I’ve got a mixed box of the best summer avocados in California for you, and they’re from my own trees!
With one of these boxes you’ll get to taste Reeds and Lambs side by side. Which do you want to grow in your yard? Will you love them both?
Here is the order page. (Supporters can order now. Open for general sale on Friday at 6 PM if any are still available.) (I’m sorry but these are sold out.)
Reed
Reed has long been the favorite summer avocado for enthusiasts in Southern California. Reed originated in Carlsbad, San Diego County. It is large and shaped like a grapefruit, and it has the smoothest, most fiberless texture of any avocado I’ve ever eaten. (Here is my favorite way to enjoy a Reed.)
Learn more about Reed in my profile here.
Lamb
Lamb is a relative newcomer. It was first grown on the Lamb Ranch in Ventura County as part of the University of California avocado breeding program. It was chosen for patenting and release to the public in the 1990s in part because the fruit looks a lot like Hass. But it has a slightly thicker peel and a slightly smaller pit, plus greener flesh compared to Hass.
Learn more about Lamb in my profile here.
Trees
In 2013, I planted this pair of Reed and Lamb trees:
I’ve never sprayed the trees or the fruit with anything but water. I’ve only added compost and wood chips to the soil beneath the trees for fertility. These are my family’s avocados so I grow them to be clean and full of nutrition — way beyond “organic.” But they’re also very fruitful, and we’re lucky enough to have crops so big this year that we can share with you.
In each box, I can fit seven or eight total avocados. There will be three or four Reeds and three or four Lambs.
As usual, I’ll also include in each box an insert that gives tips on ripening and storing each variety.
Here is the order page.
Looking forward, at the very end of this month or in early September I will be able to sell more Reeds, these ones coming from another grove in San Diego County.
Right now, Eli’s Farm Stand in Fallbrook is selling Reeds. They are also selling Gwens. Soon they will start picking Lambs and possibly Mexicolas.
Mom and Dad’s Fruit Stand at the southeast corner of the 15 and 76 intersection in North County San Diego currently has Reeds and Lambs, as well as Pinkertons.
Do you know anywhere else we can buy quality Reeds or Lambs in Southern California? (At this time, I don’t know of a farmer selling online and shipping that I feel confident recommending.)
All of my Yard Posts are listed HERE
There’s a produce stand at the San Marcos farmers market that often has Reed avocados for sale. They’re big fruits! My wife and I like to split one, cubed up in a bowl with a bit of salt and roasted pumpkin seeds sprinkled on top.
Not sure how much longer they’ll have Reed avocados at that booth, but the farmers market is every Tuesday 3-7.
I thought Pinkerton was a much earlier variety. Last year we started picking our pinkertons in February. they took about 2 weeks to ripen.
You’re right, Bob. Pinkerton is a weird variety. It can flower early and have some early fruit, but it also can have an extended bloom and have some late fruit. It hangs on the tree very well too. The latest I’d had good Pinkertons until this year was early July, but the Pinkertons available at Mom and Dad’s Fruit Stand from the Pankey Ranch are delicious here in early August this year.
I have to note that I’m not 100% sure what they’re selling as Pinkertons are Pinkertons though. They look and taste a little different from all of the Pinkertons I’ve ever eaten. They have no neck at all, for one. But the seed inside is very small, as is typical of Pinkerton. Regardless, whatever they’re selling as Pinkertons are delicious avocados that are worth buying.
This is good knowledge to have. I’ve been wondering which of my trees have a long hang time in my quest for year round avocados. I’ll be letting the Pinkerton grow quite a bit now. My kona sharwil has caught but is small; I understand this variety has a tremendously long hang time, like 10 months. Using those two trees as the filler trees for the other less hang time ones may make this possible.
Hello Greg. I really appreciate all your information about avocados. I have a question: My brother lives in La Jolla and would like to buy some avocados and I know that you sometimes sell avocados. Do you sell to the public or how does that work? If it would be unrealistic for my brother to purchase directly from you, can you recommend anyone seller/grower in the La Jolla or Del Mar areas? Thank you very much for your time Greg,
Hi Claudia,
Here is a post about the avocados that I am selling: https://gregalder.com/yardposts/avocados-for-sale/
I don’t know anyone selling avocados in the La Jolla or Del Mar areas, sorry.
I will be selling Reed avocados in a few weeks.
Thank you for taking the time to reply, Greg. How does a person find out WHERE or HOW to order avocados for pick-up? Thank you!
Hi Gregg I researched your historic commentary and did not find anything on ants. Our driveway our compost under the citrus trees all over the yard we are inundated with a little black ant they seem to be seeking water but they are out of control. In addition this year I noticed another variety they’re like a microscopic little black ant so now there’s two types to fight. California has banned so many products I often go out of state to try to purchase effective poisons. I have read where borax and jelly will kill ant dance but I have not found this to be effective with this black ants. Do you have any suggestions tractor supply out of state recommended Pierreson which I found to again be nonaffective thank you
Pam,
I’m fighting mostly argentine ants both in my home and yard. They are almost impossible to eradicate. Lately i have been using borax mixture of 100 10 1 of water, sugar, boric acid. In addition I’m adding little bit of meaty fat or sauce from cooking meat to the tray just to bring more ants in. They are attracted by the smell of meaty protein but will gorge themselves on sugary mixture as highlighted above next to it.
I’m using plastic lids and cotton make up removal pads to drip the mixture on. Keep it in the shade and moist and completely wash the lids after a few days to keep it clean and tasty for the ants. So far I have seen reduction in numbers but not complete eradication.
thank you – I don’t think the referenced photos made it.
Hi Pam and Paul,
I don’t have a post on ants because I haven’t found anything satisfyingly effective. I think I’ve tried everything in the book. Many things work somewhat, some things work more than others, but nothing works as well as I’d like.
That said, I currently use two methods. One, I occasionally blast my citrus trees with water to knock off insects that the ants farm, such as aphids, psyllids, and scale. Two, I use KM Ant Pro bait stations. It’s the only poison I use on anything in my whole yard. It reduces the Argentine ant population near the station, but it doesn’t eliminate the ants.
Maybe I should still write a post on all of the other things I’ve tried but found even less effective than these two practices/products just so others might skip them.
Reeds and Lambs arrived, and are ripening on the counter right now. I’ll try the toothpick test in a couple days. I’ll keep you posted!