How Can I Improve My Tiny Avocado Orchard? Criticism Welcome!

[Coconut Cream]

3 years ago I planted a row of Avocado trees: Wurtz - Super Haas - Mexicola Grande - Choquette. Today I realize I could have made better choices. Somehow I ended up with all (I think) Type A avocados and gaps in my season. At least the trees have grown well for me, and all but the Wurtz have fruited 2 years running. I'm looking for solutions and suggestions of how to do more with my limited space.



Avocados

• Wurtz: 3 foot tall shrub, flowered this year but dropped all its tiny berries, haven't tasted it
• Mexicola (not so) Grande: ripens August, pruned to 7 feet, fruit size and flavor rather disappointing
• Super Haas: ripens September, pruned to 7 feet, second year fruiting, nice flavor
• Choquette: ripens December, pruned to 12 feet, growing vigorously, delicious & large fruit
• Lara-Pollock: (Type A? July-Sept) in a 3 gallon pot, waiting to plant

Mexicola Grande tree

Problems

• No more room to plant - space for just one more tree maximum
• Will need to either replace trees, top work, or multi-graft
• Need more complete coverage of the Avocado calendar, especially early and late
• Hoping for the best tasting avocados
• Would prefer rarer varieties that I can't easily buy at the store
• Need more Type B flower varieties

Considering the following cultivars

• Simmonds to extend the season early, high quality
• Dupuis to add a rare early variety
• Ronnie to extend the season late
• Maria Black to add a Type B
• Oro Negro for fruit quality
• Catalina and Russell for mid-season coverage
• Kampong for rarity and flavor
• Miguel

My yard is tiny and space is at an absolute premium. I enjoy avocado, but I don't need more than a couple per week to be happy. I was thinking multi-grafting each tree into a cocktail tree could be the answer? I have never grafted before so I have no idea if the hot weather is a good time to graft some scions, or even the preferred grafting method or how to choose the pairings. The tiny Wurtz is taking up a full-size spot, so I could move it and open up one more space for a full-size tree. I might also cut down or top work the Mexicola Grande. So I could probably plant 2 or 3 new varieties and graft the rest. What should I do?


Mexicola Grande fruit blushing black

[johnb51]

I think Kampong is group B.  That might be a good choice for you.

[tropical_rag_g-fruitforum]

From what I heard, Kampong has production/alternate bearing issues.

I planted Ronnie, Simmonds, Oro Negro,  Day and Brogdon.

Also, Nishikawa does well.

[Greater Good]

In order of production
1. Pollock (the original)
2. Day
3. Lula
4. Ronnie

2-4 have enough oil content to make guacamole

[Coconut Cream]

Thanks for the ideas. Yesterday I went tree shopping and came back with Brogdon, Simmonds and Oro Negro. I wasn't planning on buying the Brogdon, but I tasted the fruit and really enjoyed it. The texture was creamy without being mushy, and the flavor reminded me of whipped butter. Far superior to the Mexicola Grande's mild and washed out taste, plus the fruit is larger.

I will replace the Mexicola Grande tree with the Brogdon which will give me better tasting avocados at the same time of the year (late summer) and add a Type B tree.

I will move the Wurtz tree (hopefully it survives) to a spot along the house since it's staying so small and plant the Simmonds in the hole. Then I will add the Oro Negro (also Type B) and Lara-Pollock to the row which will give me:

Early season = Simmonds, Brogdon
Mid Season = Super Haas, Lara-Pollock
Late Season = Choquette, Oro Negro, Wurtz

Then I can graft on a few branches of the other varieties and have a fairly complete selection: Ronnie, Kampong, Lula, Catalina, Hialeah Red, Dupuis, Miguel.

How likely is the 3 years in the ground (and 3 feet tall) Wurtz tree to survive being moved? Any tips?

[Altrexy]

Anecdotally, my very picky family loves Catalina. They all speak very highly of it, from Cuba and from what they’ve eaten here. I haven’t tried them personally though but I can vouch for the “cult following” pine island talks about

[Julie]

I've planted Tonnage, Taylor, Maria Black, and Oro Negro.  Also look into Choquette--very good all around avocado.  I might even plant one at some point lol though I already have 4 avocado trees.

Oro Negro does seem to be a low producer even in Miami Dade County very close to where it was originally selected.  Will have to see as time goes on, it set a lot of fruit this year but dropped almost all when it rained heavily.

Tonnage & Taylor have not fruited for me yet.

Maria Black has already fruited once and now has a lot of huge avocados on it.

[Coconut Cream]

Thanks for everyone who offered suggestions. The Wurtz has been replaced with Brogdon and the Mexicola replaced with Simmonds. I also planted an Oro Negro. That adds 3 "certified delicious varieties" (certified by me  ) and two with Type B flowers. With Super Haas and Choquette already fruiting I will be well-covered throughout the year and still have space for at least one more avocado tree for a total of 6. If I get just 30 avocados per tree, per year, that gives me one every other day which is more than enough.

I put the Simmonds between the Choquette and Super Haas because the spacing is a little tighter there and Simmonds is supposed to be a bit less vigorous. The Brogdon is closest to the live oak but still 16 feet away and south facing. I pruned back some of the oak branches so the Brogdon will get 95% sun. I've seen some large Brogdon trees so maybe a little competition with the oak will hold it in check.

I still have a Ronnie 1 gallon, a Lara-Pollock 3 gallon, and an Apmay on order for the springtime. One of those three will go in the last spot, and then I will grow the other two in pots to harvest budwood to graft on my in-ground trees. For now I will focus on establishing healthy trees and rich soil, and ultimately graft additional varieties like Kampong, Dupuis, Lara Purple, Russell, Catalina, Lula, and whatever the latest flavor of the month happens to be. I also have to accept that I can't buy any more avocado trees. For real this time!!!


Super Haas fruit almost ready


Choquette avocados getting bigger

[Greater Good]

Ronnie from a 7 gallon container
Took a couple of growing season months for the roots to settle down and get acclimated.
Got it's mojo going recently

[victory66]

A great type B is Monroe. I am grafting it onto other type A trees. Brogdon was my first ever tasted avocado, and for me everything else is measured against it for taste.

Love the Ronnie, for season and for exquisite taste. The Apmay I also pre-ordered. It is supposed to be fantastic for the same reasons. You'll have a productive little orchard.