An avocado pollenizer is a tree of a different flower type that is used to help another tree make more fruit. For example, a Zutano avocado tree is often planted as a pollenizer among Hass avocado trees on farms because the Zutano is a B flower whereas Hass is an A.
We can follow this same strategy in our yards. In my yard, for example, I have an Edranol (B flower) next to a Pinkerton (A flower).
But what is even more effective at creating the most cross-pollination opportunities for an avocado tree is providing multiple pollenizers. See how and why in this video:
It’s important to note that many avocado varieties make a lot of fruit without the presence of a pollenizer. Reed and GEM are examples. Hass also makes a lot of fruit without a pollenizer in many locations.
It’s also important to keep in mind that there are other factors involved in avocado pollination. See my post, “What are the best avocado pollination conditions?”
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My Gwen was different this year. The skin is much thicker than usual, and it fooled me at first on when they became ripe. I kept waiting for the picked fruit to give a little when squeezed as they ripened. Never happened. So I began testing by cutting them open at a noted day. Turned out my first good ones needed 8 days to ripen from the pick date, yet the skin was still very hard. I’d also used the toothpick through the stem spot but it never got soft, either. I’m glad they were abundant this year to make up for the ones I lost. BTW, that big rain caused a lot of growth on all my younger trees. A lot! Had a lot of new limbs to whitewash
That’s interesting, David. I have noticed Gwens being tricky to judge through squeezing sometimes too. The peel is sometimes much like a shell.
Its early June and my 3 avocado trees have only a very few small size 1/3″ avocados (total of approx 5 total) , I see no new flowers ….is this it for the season? Last year i had no Sir Prize avocados…. the previous year we had perhaps 30. Is the flowering season over???? I attempted girdling this year on two trees… can we expect more flowers? If not, next harvest season will be pretty sparse. I live about 1 mile from the coast in the Dana point area…..
Sorry to say, Al, but I think the flowering season is over. I have some remaining flowers on a few big trees (especially Reed), but that’s about it.
This bloom has been a mixed bag in my yard. Some trees have good set while others are barren (even though they flowered heavily). I’m trying to find explanations.
When did you girdle?
I girdled the Haas and Pinkerton the 1st week of Feb, I gave it a try knowing I should have done it around December once I heard about girdling. I am more disappointed in a 12 ft Sir Prize that had a good harvest year in 2021. 2022 it was barren and now… no flowers which resulted in small avocados, The tree looks lush w new leaves but I expected every other year fruit….that did not happen ( I did not girdle this tree since I expected this year was gonna be a banner year)
Your news about flowers did not make my day…. looks like its gonna be martinis tonight to sooth the pain…… : )
Most information on avocados are about maturing, ripening or heat tolerance but there’s little info on bloom times which I think would be important. Anyway, I’m up in Humboldt, micro zone 9 A or B. If they all pull through I hope I have pollenaters covered. Zutano, Sharwil, and a Sir Prize on order from Four Winds, to cover my Hass, Wurtz, Mexicola, Gem (new), Lamb New), Pinkerton (coming), Stewart. (I tend to jump into a project with both feet) I’ll be planting two and perhaps three in a hole. In any case they will be within 6 – 7 feet of each other. Any ideas which might do better with which? Thanks for your good work and help. Much appreciated.