I suspect zone 6 is a little harsh for this plant. In Portland (Oregon), the bush will drop all it's leaves if the winter low is 18 or 20 degrees for a couple of days. The defoliation is complete by February. My plant has always re-leafed, re-bloomed, and fruited after such winters. Will have to wait for single-digit temperatures to find out more. This year's harvest is currently at its peak. There is definitely a continuum of habit here: California harvest is long gone by now; mine is at peak, and further north or lower zone, bloom is iffy and fruit is rare, judging by quite a few forum postings over the years. I am curious what counselling zone 6 nurseries are giving for buyers of this plant.

Any high quality bark-based potting soil. Not garden soil or topsoil but a constructed mix formulated specifically for container usage. But these types of soils are seldom available from bulk soil providers........you may need to mix your own. I'd suggest you visit the Container Gardening forum for details on soil mixes but I'd lean heavily to the 5-1-1 mix.

Hi, I need some Melbourne help please. Does anyone have a Hass avocado tree in the SE suburbs that I can take a scion from to graft onto my established rootstock? Thanks for any help. Cheers, Rich

Luckily this tree doesn't need much from us. Some landscapers did give it an ugly pruning though... I never thought of this as being hedging material but now I am. My only experience is with this tree which is decidedly a tree. It came with the house and I wouldn't be surprised if it's 40+ years old. I'm currently redoing much of my front yard and could use a nice shrub or two. The feijoa is kind of pretty and popular with the wildlife.