nursery

AVOCADOS
In a few places, and under the proper conditions, in USDA
Zones 9-11, Avocados can be grown outdoors. Anyone else
will need to grow them indoors in a pot. Except in the climates
where they thrive, it’s not easy to fruit Avocados. We know
some of you like to experiment, so here is some of what you
need to know to succeed. More info is available at www.raintreenursery.com.
Growing Avocado Trees Outdoors
Avocado trees require a humid climate. Although we are offering
the hardier varieties, they will only grow outdoors in California
from the latitude of the Bay area south or in Florida and the
southern part of the Southern states. If you live in a humid area
that has only occasional temperatures below freezing, consider
growing the hardy cultivars outdoors. Avocados can eventually
grow to more than 40’ tall outdoors, so choose a dwarf if space
is a problem. They take about seven years to come into production.
Growing Avocados in Pots
Raintree is offering avocado varieties that have shown the most
success in pot culture. Your tree needs high humidity to grow.
If the roots dry out the tree will defoliate, so grow it in a greenhouse
or area with high humidity. Temperatures below 50°F will
also cause defoliation.
All the varieties are on seedling rootstock. Each variety, even
the dwarfs, are very rapid growers and the dwarf varieties
aren’t going to be much smaller or more successful than the
others when grown in pots. Avocado plants don’t do well if
root pruned or severely top pruned so the way to grow them is
to start by putting the plant we send you into a 15 gallon pot.
Every two years move it to a bigger pot; 20 gallon, 25 gallon
etc. Being somewhat pot bound can bring the tree into production
in three or four years. After six or eight years it will be too
big for most growers. If you don’t live where you can transplant
it outdoors, you will need to start again with a small plant. We
offer beautiful grafted plants in 5” x 12” deep pots. Since
they are shipped separate from other items please place them
on a separate order.
LITTLE CADO This self fertile dwarf cultivar makes a dwarf
backyard tree. In your yard it will grow about 8-12’ in height.
Little Cado produces good tasting, green skinned fruit with
medium-thin skin. Fruit Size 8-14 oz. Ripens May-September.
Also known as Wurtz. Hardy to 25° F. J280Q: $54.95 each
BACON Enjoy flavorful green skinned fruit with smooth and
creamy flesh. Good production on an attractive, upright tree.
Trees are hardy to 28°F. A type B pollinator it needs a type
A like Mexicola for pollination when grown indoors.J285Q:
$54.95 each
MEXICOLAA semi dwarf variety with high quality fruit with
thin, shiny black skin, the fruit size is 4-8 oz. The avocados
ripen in August to October.
It is cold hardy to 18°F and
therefore somewhat extending
where Avocados can be
successfully grown. Often self
fertile when grown outdoors
at the limits of its range, this
pollen type A. Avocado needs
a Type B pollinator like Bacon
when grown indoors. J290Q:
$54.95 each
BOOKS
How to Order Books
For complete book descriptions and additional books see
our website. If books are ordered with plants, use the shipping
cost chart on the order form or on our website. We suggest
you order books separately from plants and supplies because
shipping is charged based on your order total and plants and
supplies are often bulky and more expensive to ship. Call in
your book order, and we can save you money on shipping!
We feature practical books about edible landscaping and fruit
growing by America’s most knowledgable and most readable
garden writers. Each is a long time friend of and collaborator
with Raintree Nursery.
Edible Landscaping
EDIBLE LANDSCAPING WITH A PERMACULTURE TWIST by
Michael Judd, 144 pgs. 200 color photos and drawings. A howto
manual for the budding gardener and experienced green
thumb alike, full of creative and easy-to-follow designs that
guide you to having your yard and eating it, too. S500: $24.95
YOUR EDIBLE LANDSCAPE NATURALLY by Robert Kourik,
370 pages. (Reprinted after being out of print) Robert has
brought together the best information on backyard fruit and
vegetable growing from throughout the world. This is a step by
step guide to selecting, planting, pruning, grafting and caring
for hundreds of the best edible landscaping plants. The book
includes more useful information than we, in our research, had
seen in one place. We borrowed much from his book in writing
our catalog and there are ten times that number of gems we
didn’t have room for. If you find the charts and information
in our catalog useful then you will love Robert’s book. This is
the most useful and fascinating book on fruit and vegetable
growing. We suggest you read the tree planting section before
you put your trees in the ground. S490: $49.95
PRACTICAL PERMACULTURE NEW! 336 pages. By pacific
NW designers and friends of Raintree, Jessi Bloom, Dave
Boehlein and illustrator Paul Kearsley. This entertaining
book gives you to the tools to enhance your home and your
community using permacultural principles. S501: $29.95
More Fruit Growing Books
UNCOMMON FRUITS FOR
EVERY GARDEN by Lee Reich,
292 pages. Lee Reich’s prized
book has been revised and
expanded. The book includes
information, photos, drawings
and detailed information on most
of the unusual fruits offered in
the Raintree catalog. A great
gift for the serious fruit grower.
S346: $16.95
UNDERSTANDING ROOTS
NEW!by Robert Kourik, 165
pages. Robert explains through
extensive illustrations how the
Lee Reich tastes unusual
fruits at Raintree
with horticulturist
Theresa Knutsen.
roots of plants including fruit trees, berry bushes, vegetables
and ornamentals grow and offers a wealth of practical planting
and plant care instructions the home gardener can understand
and use. It’s fun reading, “after the first years growth an apple
tree can produce 17,000,000 root hairs with a total length of
over a mile.” S224: $24.95
86 Order online at www.RaintreeNursery.com or call 1-800-391-8892.