Avocado - Zutano - Cold hardy - Winter/spring ripening

Zutano produces large to extra large fruit in the late winter and early spring season. The fruit is thin skinned and shiny. Zutano are often used as pollinator trees in commercial orchards, as they serve a dual purpose. Zutano will pollinate A varieties (common commercial varieties), as well as the seeds of Zutano fruit being used by nurseries as a rootstock for grafting. Domestically available avocado trees are grafted onto this rootstock, as it has proven the best direct seed grown rootstock for its vigorous growth and phytophthora resistance.

Zutano is a B flowering type. 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.