I know it's a little late to be commenting on this post that turned up in my search for info on Loquat, Eriobotrya japonica. Although this thread didn't have anything to do with my question about Loquats, I couldn't stop reading. Scott, you did a great job on this article. I enjoyed reading it and learned a lot. I'm particularly interested in the cold frames you made with the PVC. Last year I made some out of wood for my mom and stapled plastic to it. I will not do that again. I have a few questions for you, if you don't mind. (1) What width or diameter PVC did you use? I didn't realize PVC was that flexible. What makes it hold that shape? (2) Did you just sink the ends of the PVC directly into the ground? I couldn't tell because of the blankets. I'd like to be prepared long before winter sets in this winter. Your frames are great because they look easy to construct and easy to dismantle & store when not in use. Thank you.

@Silvia - Thanks so much for the info. You're lucky you got them so quickly, but from your other posts you seem to have the magic green thumb. Glad to hear they fruit in the summer. All the info on the net varies widely on they ripen. Also glad to hear we can grow a cado here that is at least the egual of a Hass. Carlos in Miami (myavocados.com) has successfully grown and fruited good tasting (but smaller) Hass so I think my next Cado tree will either be a Hass, Oro Negro, Mexicola or Lula tho I have never tasted them - just Hass, Choquette (a bit too bland for me) and other unknown large Florida green alligator pears. Only concern is if Hass if cold hardy enough for SW Florida 9B. I have seen it rated for 26-32 degrees and rated as "average" for cold hardiness. Have you ever had Lula or Mexicola and if so can you advise on taste? Both are supposed to be good. Some people have said Lula has an overly "Sweet" flavor they don't care for. Lula is also supposed to have Scab issues.

1. The only Choquette I ever had I found to be very bland and lacking in flavor even by low oil Florida green alligator pear standards. Did I get a bad one or are they all that way? Is MONROE or LULA significantly better than Choquette? Choquette is also often recommended and widely sold, but I found it quite bland. Healthy tree, large good looking fruit, but flavorless. 2. Is Monroe better tasting/higher oil than Lula? Lula has a longer season and better cold resistance from what I've read. Monroe or Lula? 3. Oro Negro and Nishikawa both look promising and are highly rated for flavor from what I've read, tho they both apparently are not widely established in Florida yet tho some nurseries are starting to carry them. Can you recommend either one or both of these for the dooryard and if so which one would you choose? Are both cold hardy enough for SW Florida. (FYI: all time record low for my area of SW Florida zone 9B was 20 degrees in 1983. Choquettes grow well here without issue.) Looking for input from people who have actually grown or tasted these varieties. I have already read all the info available on the web for these cultivars. Buying an avocado tree is like buying a parrot - it's a lifelong commitment. It sucks to plant a fruit tree only to find out 5-10 years later it's a sub-standard variety or a spitter. Thanks for any input you guys have. SW FLORIDA 9B

No and yes in that order. I live on the Alabama side of the Gulf Coast. If your advanced enough in gardening and are used to covering things like certain citrus or using heating cables, lamps, wood burning barels, heaters with fans, christmas lights, or any similar method of keeping them heated then by all means. I have grown them a couple of times and it seems every couple of winters I forget and have to go back to the beginning. I still say it is worth it by far and honestly we have only had three days of frost this winter so far so covering with the tarp was pretty easy. Hope that helps a lot.