Avocado

Perhaps one of the best known subtropical fruits, avocado trees are typically medium to large in size (40-60 feet), easy to grow and can produce large quantities of fruit. Limbs are vulnerable to wind damage and can even break under the weight of a heavy fruit load. The fruit is a very large berry consisting of a single large seed surrounded by a buttery pulp. Mature fruit are generally green, although some cultivars may be black, red or purple when soft (ripe). Avocados do not ripen until they are picked or fall to the ground. Mature fruit size varies considerably depending upon cultivar and growing conditions. Avocados are highly nutritious. Fruit are popular eaten fresh, in salads or used to make guacamole and other dishes. Planting in a well-drained site is a must, as avocados do not tolerate flooding. Productivity, season of maturity, cold tolerance, and disease tolerance vary greatly depending upon the variety under consideration. Season: late May to March. In general, avocados should be planted in the warmest areas of the State, i.e., along the southeast and southwest coasts of Florida. West Indian and some hybrid types are the least cold tolerant and do best only in areas that rarely experience freezing temperatures (Table 1). Varieties with little cold-tolerance include 'Donnie', 'Dupuis', 'Simmonds', 'Pollock', 'Nadir', 'Hardee', and 'Waldin'. Other varieties such as 'Tonnage', 'Taylor', 'Lula', 'Kampong', 'Meya', and 'Brookslate' are more cold tolerant and may be planted in areas that experience infrequent but below freezing temperatures (24°F-28°F). Moderately cold-tolerant types (25°F-30°F) include 'Beta', 'Choquette', 'Loretta', 'Booth 8', 'Hall', 'Monroe', and 'Reed'. Mexican and Mexican hybrid varieties such as 'Brogdon', 'Ettinger', 'Gainesville', 'Mexicola', and 'Winter Mexican' are even more cold-tolerant and may withstand temperatures in the low 20s. However, these varieties may be difficult to find in the nursery trade.