---

Avocado Trees a Quick Introduction
Persea americana
By: Jason "Pepe"

Before finding it's way to Florida the evergreen avocado tree and it's fruit, had a long journey around the world.

The tree originates from Central America. The Aztec indians enjoyed avocado along with a wide range of other fruits and vegetables. The fruit has been cultivated for over 7,000 years. 

The avocado was introduced by the Spanish and Portuguese Conquistadors to the Antilles and the Caribbean circa the 1500's. Indonesia was next to meet and greet the avocado around the year 1750 and Florida began to see avocados in the mid 1800's.

The avocado is classified into three races. They are the Mexican, Guatemalan and the West Indian. Today many hybrid varieties exist between these races. The finest avocado trees are often hybrids with a rich history and also displaying superior charecteristics. Each avocado cultivar (Hybrid) has it's own name to reflect the uniqueness of the fruit. We are confident that today's avocado fruit would make an Aztec smile as he or she enjoyed dipping the tortillas into the bowl. How about you? Do you like avocadoes? Read more about the different types below.

Did you know this about the avocado? 
In Brazil they make avocado ice cream. Not sure about this one but hey what the heck, I would give it a try!

Tip: Avocado fruit will not ripen on the tree. Fruit does not fall to the ground when ripe. After being picked, a mature fruit will soften within three to seven days. So pick them as needed and enjoy. 


Powerful Nutrition: The avocado is high in monounsaturated fat (good fat) 
Benefits: Provides you with a rich source of energy and also antioxidants, folate and potassium.

Note:  Your Avocado tree will need to be planted in a well drained location and it needs plenty of sunshine!  Trees planted in areas that flood will kill the tree in 24 to 48 hours!

---

Florida Haas & Haas

Haas is the number one commercial variety in California. This tasty Avocado is best known for it's rich nutty flavor and high oil content. Hass Avocados often sell for more than $3.00 each. 

The Florida Hass is a separate variety from the California Hass. 

Florida Hass is green skin unlike the dark skin Hass of California.
Season: 
October – November  Flower Type:  A

---

California Hass also grows in Florida.

​Fertilizer Recommendations for Avocado Trees in the landscape.

Avocado trees in the landscape are fertilized 
with either an 8-3-9-3 or you could use 
10-10-10-3 or similar. 
Young trees: 1/4 lb every 2 months
Mature trees: 4-6 lbs is applied 
4-5 times per year. 
Maximum of 25 lbs per year.
Do not fertilize in winter!

---

---

Avocado varieties you should consider growing

ORO NEGRO  

This variety name means black gold in Spanish, and is an excellent name for this fruit. This hybrid developed from a seedling sprout discovered in an avocado grove in Miami, Florida in 1989. Now after 20 years of evaluation it is highly sought after for dooryard and commercial use. It is believed to be a cross of a Monroe seedling and a Hass or other black skin type. The flesh is rich and buttery with a creamy texture, absolutely mouthwatering!  This variety is very popular and not always easy to find. Get one, when you see one, before it's gone. 
Season: 
November-January  Flower type: B 

RUSSELL

Easily recognized by its unique gourd like shape. This cultivar originates from Islamorada in the Florida Keys. A very popular fruit tree among Latino communities in South Florida. This Avocado is an excellent choice for the Avocado Lover. Very popular with chefs, who enjoy the interesting shapes on a plate from the slices.
Season: 
July-August  Flower type: A 

SIMMONDS  

​One of South Florida's most popular early season avocado. Good production and superb eating. 
Dates back to 1913.  
Season:  
June - August  Flower type: A

BERNECKER  

A wonderful large pear shaped cultivar that is popular with commercial growers and home gardeners. The fruit has very little fiber, and an excellent flesh to seed ratio. 
Season: August- October  Flower type:  A

BROGDON  

An excellent cold hardy avocado with purple skin. The fruit average 14 ounces each. It is a great choice for guacamole and has a similar rich flavor of the Mexican types. Season: September – November  Flower type:  B 

CATALINA  

You don't have to be Cuban to fall in love with Catalina. Have a taste and your hooked! Fruit weighs about 1.5 lbs. average. 20' - 25' tree with good production. This Avocado was introduced to Florida by Cuban Immigrants. It is a very nice mid-season pear shaped fruit that is especially rich and creamy. It is wildly popular here in South Florida. Once you taste it, you will know why. Season: August-September   Flower type: A 

Try a Cuban Avocado salad:
Catalina avocado sliced wedges with olive oil, vinegar, salt and black pepper.
Done and so simply delicious!


CHOQUETTE

This Avocado is a  late season goliath that is grown both commercially and excellent choice for your backyard grove. High quality fruit and high production. 2 lb average weight per fruit. Tree grows to 25'.
Season : 
November - January Flower Type: A

DAY

is an excellent Avocado tree that is cold hardy to 23 degrees. A heavy producer of  16  ounce fruit. This green skinned beauty is delicious and creamy.
Season: 
July - September Flower Type: A

DONI  

Florida’s first quality avocado to hit the commercial market. It is large, tasty, and it is harvested before hurricanes become a threat. Season: May-June  Flower type: A

lULA 
Now this is one sweet tasting avocado. One of the finest cold tolerant varieties. Excellent for central florida. The tree is a very productive, consistent bearer that offers a long harvesting season.
Season: 
October-December Flower Type: A

MONROE 

is a superb cold hardy variety that is a commercial favorite in Florida and throughout Tropical America. The fruit is large, abundant, and of excellent eating quality. 
Season: 
November-January   Flower type: B 

MIGUEL 

​ A productive large avocado,  of excellent eating quality. Simmonds, has the same blooming period and opposite flower types. For maximum fruit production, 
consider planting one of each so cross pollination increases yields. See chart on right. 
Season:
August- September  Flower type: B

---

Pepe's Says.....
"Don't worry about A or B flowers for backyard groves"
Here is one reason why! 
Source: California Master Gardeners Manual

Keep in mind that A and B type, means that male flowers and female flowers open on different days. 

Trees will often have some male and some female flowers open at the same time regardless of A and B type.


Commercial growers want cross pollination because it yields more fruit. You will still, for example, get fruit on a Simmonds without another tree of a different type (A or B) To complicate things even more, the temperature will also affect the number of male and female flowers open at one time. Bees often work Avocado trees very well. Bees will actually move the pollen out of the partially closed male flowers and deposit pollen on the female stigmas. Don't you just love those Bees?

---

This list shows the approximate season and the Avocado tree flower types. As an example, you can select one Oro Negro and one Lula Avocado tree. Both of these trees have a similar flowering season. Having one of each type will allow cross pollination and your trees will bear more fruit!

---