Updated
“Avocado Watch–List”A cultivar by cultivar review from the point of view of whether these avocado varieties are being grown (field tested) in South Florida, USA.
And, to ultimately verify whether they’ll fill the
‘S.Florida-Winter Avocado Void’ (‘SFL-WAV’) months of the year of March, April and May.
Key:
Underlined
'cultivars' are recommended for field testing, those that are not underlined are already being grown by a 'Forum Member(s)'.
Strikethrough
'cultivars' have been reported to mature outside the
'SFL-WAV.' They'll be kept for the record, on the "Watch-List.'
Potential
'SFL-WAV' cultivars:
Group 1: 'Sharwil,' '
Fujikawa,' 'Utuado,' 'Jan-Boyce,' ‘Reed,’ ‘Green-Gold,’ ‘Linda,’ 'Fuerte' and '
Wurtz.'
Group 2: ‘
Winter-Mexican’ and ‘Winter-Mexican-Seedling (CTMIAMI).’
Group 3: ‘Don-Carlitos,’ ‘Vero-Beach’ and ‘Cellons’ Avocado.
Group 4: ‘San Miguel,’ ‘Kahaluu,’ ‘Malama,’ ‘
Murashige.’
Group 5: ‘Gwen,’ ‘Santa-Ana-Hass,’ ‘Lamb-Hass,’ ‘Sir-Prize,’
‘Holiday.'Group 6: ‘Nabal,’ ‘Queen,’ 'Rockwood' ...
...
Group 5:
'Gwen:' A seedling bred from 'Hass' x 'Thille' in 1982. The 'Gwen' tree is higher yielding and more dwarfing than Hass in California. The fruit has an oval shape. It is frost-hardy down to −1 °C (30 °F). This variety requires little more than a third of the space of the typical avocado tree and produces "twice" as much fruit. The tree naturally grows about 15 feet in height, but can be kept even smaller because the tree lends itself easily to pruning as it has small limbs. The fruit is set in huge numbers uniformly throughout the tree. Gwen avocados are similar to the Hass in appearance, taste, and texture, but are larger. The green skin is more finely pebbled than Hass, it's thick but pliable, is dull green when ripe with a gold-green and creamy flesh. Most productive of dwarf avocados, best dwarf for outdoor use, also for containers and greenhouse. Season: It's available late winter through late summer; Feb./March/April to Sept./October. As mentioned earlier on this Thread, Forum Member CTMIAMI is field testing this exciting variety.
'Santa Ana Hass:' This is a California field tested seedling, of California ‘Hass.’ It comes from a ten year old tree in California, where it is reported to bear heavily. The fruit is a large pound size fruit, with ‘Hass’ like taste. Because of the quality characteristics exhibited by this variety during many years, CTMIAMI is now field testing it in South Florida, USA. More information on this variety (and others) can be obtained at CTMIAMI’s website:
http://www.myavocadotrees.com/santa-ana-hass.html'Lamb Hass:' In California, exceptional flavor and a medium to large robust size are the hallmark of this new avocado variety. It has pebbly bumpy skin with greenish yellow flesh. It has smooth, creamy, nutty taste and is more roundish, symmetrical, than the regular ‘Hass.’ It ranges in size from 10 to 20 oz. It’s 50% to 80% larger than the regular ‘Hass.’ It’s described as a compact tree (smaller than ‘Hass’), and bears more fruit than the ‘Hass.’ The fruit is reported to keep on the tree real well. A Forum Member has reported that the fruit also keeps/stores very well in the refrigerator. This variety is a self pollinator. Fruit maturity in California is from June to October. Carlos is field testing this variety to see how the tree and fruit quality will behave in the South Florida environment, whether it’s worthy of commercial development, and whether the fruit maturity season is in the
‘S.FL-WAV,’ or borders it. The tree that Carlos is field testing is now full of attractive, as of yet unripe fruit. As Carlos has described, it seems to like the South Florida environment. It would be interesting to learn the date(s) when the fruits begin to ripen, and the date(s) when the last fruit(s) ripen; do they ripen all at once, or do they ripen in a spread out fashion as in a matter of days, weeks, or months. So far, so good: Although still under observation, with these amazing described qualities, the 'Lamb Hass' could turn out to be a world class quality avocado for S. Florida. More info. on this exciting variety can be found at:
http://www.myavocadotrees.com/lamb-hass-avocado.html 'Sir Prize:' There is not a lot of ‘info.’ out there on this variety. This review is made possible by Forum Members: JF, Concordiaranch, Californiatropicals and CTMIAMI. In California, USA, it’s Hass like, but with larger fruit, bears 4-6 weeks earlier than Hass (Feb.-Oct.). Its growth is vigorous, upright and spreading. It’s more cold hardy than Hass. And, has an excellent flavor and flesh. On June 30, 2013, Forum Member Concordiaranch, mentioned having 3.25 acres of Sir Prize avocado on a hillside (800 ft. elevation) North of Bakersfield, CA. Eight year old trees in a 20' X 20' spacing are 16' high and beginning to touch. Concordiaranch harvests Sir Prize fruit between early November and early March. CTMIAMI began field testing this variety in Miami, Florida, USA, on December 20, 2012. And, according to Carlos, this variety “seems to love it here.” Carlos has stated on his website that on January 28, 2013, he ate a California home grown Sir Prize, and described it as having an incredible taste and quality. Commentary: This variety exhibits wonderful qualities. Future reports will update the behavior in S. Florida, USA, as they become available. For more information, please link to:
http://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=3391.msg82192#msg82192http://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=6134.0http://www.myavocadotrees.com/sir-prize-avocado.html'Holiday:' This variety is a relatively recent cultivar. Nurseries began propagating the plant in 2001. The fruit has the basic characteristics of popular varieties such as ‘Hass’ avocados. ‘Holiday’ avocados have dark green medium-thick skin that peels. Unlike the ‘Hass,’ the fruit is very large. The fruit are attractive and the tasty, delicious flavor has been described as being from good to excellent. The large, pear shaped green fruit, which holds the tree very well, grows to about six inches long and weighs between 18 to 24 ounces. The tree is much smaller than ‘Hass.’ This variety grows from well to perfect in small yards/orchards, in urban areas or in containers indoors. It is ideal for home gardeners who want to grow their own fruit without much space to spare. The beautiful tree grows from 10 to 12 (other reports also say 20 to 25) feet tall into a spreading umbrella shape that skirts the ground. Mature leaves grow to about eight inches long. It was named Holiday because the fruit ripens between Labor Day and New Year's Day (late fall and winter). T.F.F.Member JF, who’s in California, has said on this Thread that: ‘Holiday’ avocados can get quite big, and that they are of superior quality. CTMIAMI is field testing this variety in S.Florida. He top-worked a tree on December 22, 2012. As of March 30, 2013, the tree is doing very well and is on its way to possibly having flowers and fruit next year. Commentary: This is a promising candidate for the ‘SFL-WAV.’ Pictures and more information can be obtained at:
http://www.myavocadotrees.com/holiday-avocado.html