tree!

Size:

While the average avocado tree is going to be between 10 and 20 feet tall, they can also grow up to 30 feet tall. And while they are usually only 15 – 20 feet wide, they can grow as wide as 30 feet.

Color:

The color of the fruit can be a sure-fire way to identify a variety. Most avocados are green, but some varieties will sport purple flesh or black skin. Some trees produce fruit that is lighter in color than the leaves and bark, while others have more vibrant colors. Avocado flowers are usually white or pinkish-white (like most other flowers), but these can also vary from light pink to deep red depending on the variety.

Product Name:

Del Rio Pryor is a variety of avocado tree that originated in California, USA. The Del Rio Pryor avocado tree is a seedling of a Mexican variety and has been recently released by the University of California, Davis. It was bred for its high yield and resistance to drought conditions. This cultivar produces fruit with dark green skin color, slightly above average size (about 8 oz) with medium-sized seed. The fruits are creamy white internally with small black seeds dispersed evenly throughout the pulp. They have a smooth texture and buttery taste when ripe which makes them great for eating fresh or using in recipes like guacamole!

The Del Rio Pryor avocado trees grow well in regions where heat is an issue such as Texas where they were developed by researchers at Texas A&M University who wanted to find an alternative crop that could be grown outside during summer months without using supplemental irrigation systems (for example drip irrigation). Since then these trees have become popular among growers here because some varieties can produce up 500 pounds per year under ideal conditions!

Product Description:

The avocado is a fruit, nut, vegetable and berry. It is also a drupe (like cherry or olive), pome (like apple) and hesperidium (like grapefruit).

Avocados are native to Central Mexico and Peru. They have been cultivated for more than 7500 years in Central America.

Avocados are a wonderful fruit, provide shade and privacy in your yard, and are a great addition to any chefs kitchen.

Avocados are a wonderful fruit, provide shade and privacy in your yard, and are a great addition to any chefs kitchen. If you’ve been thinking about starting an avocado tree but weren’t sure how to go about it, then this article is for you!

The avocado tree is quite easy to grow. It can be grown in many different climates. Avocado trees grow best when they have full sun exposure during the day and partial shade at night. They also need well drained soil that doesn’t retain excess moisture or nutrients.

Avocado trees grow in the tropics. However, most people don’t know that some Avocado trees will survive in colder climates. Below are listed some specific varieties that have been proven to survive in colder areas. Also, I have listed some strategies that may enable your Avocado trees to survive (and maybe even thrive) in colder areas!

PART I: WHAT ARE THE 7 AVOCADO VARIETIES THAT ARE HARDY DOWN TO ABOUT 14° to 15°F (-9.5° to -10°C)?

I recently did some research and found at least seven (7) different varieties of Avocado trees that can likely survive winter chills down to 15°F (-9.5°C). (There may even be a few that can survive more cold than that). I’ll cut to the chase and simply list these seven (7) Avocado varieties:

ONE: LILA (AKA: “OPAL”). Cold hardiness: to about 15°F (-9.5°C). Size: Medium, 6–10 ounces (170g–285g). Shape: Pear-shaped. Flesh: Smooth & Textured. Color when ripe: Green. When ripe: July-Sept (Short season! Ideal for cooler climates!). Type: A.

(Not to be confused with the very popular south Florida variety known as Lula: Lula is only hardy to 25°F [-3.5°C].)

TWO: PANCHO (or PONCHO). Cold hardiness: to about 15°F (-9.5°C). Size: 6–8 ounces (170g–227g). Shape: Pear-shaped. Color when ripe: Green. When ripe: July-Sept (Short season. Good for cooler climates). Taste: Great taste, similar to Fantastic. Type: B.

THREE: FANTASTIC (AKA: “PRYOR” or “DEL RIO”).Cold hardiness: to about 15°F (-9.5°C). One of these trees barely survived 7°F (-14°C), but had temporary damage to tree (trunk and larger branches survived only. But bounced back within a year or two). Size: small, likely less than 6 oz (170g). Shape: oval. Color when ripe: Green. When ripe: Aug-Sept. Taste: Very good flavor. Higher oil content than most cold-hardy Avocados. Other: Very thin skin. Type: A.

FOUR: JOEY. Cold hardiness: to about 15°F (-9.5°C). Size: Medium sized. Shape: Egg shaped. Color when ripe: Purple black. When ripe: Aug-Sept. Taste: Great flavor. NOTES: Thin skin. Heavy producer. Because of dark color and thin skin, difficult to see bruises. Type: B.

FIVE: BRAZO BELLE (AKA: “WILMA”). Cold hardiness: to about 15°F (-9.5°C). Size: Medium to large, 6–8 oz (170g-227g). Shape: ?. Color when ripe: Purple to black. When ripe: Aug-Oct. Taste: ?. Type: B.

SIX: DUKE. Cold hardiness: to about 15°F (-9.5°C). Possibly some evidence that it may be hardy down to 12°F (-11°C). Size: Medium sized. Shape: ?. Color when ripe: Green. When ripe: Sep-Oct. Taste: Tastes very good, high oil content. NOTES: Thin skinned. Limited availability. Available in Oroville, CA from the Chaffin Family Orchards. Also available from Golden Gate Palms & Nursery in Lafayette, CA (contact Gary Gragg). One curious thing about the DUKE: It can be grown from seed, and all the trees grow true to type (according to Gary Gragg). If you can obtain some seeds, you will be able to grow them anywhere (According to Gary Gragg). Type: A.

SEVEN: ARAVAIPA (AKA: “DON JUAN” or “ARIZONA”). Cold hardiness: to about 15°F (-9.5°C). Size: Medium sized. Shape: ?. Color when ripe: Green. When ripe: ?. Taste: ?. Type: ?.

PART II: WHAT STRATEGIES CAN I USE TO HELP AN AVOCADO TREE SURVIVE A COLD SNAP DURING THE WINTER?

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS: Wrap a string of outdoor Christmas lights around the trunk, during a bad cold spell. You can even wrap some cardboard around the trunk first. This should save the trunk for a few more degrees. The following video gives an excellent explanation of one way in which you can give your Avocado tree an extra 10°F–15°F (5°C–7°C) of protection during a cold night.

CLOTH COVERS: Place a cloth or a sheet over your Avocado tree (it works like a small tent). This will keep the temperature around the tree a little bit warmer than the surrounding air. For a bigger tree, you use a bigger cloth. The following video demonstrates how this works:

OTHER THINGS TO WARM UP A TREE THAT HAS A CLOTH COVER ON IT: 1. Put a Heating Mat under the cloth cover. (BEWARE of electrical shock if it gets wet)

PLANT THE TREE NEAR A WARM WALL: In this video, The Millenial Gardener explains how/why he planted his Lila Avocado tree next to a brick wall to create a warmer micro-climate.

PLASTIC SHEET PROTECTION WITH A CLOTH TOP (FOR THE HOLE AT THE TOP). This looks pretty good, too. But how will it work with an Avocado tree? I may try this sometime and report back to you. I like the idea of a HALOGEN SHOP LIGHT instead of Christmas lights (see 9:35 to 11:15) for adding extra warmth during extreme cold snaps. Don’t forget to take the cloth off the top during the day, and to put back on in the evening (unless the daytime temperature is also way too cold). Air circulation is important.

PUT PADDING AROUND THE TRUNK (And maybe major branches): Just like a blanket: Padding insulates.

Ah, avocados. That fruit that tastes so good in so many things. Any salad, taco, party dip or even steak sandwich so much better with some guacamole in the mix. Yes, you can grow them pretty much anywhere. Try the Little Cado or the Holiday in a large container on porch or patio. If you have the room and the weather, the Hass is second to none in flavor. Pair it with the Fuerte for a pollination boost and you could have fruit nearly year round. Contact us for soil preparation tips prior to planting if you feel you need to.

Conclusion

We believe that this is the best time of year to purchase an avocado tree. The weather is just right for planting, and you’ll be in time for your tree to produce fruit after a few years. Use our tips above on picking the perfect spot for your new tree, and enjoy sharing fresh avocados with your family and friends!