Avocado - Mexicola Grande - Cold hardy

This is a very unique and interesting avocado variety, which produces black skinned fruit, with a bright yellow/green flesh. It has a nice buttery texture, and medium sized seed. The fruit are about the size of an average to large Hass, and much larger than the Mexicola variety. The tree is fast growing, very attractive and has larger, rounder leaves than most other avocado trees.

Mexicola Grande is one of the most cold hardy and frost tolerant varieties in the country once established, and is suitable for growing in coastal conditions.  Frost protection is required until the tree is established.

Mexicola Grande 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. If you're looking for a B type companion for this tree that is also cold hardy, consider Edranol, Jim, Bacon or Zutano. In areas where cold hardiness isnt an issue, a great companion tree would be Sharwil, which starts fruiting at the end of Mexicola Grande's season.

When will it start producing fruit? Our avocado trees are grafted, so will flower in spring and if pollinated, will set fruit. Ideally this fruit should be picked off to allow the tree to establish. In the second year, if the tree has established itself you can let the start producing.

Our trees are grafted onto Zutano rootstock, and are around 110-130cm tall including the bag.

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.