Cold Hardy Avocado Tree

Avocados can easily be grown in the home, garden, orchard or patio, require little to no pruning and are easily contained.

1. Seasonal information:  The Cold Hardy Avocado is specially adapted to our cooler climates. They will grow in partial shade but prefer full sun when possible. And the skin of the fruit is paper-thin, and purple-black in color - they have high-quality flesh with a large amount of oil and are hardy to about 20-degrees once established.

2. Location: The roots are highly competitive, so be sure to allow space or consider potting your Cold Hardy Avocado. Give the tree plenty of room, up to 15 feet if not containerized, to avoid competition.

3. Planting: Planting in fall or spring is best. In cold winter areas, plant in the early spring so the tree has a chance to extend roots before winter sets in. Water the tree well before planting, then dig a hole larger than the pot you purchased it in and 1 to 2 inches deeper. Remove the tree from the pot and separate the roots, careful to avoid breakage. Water the tree and fill in the dirt as you water. Cover the new soil with mulch to retain moisture and keep weeds away.

4. Watering: Cold Hardy Avocado Trees may not need to be watered during the winter season or rainy months, but watch for extended mid-winter dry spells. Watch soil moisture carefully at the end of the irrigating season. Make sure the soil has dried out before winter arrives.

5. Fertilization: Commence feeding young trees after one year of growth by using a balanced fertilizer four times yearly. Unusual temperature changes can cause plants to drop leaves. Leaf drop is natural and the plant will typically replace its foliage during its natural growing season.

6. Pruning: Cold Hardy Avocados need little to no training. You may wish to trim the tree’s skirts to deter small critters, but other than that, this tree is never pruned.

7. Pollination: Avocado Trees are self-fertile, so you don't have to have another Avocado Tree around for it to bear fruit. If it blooms indoors, you might want to shake it a bit to spread the pollen, since you will have no bees or wind to do it for you. However, as with all fruit trees, they will each produce more fruit with two trees, but you will need to use a different type of tree for your avocado yield to increase.

You want an A type and a B type tree to produce the most fruit. Two "A" type trees will open male and female at the same time, while a B type tree opens the opposite, so you'll have it open male when the A type is open female. Our Cold Hardy Avocado is a type B. You could use a type A, such as the Hass, if you are interested in increasing your harvest.