Where do you live ? I'm in the Modesto area and I have 8 trees doing well. I know many others who have nice trees in the Bay Area as well. Maybe the guy at the nursery doesn't know what he is talking about.

That is pretty much what I was thinking Nick. I am just south of San Jose, we have HOT summers, but some frost in the winters.

Couple of things I have noticed... I have found that avocado trees seem better in my area (inland Bay Area, northeast of SJ) with eastern exposure and near the house. The early morning sun gets rid of the frost the soonest with eastern exposure. And near the house creates a warmer microclimate from reflected heat. I say go for it! Maybe keep it in a large pot on wheels at first to find the best spot. Then if you're able, plant it in the ground, or just try it out in the pot for a while. I'm keeping mine in large pots and so far they seem great. :)

I live in Richmond, CA. As I am houses looking this winter and spring, I saw amazing big blooming avocado trees in Richmond/San Pablo/El Sebrante area. There are so many huge tall trees. I recently bought a Sir Prize and put in a pot. Still haven't found a house for myself and my avocado yet.

Hass wont make it through the winter for sure,but Mexicola will

Hi Nick, Im also in Modesto. What varieties of avocado do you grow?

I have Hass, Mexicola, Fuerte, Bacon, Holiday, Pinkerton, Stewart and Wurtz.

Wow Nick, You have a nice collection there. How are they all doing? Which kind would you recommend for the area?

I always like seeing your avocado trees doing so well in containers Nick. They're looking great!

auroraborelis,

I live in Livermore. So on the colder side of the Bay area. I went to Santa Clara for a wedding and spent my free time walking the streets just north of Santa Clara University. Saw at least 1 avo tree every block. They were LOADED with avos. But you should have no problem. I would locate it on the south side of the house preferably insulated during the winter by structure if possible.

Cori Ann all my trees are in 1/2 wine barrels now that hold twice as much soil and I took out one of my apple trees from the ground and planted one of my avocado tree's in its place so now I can compare the growth and health of the containers vs the in-ground tree. :)

Ugh, I wish I had known all this earlier! I got a Little Cado a few months ago, and was told that it would not stay as little as I wanted, so to give it plenty of room! I planted it in a full sun, west facing part of the house, but there are no walls or fences near by for any protection or reflected heat! AND I had no idea it could grow in a container! Strongly tempted to replant it in a large container closer to a wall!

Kcandmilo...They don't seem to like having their roots disturbed at all... so I wouldn't risk moving it personally. Especially in the heat wave we are having, but maybe it's cooler in the SF area and not as big of a risk to move now. Your call! :-)

Thanks, Cori Ann! I'll let it be, then. We are south of SF but it has been super warm around here! I think we hit 90 yesterday!

Nick are you shading your avocado and citrus trees during these heat waves... or are yours mature enough that they don't fry? Mine are younger and are getting sun scorched if I don't shade them. I protect the trunks with cardboard (recycling papertowel rolls)... but the trees themselves need shade when it's consistently above 105 for days on end. I am guessing the trees I have in containers may end up needing shade often since they're in a container that's on a surface that radiates more heat.

But... some of my trees that are in the ground need shade lately too. Everything needs shade when it's this hot.

:-/

Cori Ann so far so good they are adjusting well. We will see this next week when its 100 plus for several days and 110* this Saturday. I shaded them early in the season when it was in the low 100's but since then they have adjusted well. I'm going for it without shade this coming week but I will keep my eye on them and move them if necessary.

Good to hear your more mature avos can handle the high, long dry heat spells. I have been shading mine on and off since they're so young. Sounds like next year I may be able to shade them less often and baby them a little less. This next week is going to be a total scorcher.

Oh goodness, I didn't even think about shade for my baby tree! Cori Ann, I am learning so much! Thanks for your various posts!

You may not need shade on the peninsula kcandmilo. It's so much milder there and there's more moisture in the air. Inland in the valley it's a total different microclimate. Colder in the winter, way hotter in the summer and so much less salinity/moisture in the air. :-)

Just

I have added a few more varieties and planted a few in the ground.

Bacon, Carmen,D'Arturo,Fuerte,Gem, Gwen, Mexicola, Pinkerton,Reed,Stuart and Wurtz.

My fuerte, stuart, gem, carmen,d'arturo and bacon are in ground now. My pinkerton and mexicola are in an 8x4x3 foot deep raised bed and the others in large containers.

I gave my son in law my hass and sir prize.

I live in Pioneer Ca which is 9A and I have 2 cold Hardy Avocado in the ground and 3 still in pots. They will grow up here use just have to use care until they mature. Get. The cold hardiest you can get. Most nursery have very limited. The mexicola grande, stewart, bacon, and j bacon are few varieties. There is lila and others just do your research. Good luck and happy growing 🤞

my newest trees can handle our temps and the others are established.

carmen- 28

d'arturo- 25

gwen- 28

gem- mid-upper 20's- they are grown in the Central Valley where I live.

reed- 25

I am in zone 9b and just bought a Mexicola Grande and a Fuerte. The Fuerte is on Bacon rootstock, so it can go to -4C once mature. The MG is supposed to go to -6.5C. I am curious about whether they will pollinate at overlapping times, or if they won't be good pollinators for each other. I have a super small yard, so I will have to work hard to keep them pruned to a good size.

Where can one find a GEM avocado tree in the Fresno area?