Author Topic: SoCal - GEM AVOCADO + Recommendations  (Read 10965 times)

zephian

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SoCal - GEM AVOCADO + Recommendations
« on: April 04, 2018, 01:57:07 PM »
Hello!
I live in NorCal (North of sacramento) but I will be visiting SoCal to make use of our disneyland passes...
I'm trying to locate a GEM avocado tree in the LA area (within an hour or so) as I can not locate them up north.
Does anyone know where to locate one currently?

I'm trying to decide between Holiday, and 'LittleCado' for my second tree as well, any input?
I hear with our night time temps we don't have to stress the 'A' or 'B' type flower to much as the plants will be creating both flowers during the same time.
Any help is appreciated.

Thanks!
-Kris

containerman

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Re: SoCal - GEM AVOCADO + Recommendations
« Reply #1 on: April 04, 2018, 02:45:26 PM »
I'm in the Modesto area and the little cado takes temps to 25* and the holiday to 30*. My little cado is doing great and my holiday tree died last year. I have 8 different varieties growing in my yard and none of them get protection and are all doing great. I'm in zone 9b.  near Modesto which should be similar weather to yuba city. I use to fish the feather river every year for salmon but haven't done that lately.

alangr088

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Re: SoCal - GEM AVOCADO + Recommendations
« Reply #2 on: April 04, 2018, 02:56:40 PM »
I saw some 15 gallon Gems the last time I went to Atkins Nursery which was like 6 weeks ago. I'm sure they probably still have it.

zephian

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Re: SoCal - GEM AVOCADO + Recommendations
« Reply #3 on: April 04, 2018, 04:15:59 PM »
Hmm, do you recall seeing anything smaller? We plan on taking the corolla down since it gets twice the mileage my tacoma does.... ;P

and sorry to hear about your tree! We had a pretty cold year up here like a week straight of below 28 :(
I plan on wrapping the tree or lighting it up if that happens again next winter... for now though our lows are in the 50s and day temps of 80 already!
How does the Little Cado taste?

Seems easy to get Jim bacon, mexicola, hass and holiday out here but not much else currently. :( usually 25-40$ for a 5 gallon.
-Kris

zephian

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Re: SoCal - GEM AVOCADO + Recommendations
« Reply #4 on: April 16, 2018, 04:50:21 PM »
Hey guys,
My trips wednesday and I called atkins and a few nursery's around anaheim area and no one has the gem. Atkins says they'll be available in june.
Any other recommendations?
-Kris

Seanny

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Re: SoCal - GEM AVOCADO + Recommendations
« Reply #5 on: April 16, 2018, 05:13:39 PM »
I called a couple nurseries for you. One said they don't carry Gem. Another said they are not allowed to sell Gem to home owner. Only orchard can buy Gem.

Carmen patent ended this year so they recommend Carmen. They said it's better than Gem.

Maybe get Gem scion if you really wanted one.

CA Hockey

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Re: SoCal - GEM AVOCADO + Recommendations
« Reply #6 on: April 17, 2018, 02:47:53 AM »
Hey guys,
My trips wednesday and I called atkins and a few nursery's around anaheim area and no one has the gem. Atkins says they'll be available in june.
Any other recommendations?


Call Atkins again and let them know your situation. They actually grow them nearby at their private growing grounds and probably have them available in the grow house but don’t make them available until they are a good 3 feet tall. Tel them you are traveling over 500 miles just for the tree, you’re an experienced grower/gardener, and you’re willing to take the risk if the tree doesn’t make it. Buy 2 or 3 just in case. Because they are a wholesale retailer, their prices are about half what you’d pay at a regular nursery.

Only problem is they have a waitlist, so if they’ve already promised all their gems then you’re out of luck there.


Another person to try would be David archer at Bonita creek nursery. That’s where I bought my gem from.

Last resort. You could try www.adamtripics.com. I’ve never tried them before but per their website they have gem avocados and are based out of Temecula on the way to Atkins. I don’t know their reputation though.

Best
K

zephian

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Re: SoCal - GEM AVOCADO + Recommendations
« Reply #7 on: April 17, 2018, 10:46:12 AM »
Thanks guys,
I actually tried to order from adamstropics already. ordered a $39 tree, next thing I know I get an email saying they only had the next size up and an invoice from paypal requesting another $130... shady... I emailed and asked if they can do a local pickup though as I'll be down there... we will see.

While I've got your attention here, is there any nursery's I should stop by just to see? The wife is interested in growing Passion fruit (lilikoi) and would love to find some while we are down there.

Thanks again!
-Kris

z_willus_d

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Re: SoCal - GEM AVOCADO + Recommendations
« Reply #8 on: April 17, 2018, 11:11:23 AM »
Hi Zephian,

I had a very similar experience with trying to obtain GEM from Adam Tropics.  I decided it wasn't worth the risk/$$$.  If I have any luck with my recent top-working/grafting experiments, I'll probably just try and obtain scion-wood for GEM at some point in the future.  Honestly, if you read what folks are saying about their favorite Avocado trees, it seems like the one to get is REED.  It's also supposed to be sensitive below freezing, but perhaps it's no more so than GEM.  It's supposed to be columnar in growth habit and produce a good amount of avocados after a few years.  Have you considered Reed?

Good luck, and have a nice trip!

zephian

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Re: SoCal - GEM AVOCADO + Recommendations
« Reply #9 on: April 17, 2018, 01:17:43 PM »
I got a hold of Atkins again today, they will check with the owner if he's willing to part with underage trees. The problem I have with reed is the size. I want something compact as I'm only on .2 acres. Sounds like the GEM is going to be smaller and has a great fruit quality. I thought about the 'Littlecado' but it sounds like it's a short but wide bushy tree with only moderate tasting fruit. Maybe I can fit more GEM trees in the car if they decide to part with them.... otherwise availability is slated for late may early june.... sounds like another disneyland trip.
-Kris

zephian

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Re: SoCal - GEM AVOCADO + Recommendations
« Reply #10 on: April 20, 2018, 01:21:09 AM »
Never heard back from atkins. Wondering if anyone else had a recommendation on where to find gem? We are gonna take a break from Disney land tomorrow and checkout a local nursery or two.
-Kris

CA Hockey

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Re: SoCal - GEM AVOCADO + Recommendations
« Reply #11 on: April 20, 2018, 01:24:30 AM »
I have some wood. I live in orange. Pm me

zephian

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Re: SoCal - GEM AVOCADO + Recommendations
« Reply #12 on: April 20, 2018, 01:29:32 AM »
I am a complete novice, I wouldn't even know what to do with it :(
-Kris

CA Hockey

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Re: SoCal - GEM AVOCADO + Recommendations
« Reply #13 on: April 20, 2018, 01:39:50 AM »
Not surprised about the phone.

They are nice people but not the most responsive on the phone. I was looking for edranol. They had sold theirs to other nurseries and were going to call me back with the list of nurseries they had shipped to but never got back to me. I just keep calling themselves you can also drop by their nursery if You want to shop around but their avocados are off site at the growin grounds right now. A neat place to visit would Bonita creek nursery. It’s in the heart of San Diego county but they always have neat stuff. Only open by appt only on weekdays but you can call ahead. Otherwise open to public on weekends.  It’s where I got my gem from.

Another neat place is ong nursery in San Diego. It’s more of a residential home nursery. Lots of neat Tropical’. Not sure about Avos. Same with papaya tree nursery that you could hit up on your way back home (I think appt only  as well).

Evergreen nursery in San Diego has large beautiful trees at wholesale prices. Got a daisy mandarin and santa Teresa lemon from them last year.


There are also lots of nurseries in the area surrounding Atkins nursery. I don’t know if any have the same variety they have though.

Exotica nursery is about 15 minutes from Atkins.

If you’re in Anaheim, there is mimosa oc nursery. They have some large sapodillas and other trees. Reminded me of mimosa la but not quite as big. Probably  similar selection

Good luck

CA Hockey

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Re: SoCal - GEM AVOCADO + Recommendations
« Reply #14 on: April 20, 2018, 01:42:44 AM »
Call David archer at Bonita creek. He may be able to have one of his employees show you around Bonita creek and who knows he may have another gem. I bet if he doesn’t have one that he could get a hold of one for you. Number is on the website, and if you don’t get anyone the messsage gives his cell which you could text.

K

zephian

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Re: SoCal - GEM AVOCADO + Recommendations
« Reply #15 on: April 20, 2018, 01:59:10 AM »
Awesime, thanks for all the help!
-Kris

8ofGac

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Re: SoCal - GEM AVOCADO + Recommendations
« Reply #16 on: April 20, 2018, 02:29:11 AM »
You might want to try this place.http://www.epicenteravocados.com/contact-us/

z_willus_d

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Re: SoCal - GEM AVOCADO + Recommendations
« Reply #17 on: April 20, 2018, 11:16:39 AM »
The folks at epicenter seem really nice and have a lot of nice varieties listed, but every year when I post an order on their website, I never hear back.  Is it just me?  Maybe the website is malfunctioning with my Chrome browser.

spaugh

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Re: SoCal - GEM AVOCADO + Recommendations
« Reply #18 on: April 20, 2018, 11:33:31 AM »
The folks at epicenter seem really nice and have a lot of nice varieties listed, but every year when I post an order on their website, I never hear back.  Is it just me?  Maybe the website is malfunctioning with my Chrome browser.

Same experience.  Put in an order and crickets.
Brad Spaugh

8ofGac

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Re: SoCal - GEM AVOCADO + Recommendations
« Reply #19 on: April 20, 2018, 11:36:55 AM »
I tried to contact them yesterday and in my spam folder I got a email failure notice the contact form doesn't work.

Bush2Beach

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Re: SoCal - GEM AVOCADO + Recommendations
« Reply #20 on: April 20, 2018, 12:07:55 PM »
I think their Avocado nursery is malfunctioning, unfortunately.

The folks at epicenter seem really nice and have a lot of nice varieties listed, but every year when I post an order on their website, I never hear back.  Is it just me?  Maybe the website is malfunctioning with my Chrome browser.

zephian

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Re: SoCal - GEM AVOCADO + Recommendations
« Reply #21 on: April 20, 2018, 07:58:12 PM »
Bonita has 7 gal for 120 or 15 gal for 130. 15 gallon need to grow a bit more though normally 160. Think I'm gonna wait for now. Does hass grow OK in 9b, or is there another hopefully compact version I should try?
-Kris

CA Hockey

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Re: SoCal - GEM AVOCADO + Recommendations
« Reply #22 on: April 20, 2018, 11:51:04 PM »
I think hass will be fine.

Re epicenter avocados, I’ had an email chat with Ellen last month. My green gold, queen, and my original sharwil and Jan Boyce we’re from there some years back.

She’s really nice and does good work, but I would agree communication isn’t great (but I’m not great with emails either. I usually just read but don’t always respond).


From my previous experience, you have to order around the new year when the list unofficially first opens up. That was her advice to me when I had my successful order. I tried to order some trees again about 2 months ago and she told me that they were already all spoken for.

If you’re looking for a tree for next year, then I would plan on contacting her in the fall sometime .

I was interested in palo d’oro which I can’t find anywhere and koala, but luckily found a source for koala (really grateful for that). The phoenix is Carmen Hass now that patent is gone but can’t use the name Carmen Hass.

Did you not like Bonita creek? Their prices are higher than the box stores but you get varieties you wouldn’t otherwise get and it’s a little tropical paradise over there. Atkins will give you best price as a wholesale retailer. If you’re persistent, you can wheedle them into selling you one of the smaller trees. You can also call Atkins and ask them which other nurseries they sell to and go from there. Wish I could help you out.

I’ve been there before, so I feel for you. Good luck with hunting down the cultivars you want. By the time you settle on what you ultimately get, you’ll have a story for each acquisition along the way. I’ve now labeled my plants according to their sources to remind me of the ordeal - it keeps things fun and interesting and adds color to each tree. Makes me appreciate it that much more.

K

CA Hockey

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Re: SoCal - GEM AVOCADO + Recommendations
« Reply #23 on: April 20, 2018, 11:53:49 PM »
There is oc green scene tomorrow morning at cal state Fullerton arboretum. Opens at 9am. The oc crfg chapter will have loads of grafted avocado trees for sale. Proceeds benefit crfg student scholarships.

K

zephian

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Re: SoCal - GEM AVOCADO + Recommendations
« Reply #24 on: April 21, 2018, 01:04:39 AM »
Thanks for all the help. Money's a concern currently or I'd happily get a tree at bonita. I think we're gonna plan it out a bit more and wait. Maybe grab a couple passion fruit vines for now and that'll hold me over.... well be back our Disney land pass doesn't expire til october!
-Kris