To help protect the trees from sunburn, you should whitewash the limbs as soon as possible after the leaves drop with a white interior house paint diluted to 50 percent with water. They encompass plants (or animals) that have developed in response to their natural environment in isolation from other populations of the species. This is the easiest and the least expensive way to grow your own avocado tree. Up to 20-30′ tall in ground at max height. They are more cold tolerant than the standard commercial varieties but are not well suited to very cold areas. That is a challenging question, but I know they are available commercially. 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. Mulch around the base of the tree, keeping the mulching material 1-2 inches away from the stem. ‘Wilma’ originated in Texas, from cuttings taken from a large tree growing in a backyard in Pearsall. They should be able to answer your question there. The medium-sized, 4 to 5-ounce, black-skinned fruit of this cultivar ripens early. I leave in Torrance Ca. And if indeed there are avocados suited for zone 9, what varieties of avocados trees will do best in zone 9? I have two seedling trees about 8 years old that have finally fruited. The pear-shaped fruits have green skins and pale, dense flesh and range from 6-12 ounces each. Could you… Read more ». Hi Wayne, 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. Read on to find out about the possibility of growing avocados in zone 9 and other information about zone 9 avocados. 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.”. Hello, what an informative article! Love everything with avocados and want to grow your own but you live in zone 9? Let’s start with the stars – the exceptionally cold tolerant varieties that can produce fruit in parts of Zone 8. Does it frost intermittently, or is that common? If so, let us know where you live and share your experience with us in the comments. The fruits are thin skinned and are easily damaged. I have a fig tree which I started from cutting 25 years ago. They only grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 through 11, but they don't do well throughout those zones. If that is not feasible, I wanted to suggest one of the pure Mexican cold hardy varieties. We occasionally link to goods offered by vendors to help the reader find relevant products. Do you have a recommendation on where to purchase a del rio/Pryor tree? Many grafted avocado trees died, but specimens of this particular tree were undamaged. 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. Maybe with a light included in the blanket? Try to plant your tree in a sheltered location if you live in a particularly windy area. I am thinking of commercially growing Avocados in the southern parts of ARMENIA. Hello, I can call her to find out where she got her trees from. However, you should wait until new growth appears before you prune your tree. While these fruits are small, weighing only 3-4 ounces, they are reputed to have the richest flavor and highest oil content of all the Mexican types. What if your avocado tree is not weathering the cold well? What an exciting and eclectic mixture of avocados! These have smooth, green fruit and are quite different from the Hass variety. We live in North Carolina Piedmont, zone 7b. Here is a link to the article in which he discusses the ripening and harvest of Mexican avocados. The leaves typically smell like licorice or anise when crushed. What a lot of useful information you packed in! This cultivar is flavorful, with a creamy texture. Thank yo for the wonderful tips! All of the ones that are in commercial production and most backyard examples are from grafted stock. They have a very short period of ripeness, and they don’t hang on the tree for very long. The first sign of freeze damage is when the tree drops its leaves. Having conducted lab research on avocado trees for 14 years, I am often asked what varieties will grow in colder areas, and I am delighted to provide this guide to answer that question. I would also suggest uploading a photo if at all possible. Hi there, Read more articles about Zone 9, 10 & 11. The medium-sized fruit can weigh between 14 and 24 ounces each. That is exciting that you have a Mexican avocado orchard! of mulch around the base of the tree, keeping it away from the trunk. If you’re like me, then you equate California with growing avocados. Avocados are subtropical understory trees, accustomed to warm weather and semihumid climates. Hi Miriam, Thank you so much! These trees can tolerate a hard freeze, but they are not as tolerant of long periods of cold temperatures as the pure Mexican varieties. Sometimes spelled ‘Brogdon,’ thanks to their thin-skinned, purple, oval- to pear-shaped fruits with buttery yellow flesh, this is a popular variety. The original tree is in Del Rio, Texas. When your tree has lost a lot of leaves, it will lose much less water to evaporation than it normally does, and avocados are very sensitive to overwatering. The ‘Opal’ variety originates in Texas. Please let us know how they go! These trees can tolerate 24-26°F temperatures for periods of four hours at a stretch. You can buy a grafted ‘Lila’ tree 4 to 5-feet tall, with care instructions, from A Natural Farm and Education Center via Amazon. Oh, and there is a good reason I think California when I think avocado – 90% of them are grown in that region. However, if winter temperatures in your area often dip to 20°F or below, and you want to grow delicious avocados, your best option is a cultivar from the pure Mexican subspecies. Is it by an open body of water? West Indian avocados are sometimes marketed as “slimcados.” One advantage of this particular fruit is that with its lower oil content, it holds its shape better when sliced. West Indies avocados are more commonly found growing in Florida, as they are the most salt tolerant and least cold hardy. Thank you! These avocado trees are crosses of the Mexican with either the Guatemalan or West Indian subspecies. Avocado trees (Persea americana) are notorious for being susceptible to cold. One of Helga George’s greatest childhood joys was reading about rare and greenhouse plants that would not grow in Delaware. No, it doesn’t taste anything like bacon, it is named after James Bacon from California, who first cultivated it in 1954. Which variety do you recommend? Read on to find out about the possibility of growing avocados in zone 9 and other information about zone 9 avocados. So when choosing zone 9 avocados, look for Mexican or even Guatemalan avocado varieties, hardy in USDA zones 8-10. I live in WV, the eastern panhandle. In your location, you may opt to plant one in a container to make it easier to protect during cold weather or bring indoors. These hybrids are best grown in Zone 9 or higher. Bill Schneider, owner of Devine Avocados took cuttings from this tree and promised to name the cultivar after the owner, Wilma Lechler. In contrast, if your tree is in a windy area, it will be more sensitive to freezing, which can cause the fruit and leaves to drop. According to Gary Bender, farm advisor in subtropical agriculture at the University of California Cooperative Extension, the seemingly oddly named ‘Bacon’ is the most frost tolerant of the popular hybrids.