Florida Hass Avocado. For those thinking about it

[CTMIAMI]

I'm kind of disappointed at the FLorida Hass Avocado, This is why, if you have limited space you need to go with proven varieties. It may be that it does not well in our soil in Homestead. A lot of unevenness and irregularities

I have detailed entries in my web. http://www.myavocadotrees.com/florida-hass-avocado.html

[LEOOEL]

All my 'Florida Hass' avocados have been picked from the 12 foot tall tree.

[CTMIAMI]

Leo when do you start picking your FLorida Hass?

If what I have found is true, that if the fruit stays in the tree too long it deteriorates then what is the use of growing it? . I did not find it that good or that close to Hass to be worth growing it.

[Cookie Monster]

The ones I got from Zill's were incredible. They were as good or better than the california hass. My guess is that it has something to do with the soil.

[CTMIAMI]

Jeff, where does Zill's grow them, in pots or soil?  Need less  I'll give them one more year and will pick before September 15

[JF]

Jeff, where does Zill's grow them, in pots or soil?  Need less  I'll give them one more year and will pick before September 15

Zill mus'ta duplicated the soil and climate(SoCal zone 20-24) ask our friend Mdog how Haas grow in Palm Springs 

[LEOOEL]

Leo when do you start picking your FLorida Hass?

If what I have found is true, that if the fruit stays in the tree too long it deteriorates then what is the use of growing it? . I did not find it that good or that close to Hass to be worth growing it.

This was the first year of adequate/heavy production. The Florida Hass avocados were picked from the middle of August towards the end of September.

The tree was chosen in the hope to get avocados that resemble the California Hass. This year the overall quality was sub-par, let's see how it performs next year.

[CTMIAMI]

I feel the same way. The quality was not there.
Are others growing this tree in Miami?

[Cookie Monster]

I assumed in ground, but I didn't ask. That was last year (I haven't tried this year's crop). So perhaps this year was a bad one too.

Jeff, where does Zill's grow them, in pots or soil?  Need less  I'll give them one more year and will pick before September 15

[Sleepdoc]

I figured I would do a quick update here since I have eaten a few Haas from my tree.  I did loose a few to the resident furry tailed rats, but I caged up a few fruit that made it to maturity.

This is the first time I have had fruit from my tree, and it is young, so take it for what its worth.   I did not take any pics, I have one fruit left that I am attempting to ripen, so maybe I'll add some pics when that one ripens up. 

So how were they?  Well, not very good.  They didn't seem to ripen up properly, and the flesh was generally rubbery.  There were 2 out of 6 that did soften up and were very good in flavor, but they still lacked the creaminess one would expect in a Haas.

I hope they are better next season.

[CTMIAMI]

SleeoDog Ihad similar experience with FL Hass. Not worth growing but will give it one more year.

[FlyingFoxFruits]

the tree near me is fruiting nicely...im going to taste one soon...it's ripening up as we speak.

[j-grow]

I did have some of the same problems ripening the fruit in previous years ...... but this year I had perfect fruit!  I posted on this topic a few weeks ago.

[CTMIAMI]

That is one of the things that concerns me about this fruit. It is very erratic in your case from one year to the next big difference. Others one likes it the others does not. My first year was terrible. I'm giving it one more year.  So far I have not seen the side it it that would make me want to grow it on a personal, (not Commercial) basis.

[LEOOEL]

Because I just love the California 'Hass' avocados that I've bought locally, I've had high hopes for this 'Florida-Hass' avocado. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for next year.

[johnb51]

If it's so erratic and unreliable, it's probably not worth propagating and planting.  How's the original California Hass doing in South Florida in comparison?

[JF]

Because I just love the California 'Hass' avocados that I've bought locally, I've had high hopes for this 'Florida-Hass' avocado. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for next year.

Sir Prize is still in the running. I am encourage with reports that they hold on the tree until late March. Some are now over a pound and according to sources they can reach a kilo if you leave them until March.




 

[FlyingFoxFruits]

tasted the FL hass today, I was thoroughly impressed.  It was one of the best I've eaten.  The seed was unusually small...about half the size of a chickens egg.

for those growing this variety in central FL in a dooryard setting, I'd say this is a real winner.

[Cookie Monster]

The CA hass that I planted in my neighbor's yard does absolutely horribly -- zero fruits have grown to maturity in roughly 5 years. It's also very chlorotic, which is very unusual for avocado trees, since they normally do very well on high ph soil.

I have a Pinkerton that I planted in another yard. It's growing quite well, nice and green. It produced a couple of fruits this year. But, they were near the ground, and the yard crew mashed them both up with their friendly string trimmers. So, I'll have to wait for next year to try. CA grown pinkerton avocadoes are exceedingly delicious, but I've never tried a FL grown one.

The only cado that I personally think is worth growing here in South FL is the FL Hass. Of approx 50 fruit trees in my yard, there's only one avocado tree, and it's a FL hass. For those of you who can manage to eat west indian watercadoes, I guess you have choices. But I can't stand to eat them unless they are prepared and so heavily spiced up that I can't tell what I'm eating (ie, in guacamole).

I had a russell planted in my yard, which was supposed to be a high quality west indian watercado. But I thought the fruit was terrible. After 3 seasons of gross fruit, I nixed it and put a longan in its place.

I suppose I"m a little biased though, growing up in the middle of tens of thousands of acres of hass avocado groves and a stone's throw from the Calavo packing house. I can eat hass avocadoes like peanuts.

Looks like the CA hass season finally ended -- sams club just started selling hass from chile. It's always sad when the CA hass season winds down :-(.

[Cookie Monster]

Since you're more up north and probably don't have limestone 6 inches beneath the soil, I suspect that you have a good chance of getting good quality FL Hass if CTMIAMI's suspicion about the soil influence is correct. All of the mexican/guatemalan race avocadoes (ie, CA avocadoes) that I've grown (CA hass, pinkerton, FL hass, Beneke) all tend to be very slow to start, so they do take some patience. Figure about 5 years before you really start seeing production. The west indian avocadoes (FL avocadoes) on the other hand fly out of the ground like a missile, which is great for the impatient, but sucks if you're limited on yard space. Pruning them is just challenging them to grow even bigger.

If it's so erratic and unreliable, it's probably not worth propagating and planting.  How's the original California Hass doing in South Florida in comparison?

[jcaldeira]

I appreciate learning from the experience of Carlos, Leo and others on the Florida Hass.  It helps me evaluate whether it is appropriate for my humid, sometimes wet, environment.  Thank you!!

[CTMIAMI]

I had a russell planted in my yard, which was supposed to be a high quality west indian watercado. But I thought the fruit was terrible. After 3 seasons of gross fruit, I nixed it and put a longan in its place.

Jeff, First a Russell is a poor example of a quality Florida avocado. Is a good looking unusual fruit. That's about it. When you talk about quality then we are talking about a Simonds, Monroe, Hall, Dupuis, Lula, Pollock, Catalina and a few others.  I just unearthed the Utuado. A great tasty fruit that comes in before the Monroe not sure how long it would last on the tree.   There are many.  The Russell is not in their league. Don't believe all that is reported in web pages.
Second the standard some people use to measure quality in avocados, The Hass is relatively new. Some people who have been eating W I avocado all their life dislike the flavor of Hass and similar avocados and have an acquired taste for  lighter  fruit.  Both are fine one is no better than the other in general term, is a matter of preference and how it blends with the food and how you eat it.  Tonight I had dinner is a Colombian restaurant, every dish comes this a side of a slice of WI avocado 4-5 oz on a bed of tomato slides. EVERY DISH COME WITH IT I did not see people leaving it in their plates.  In about 7 days before Thanksgiving Monroes should be at their best. Give them a try.

I picked two FL Hass fruits today. The tree does not drop fruit. I will see it its more of the same.

[Cookie Monster]

lula is tolerable. I wouldn't waste a spot in the yard on it though.

Not saying that there aren't folks who like watercadoes. Most South Floridians seem to enjoy them (scratching head).

[Sleepdoc]

If it's so erratic and unreliable, it's probably not worth propagating and planting.  How's the original California Hass doing in South Florida in comparison?

My description above is of the "California Haas" growing in my yard.

[LEOOEL]

I appreciate learning from the experience of Carlos, Leo and others on the Florida Hass.  It helps me evaluate whether it is appropriate for my humid, sometimes wet, environment.  Thank you!!

Jcaldeira, that's very kind of you, thanks.