Brazos Belle (Wilma) Avocado
I am very excited at the prospect of actually getting to pick and eat an avocado. As I discussed in a previous post, this year I bought a Brazos Belle (Not the same as Wilma) and a Poncho avocado from Plants for All Seasons. They both flowered, and the Brazos Belle set somewhere around 25 fruits. Avocados are self thinning, and after a few months, I'm down to four small avocados approximately 3 inches long. I was going to pick them off, thus allowing the tree to put its energy into growth rather than fruiting, but I didn't. The allure of picking and eating an avocado from my own tree is just too strong.
The Poncho didn't set any fruit, but it is growing very very well. It is covered in several new flushes of growth. I imagine the Brazos Belle would be also, if I had removed the immature fruits. Both trees seem quite happy in their 30-gallon pots under the pine trees, where they get afternoon shade and some protection from the wind. Dr. Randall once said that you should plant an avocado tree in the shade of a tree you don't like, and when the avocado gets big and established, cut down the other tree. Nothing would make me happier than to take out those big pines.
I was looking at my Mexicola Grande the other day and realized that it was smaller than when I planted it three years ago. The freezes of the past two years have really been tough on it, and it just looked terrible. This variety just can't make it in my yard, it's not cold hardy enough. I figured it was time to admit defeat, so I dug it up and put it in a pot. I planted a Capulin cherry in it's place, which will hopefully fare much better.
The Poncho didn't set any fruit, but it is growing very very well. It is covered in several new flushes of growth. I imagine the Brazos Belle would be also, if I had removed the immature fruits. Both trees seem quite happy in their 30-gallon pots under the pine trees, where they get afternoon shade and some protection from the wind. Dr. Randall once said that you should plant an avocado tree in the shade of a tree you don't like, and when the avocado gets big and established, cut down the other tree. Nothing would make me happier than to take out those big pines.
I was looking at my Mexicola Grande the other day and realized that it was smaller than when I planted it three years ago. The freezes of the past two years have really been tough on it, and it just looked terrible. This variety just can't make it in my yard, it's not cold hardy enough. I figured it was time to admit defeat, so I dug it up and put it in a pot. I planted a Capulin cherry in it's place, which will hopefully fare much better.
Immature Avocados
New Flush of Growth on the Poncho
Sad Mexicola Grande
