Avocado - Sharwil - spring/summer ripening

Sharwil is one of the best tasting avocados in New Zealand, and arguably the best B flowering variety. It produces medium-large pear shaped avocados that are larger than Hass, creamy, buttery, and have an excellent flavour. The flesh is a golden yellow colour with bright lime green closer to the skin. The seed is relatively small and is easily removed. It is a B flowering type so a great pollinator for any of the A types. The main harvest season is spring and summer. The tree can be kept smaller by light pruning after fruit harvest.

• Flower Type: B
• Colour when ripe: Green
• Fruit shape: Pear (pyriform)
• Fruit size: Medium (larger than Hass)
• Seed size: small-medium
• Fruit quality/taste: Very good, buttery, smooth, flavourful
• Harvest season: Spring-summer
• Type: Guatemalan
• Origin: Australia

Our trees are grafted and will begin flowering in spring. Avocado trees in our climate are self fertile, but produce more fruit if 2 are planted near each other with opposing flower types. In this case, best planted with a Reed, Hass, Esther, Pinkerton, Mexicola or Mexicola Grande.

Avocado trees are generally easy to care for, but here are a few tips to help ensure your tree thrives:

1. Plant your tree in well-draining soil in a sunny location. Protect from wind and frost when young.

2. Water your tree regularly, but be careful not to over-water. Avocado trees prefer to be kept evenly moist, but not waterlogged. If planting in a clay soil, it is important to either create a mound, or build a raised planter box to plant your tree into. This helps keep the sensitive feeder roots out of the wet zone.

3. Fertilise your tree with a balanced fertiliser twice a year, once in the spring and once in the summer.

4. Prune your tree regularly to remove any dead or damaged branches, and to shape the tree to promote good fruit production.