The Tropical Fruit Forum

A few years ago, I stumbled on an article written by Wilson Popenoe in 1940 called "Origin of the name 'Fuerte'." Wilson and his father Fred were the ones responsible for propagating the first Fuerte avocado trees more than 100 years ago. They also gave the variety its name. The story Wilson tells is different from the story everyone else always tells about where the name comes from. Fuerte wasn't named Fuerte because it was cold hardy, according to Wilson Popenoe.

Figured I'd link to an article I wrote about it here since there might be some others around who are like me and have an inordinate interest in avocados.

Link: http://gregalder.com/yardposts/how-the-fuerte-avocado-really-got-its-name/

In late February next year, I'll be in Nosara (Nicoya peninsula) and would love to check out farms or home plantings within a couple hours' drive. Any suggestions? I am especially interested in avocados and coffee, but not just those.

I have to add that I visited Brad's yard a few weeks ago and these avocados are even prettier in person. In five years, he's going to have the lushest, most productive grove you can dream of.

I'm in Ramona, and I ate my earliest Hass in November last year. But my aunt in Encinitas ate her earliest Hass in October. That being said, those early fruits don't taste as rich as the Hass I'm harvesting here in June.

Hana, I was wondering about your summer irrigation. What's that like?

Spaugh, My young Keitt also keeps blooming and not flushing vegetatively. I stripped the fruitset. I have never fertilized the tree in any way.

Guys, I think growing mangos in southern California is easier than we think; we're just prone to over-thinking it. That's why we participate in this discussion. I know of many mature mangos throughout our region grown by people who don't give their trees great attention. I'm starting to think that the key element is patience.

I have no idea if it's a real Blue Java. I'm no banana expert. The guy who gave me the original pups long ago told me they were, and the way the plants have grown as well as the way the fruit tastes agrees with much of what I've heard others say about Blue Java. But I'm definitely not sure.

Hana321,
How many years were your trees in the ground before they started producing (and you let the fruit mature)?

Since your baby avocado trees' roots are all still in the potting mix, the surest way to water with the right frequency is to stick your fingers into that rootball area and feel the moisture level. If it's wet where the uppermost roots are (scratch down as far as you need to find them), don't water yet. Water again when it's still moist there; don't wait until it gets dry. Freshly transplanted baby avocados don't tolerate drying out in my experience. I'm embarrassed to say that I've killed a few by going too long between waterings when I've planted in the summer. My sandy loam drains well and doesn't hold a lot of water.

Here's the schedule that I now use if I plant a 5-gallon avocado in the summer:
Week 1- water every day, about 1 gallon each time (just like it had been watered at the nursery)
Week 2- water every other day, about 2 gallons each time
Weeks 3/4- water every three days, about 3 gallons each time

If your soil is on the sandy side, then I'm guessing that your Tuscon temperatures and low humidity probably demand at least twice weekly watering for new trees in the summer. But I don't know Tuscon. That's just a guess. I'm in inland San Diego County, where the summer average highs are about 90.

Spaugh:
Yeah, I'm on the west side of Ramona. Close to Highland Valley Road. I'd love to visit your yard and have you visit mine. I've only been here for almost four years. Similar to you. So, my four-year-old avocados are Reed, Lamb, Hass, Fuerte, Sir-Prize. And then I have some younger ones that have yet to produce: Pinkerton, Holiday, Sharwil.

A lot of my other trees are young too, but I have in the ground: a handful of citrus, a couple apples, apricot, pluots, nectaplum, fig, pomegranate, macadamias, persimmon, mango.

It's not a special yard yet, but I'm working on it.

Are you sure your friend's trees are infected​ with HLB or do you mean they have Asian citrus psyllids on them?