Avocado - Noel - Cold and wind tolerant - Spring/summer/early autumn ripening
- Regular price
-
$120.00 - Regular price
-
- Sale price
-
$120.00
Couldn't load pickup availability
Noel is a fantastic New Zealand developed variety, that is similar to Hass in almost every way, with the exception that the tree is more cold and wind tolerant. The fruiting season is long and ripens alongside Hass, generally from mid spring through summer, into March.
The fruit is almost indistinguishable from Hass, having a creamy, nutty, relatively fibre free flesh. The skin turns black upon ripening.
The tree has slightly different shaped leaves from the other avocado varieties we offer, and has proven to be more wind resistant and cold tolerant than Hass. Noel is a fantastic choice of variety for those who love the common Hass fruit, but live in a borderline climate or near the coast.
The story of Noel:
The Noel avocado started as a seed (likely Hass) planted in Hamilton, New Zealand. For several winters in a row, heavy frosts killed the young shoots of the seedling, but each spring, it kept re sprouting back from the same seed. After a few years of this, the owner gave up on it. Years later, the tree was rediscovered by the owners son, Noel, thriving and producing beautiful fruit. It seems one of those later shoots finally made it through, becoming the mother tree of the Noel variety. The tree is vigorous and slightly more “wild” in nature, with large, thick leaves that point to good resilience against wind, frost, and tough conditions.
Noel is an A flowering type, and although avocado trees in our climate are self-fertile, they do produce more fruit if 2 are planted near each other with opposing flower types. In this case, best planted near a B variety, like Fujikawa, Bacon, Hashimoto, Zutano or Edranol.
Though Noel is cold and wind tolerant, the tree will still need protection from wind and frost while establishing. We recommend putting some wind cloth around the tree held up by stakes, and using frost cloth in winter for the first couple of seasons.
Avocado care guide
Just arrived? Keep your tree in a sheltered, semi-shaded spot for 2–4 weeks before planting. See our acclimation guide.
1. Drainage is everything
More avocados die from wet roots (Phytophthora root rot) than anything else. Plant on a mound 40–60 cm high (go higher on heavy clay) using a free-draining mix. Never dig a hole into clay; it fills with water like a bucket. Keep the graft union above the soil.
2. Water the root ball, not the calendar
For the first year, the root ball dries out faster than the soil around it. Check 5 cm down and water deeply only when it's dry. In summer that's usually once or twice a week, more often on sandy soil or in a heatwave. In winter, you'll barely need to water.
3. Mulch thick, but keep it off the trunk
Put 10–15 cm of coarse wood chip or bark out to the drip line, with a 10 cm gap around the trunk. Avocado feeder roots are shallow, so don't dig or plant anything around the base, and keep lawn well away.
4. Feed little and often
Give small feeds of a balanced fertiliser (one with zinc and boron) in spring, summer and early autumn. Don't feed in winter. Spread it at the drip line, keep it 40 cm from the trunk, and water it in.
5. Shelter young trees for 2–3 years
Use windbreak cloth in exposed spots and frost cloth when frost is forecast (young trees are damaged around -1 to -2°C). Paint exposed trunks with white water-based paint diluted 50:50 to prevent sunburn.
6. Let the tree grow before it fruits
Pick off any fruit in the first 1–2 years so the tree puts its energy into branches and roots. Only prune to remove dead wood or keep the tree in shape.
What's normal (don't panic)
- Old leaves dropping in spring: normal. Avocados shed old leaves as they flower and push new growth.
- Brown, crispy leaf tips: usually salt or fertiliser burn, or dry roots. Flush with a deep watering and ease off on feeding.
- Most flowers and tiny fruit dropping: normal. Avocados produce thousands of flowers and set only a few.
- Yellowing leaves and wilting in wet soil: a root rot warning sign. Stop watering and check drainage.
Want more detail? Read our full Avocado Tree Care Guide or planting in clay soil.
