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Avocado Growers

Climate zone 9b - Can I grow avocado? and what type?

7 years ago

Hi,

Can avocado grow in the below condition? And if so, what type(s)? Thanks.

USDA Hardiness Zone 9b: 25F to 30F. Annual rain 46.5"; average rainy days 89/year. The average first frost is between November 21 - 30, while the average last frost occurs between March 21 - 31. Averages 1 - 7 days per year where the temperatue exceeds 86°F. The average annual high temperature is 62°F and the average annual low temperature is 44°F. The average high temperature in July (Summer) is 68°F, while the average high temperature in January (Winter) is 56°F.

Featured Answer

Robert Hsiao
Original Author

7 years ago

I found that in some places the SF Bay and coastal climate is described as "Zone 17 along the coast and Bay with little or no frost". Is there a different scale or?

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Comments (9)

Tim Walker
7 years ago
Look up the climate of Escondido California. They grow huge quantities of avos.
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
7 years ago
Generally considered a tropical plant, avocados tend to prefer frost free zones, like those found in SoCal. However Mexican avocado cultivars, like Zutano, Mexicola, Fuerte or Bacon, are generally recognized as being more cold tolerant and can survive temps as low as 20F.
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Chrobrego (Orlando 9b)
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Robert Hsiao
Original Author
7 years ago
Hi, Just to give an update on my planting plan -- after extensive research, considering factors like cold tolerance, taste, oil content, A/B type for pollination, and fruiting months, I have formed a tentative plan to plant:

1 Stewart

1 Mexicola Grande

1 Brodgen

1 Lula

1 Fuerte

By the data I collected this combo of trees can give me almost year round fruits. I will plant them in a cluster, about 20' from each other. I plan to also build a simple greenhouse during winter months for the young trees. Fuerte supposedly can tolerate only low as 28F, but I want to take a chance on that one due to the good taste.

I think I have all bases covered. Thanks for the tips and any additional advice is of course appreciated.
catfraley
6 years ago
If I were to plant only two trees, which would you choose? Have you heard of the cold tolerant avocado which is supposed to be self pollinating? How much water do avocados need in the warmer months?
Francesco Delvillani
6 years ago
I think a Mexican type is better.....if you have these temperature you might not need two plants, since if temperature is low during flowering, Avocado may have female and male flowers at the same time.

One good choiche could be Mexicola Avocado, one (if not the) of the most cold-hardy Avocado
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
6 years ago
"I found that in some places the SF Bay and coastal climate is described as "Zone 17 along the coast and Bay with little or no frost". Is there a different scale or?"

Yes, that is a different scale - the zone 17 is from the Sunset Western Garden book, which has a much more detailed scale system that takes in many more influences, such as geography, wind conditions, proximity to the ocean, annual rainfall, summer heat, etc., and includes 24 zones compared to the USDA 12 zones. The USDA zone system reflects ONLY average minimum winter temperatures, nothing else.

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