Florida Hass Avocado
Florida Hass Avocado
Go to the lower part to see the update from September 30, 2014
August 8, 2015: I have by now accumulated a lot of information on this variety growing in South Florida. If you go to the bottom of the page and work your way back you will get the latest information. I'm pronouncing this variety not worth growing in So. Florida environment. Too many undesirable qualities. My advise is that if you are thinking about getting this variety, you think twice. You are not getting anything close to Hass quality, compounded by a multitude of many other undesirable qualities. I'm discontinuing coverage of this variety.
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Welcome to my most visited page, this interest results from the desire to grow Hass like fruit in Florida.
Not much information is available except that every other web page repeats with variations, the following;
Florida Hass is a Mexican type avocado, and was selected from California Hass avocado seed planted on the west coast of Florida. Medium sized green fruit with high oil content. Adapted to the high humidity of Florida and South TX, cold hardy to 25F. Ripens from Nov-Dec.
There is a possible error in the above statement. Hass is of Guatemalan race not Mexican.
The picture to the left I got it in July 17, 2012 from Tim in Minneola Florida. Thanks Tim
I got a tree in 2011 (Lets's call it #1) planted it in the ground and in January 2012 I was able to get bud-wood to top-work a tree. I plan to document with pictures and videos this variety. Stay tune. If you have an adult tree producing please let me know. (no one seems to have an adult producing tree)
May 5, 2012: The tree that I top worked in January is doing great, (Let's call it #2) will be a huge tree in a year. It is twice the size the tree I got the bud wood from. See picture below. This tree by the end of the year will be a lot bigger and hopefully next year will give us fruit and all the bud wood my friends need. Hopefully I will be able to post pictures of this fruit and talk about quality. Patience is all that's required,
June 19, 2012. Today I got some pictures of a Florida Hass from David in the Broward County Florida area. This tree is 4 years old. Has been in the ground for about 3 years. Last season it set 5 avocados this year has 18. See Pictures below. The tree is about 10 ft high and the fruit form the pictures is hard to tell apart from a Hass. David reports "Great taste. Buttery and smooth. Same size and look as store bought. Late July through August."
July 16, 2012. We got word from Tim in Minneola FL. (just west of Orlando) that he has a FL Hass 7 ft tall, with one fruit remaining on the tree after it drop about a dozen or so fruit. He send us some nice pictures. We will let us know how does it taste.
August 12, 2012. More information keeps coming in. If you have something to contribute don't hold back. Both Tim and David have send me pictures of the fruit. They look different to me, David's fruit looks more like a Hass and Tim's has that little point and curve on top. Unfortunately Tim's tree only had one fruit. David has several so we hope to get reports on picking time and quality,
August 23, 2012. Tim send a complete report on his Florida Hass. He did harvested the one fruit. Read Tim's Report
August 28, 2012. I just got pictures from David. Seems like the fruit is identical to Tim's. It appears that the fruit changes in the last few weeks and pear shapes a bit at the end. See David's picture in the album below.
September 26, 2012: David from Miami still has fruit on the tree and reports: "I've been taking one or two a week. They take 7-10 days to ripen but they are great. They are still holding well on the tree."
October 21, 2012: My top worked Florida Hass (Jan 2012) is looking good. It is 10 months old, I pruned it to round it up a couple of months ago. Its looking like a 3-4 year old tree by now. Does not seem its going to flush again, it my be getting ready to winter. See picture in the album.
December 26, 2012: The tree that I top worked in January (#2) is huge and doing great. Seem like is building up to Flower soon. Also the tree is shedding some leaves. Looks like it could have flowers open in 10-14 days or less if we have a mild January.It is an early flowering in So. Florida. See Today's pics. The other tree I purchased in 1 gal (# 1) is also good size and may hold fruit this coming season. Also a couple of weeks ago I top worked another tree. This would be no (# 3). So now I will have 3 trees in different section of the grove.
February 2, 2013: Trees No 1 and 2 are in full bloom now. The new grafts on # 3 are growing. Tim form Central Florida reports that his tree is flowering. See Picture taken in January 30, 2013. Seems to be flowering a few days behind mine here in So. Florida. The few miles north does not seem to make much difference.
March 16, 2013: Tree #2 is huge like 10 ft tall. It has some flowers but most of them are gone. I only see one fruit. I was hoping for a few more. Tree #1 looks a little weak all the flowers are gone and also I only see one minute fruit. Not encouraging. You see top worked trees like Lamb Hass and Mexicola with lots of set fruit and makes you wonder. All trees are different some don't flower and set fruit the first year. Next year may be crucial with this variety.
March 30, 2013: Tree #2 still has flowers mostly in the lower half. Its pushing new buds. Seems like it could go on flowering for another 10 days or so. A long Flowering season. This tree has focused in growing rather than flowering, not unusual for a top worked tree.
April 14, 2013: Tree #2 still has some flowering left. Seems like its holding 3-4 fruit. Disappointing, it is the first flowering after top working but this tree is in full sun all the time and I was hoping for some more. Tree #1 now on its third season is about 7 feet tall and only set one fruit. It has no flowers left. Makes you wonder about this variety. Next year would be a crucial year for this variety.
April 27, 2013: Tree #2 has surprised me. It's still has some flowers. This tree had a 60 day flowering period. it seemed to be setting more fruit in this final stage so may be we get a few more than expected. At this point I have to add another tree? or branch may be. Back in December 2011 testing a new knife I grafted a piece of tree #1 into a huge Dupuis tree that shot a big water shoot. It took and I saw it today and seems to have about 8-10 fruit set. This will be tree #4. Picture in a few weeks when I can see the fruit better.
May 18, 2013: Tree #2 has the most fruit. Only 6-8, some has dropped. I do notice that the fruit has scab on them. It could be my location since I do have an early scab attack on the Monroes. I shows a propensity. Tree #1 has one fruit shows clean so far.
May 22, 2013: The Florida Hass is under "scab attack" see pictures. This is disappointing, but this is why one does research. This is from tree #2. 80% plus of the fruit has scab. This tree was sprayed with copper about two weeks ago. Most of the other trees in the immediate area does not have it. It seems this variety is very susceptible to scab. In a home environment where there are not many avocado trees around it may stay scab free, but in "avocado country" where the fungus is in the air it may be a problem, specially having had a very wet prior summer. The tree seems to be a scab magnet.
May 24 2013: There is good information from others in this thread I started in the Tropical fruit Forum
July 5, 2013: Tree no. 1 only set one fruit, it is clean and almost store size Hass by now, see picture. I hope I can get to taste it. Would it get larger? Would it turn dark on the tree?
The rest, in tree no 2 are badly scab damaged although there may be a couple that can be salvaged. The interesting thing about this trees is that they flower over a long time and set fruit over a long time. Depending to exposure, and location. As result the fruit probably will mature over a couple months. I see fruit all difference sizes. Tree no 4 that fruit are a lot smaller than no 1.
July 24, 2013. That big fruit still hanging on tree no 1. Tree #2 is holding some fruit. The Scab is under control after several copper sprays. May get to eat some fruit from #2. Branch called #4 is holding 4-5 clean fruit. a lot smaller than the one in #1. This is why I suspect this fruit can have a wide maturity range perhaps going into September and October.
August 4, 2013. Tree Number 1 is holding the one fruit and keeps getting larger, feels like a 12-14 oz fruit. Looks clean. See picture. There is some fruit in tree #2, 4-5 are clean, the rest have scab damage, they are a lot smaller than #1. Branch No 4 is doing well has 6-7 fruit, about 4-5 oz so far and growing, see picture. The interesting thing about this tree is the long range of fruit set which can provide fruit for several months. We are learning a lot about this tree.
August 15, 2013: Critical time and all fruit holding,
September 5, 2013: Fruit still holding nicely and growing. Unusual because the reports that I have gotten is that people were picking them in July-August in So. Florida. I'm please to see the fruit is holding. I picked a fruit from tree # 2, You will recall that this tree had a bad case of scab. This fruit has some healed scab damage but looks good. It came in at 11.4 oz, very nice for a Hass. I will now see how long it takes to mature and any color change during the process. See Pics with today's date.
September 11, 2013: Picked another fruit from tree # 2 around 10.7 oz The fruit picked in Sept 5 still is hard as a rock. I have been told that fruit that stays in the tree past October begins to deteriorate in the tree but will not drop off. I expect to pick more fruit next week. Should be tasting very soon.
September 14, 2013: Fruit picked on Sept 5, not ready . Picked two more from tree # 2 in the 10+oz. More of the same.
February 4, 2014: Tree number 1 is opening flowers and shooting out inflorescence in various location. Last year by this time the tree was in full bloom. Here we go again.......
August 8, 2015: I have by now accumulated a lot of information on this variety growing in South Florida. If you go to the bottom of the page and work your way back you will get the latest information. I'm pronouncing this variety not worth growing in So. Florida environment. Too many undesirable qualities. My advise is that if you are thinking about getting this variety, you think twice. You are not getting anything close to Hass quality, compounded by a multitude of many other undesirable qualities. I'm discontinuing coverage of this variety.
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Welcome to my most visited page, this interest results from the desire to grow Hass like fruit in Florida.
Not much information is available except that every other web page repeats with variations, the following;
Florida Hass is a Mexican type avocado, and was selected from California Hass avocado seed planted on the west coast of Florida. Medium sized green fruit with high oil content. Adapted to the high humidity of Florida and South TX, cold hardy to 25F. Ripens from Nov-Dec.
There is a possible error in the above statement. Hass is of Guatemalan race not Mexican.
The picture to the left I got it in July 17, 2012 from Tim in Minneola Florida. Thanks Tim
I got a tree in 2011 (Lets's call it #1) planted it in the ground and in January 2012 I was able to get bud-wood to top-work a tree. I plan to document with pictures and videos this variety. Stay tune. If you have an adult tree producing please let me know. (no one seems to have an adult producing tree)
May 5, 2012: The tree that I top worked in January is doing great, (Let's call it #2) will be a huge tree in a year. It is twice the size the tree I got the bud wood from. See picture below. This tree by the end of the year will be a lot bigger and hopefully next year will give us fruit and all the bud wood my friends need. Hopefully I will be able to post pictures of this fruit and talk about quality. Patience is all that's required,
June 19, 2012. Today I got some pictures of a Florida Hass from David in the Broward County Florida area. This tree is 4 years old. Has been in the ground for about 3 years. Last season it set 5 avocados this year has 18. See Pictures below. The tree is about 10 ft high and the fruit form the pictures is hard to tell apart from a Hass. David reports "Great taste. Buttery and smooth. Same size and look as store bought. Late July through August."
July 16, 2012. We got word from Tim in Minneola FL. (just west of Orlando) that he has a FL Hass 7 ft tall, with one fruit remaining on the tree after it drop about a dozen or so fruit. He send us some nice pictures. We will let us know how does it taste.
August 12, 2012. More information keeps coming in. If you have something to contribute don't hold back. Both Tim and David have send me pictures of the fruit. They look different to me, David's fruit looks more like a Hass and Tim's has that little point and curve on top. Unfortunately Tim's tree only had one fruit. David has several so we hope to get reports on picking time and quality,
August 23, 2012. Tim send a complete report on his Florida Hass. He did harvested the one fruit. Read Tim's Report
August 28, 2012. I just got pictures from David. Seems like the fruit is identical to Tim's. It appears that the fruit changes in the last few weeks and pear shapes a bit at the end. See David's picture in the album below.
September 26, 2012: David from Miami still has fruit on the tree and reports: "I've been taking one or two a week. They take 7-10 days to ripen but they are great. They are still holding well on the tree."
October 21, 2012: My top worked Florida Hass (Jan 2012) is looking good. It is 10 months old, I pruned it to round it up a couple of months ago. Its looking like a 3-4 year old tree by now. Does not seem its going to flush again, it my be getting ready to winter. See picture in the album.
December 26, 2012: The tree that I top worked in January (#2) is huge and doing great. Seem like is building up to Flower soon. Also the tree is shedding some leaves. Looks like it could have flowers open in 10-14 days or less if we have a mild January.It is an early flowering in So. Florida. See Today's pics. The other tree I purchased in 1 gal (# 1) is also good size and may hold fruit this coming season. Also a couple of weeks ago I top worked another tree. This would be no (# 3). So now I will have 3 trees in different section of the grove.
February 2, 2013: Trees No 1 and 2 are in full bloom now. The new grafts on # 3 are growing. Tim form Central Florida reports that his tree is flowering. See Picture taken in January 30, 2013. Seems to be flowering a few days behind mine here in So. Florida. The few miles north does not seem to make much difference.
March 16, 2013: Tree #2 is huge like 10 ft tall. It has some flowers but most of them are gone. I only see one fruit. I was hoping for a few more. Tree #1 looks a little weak all the flowers are gone and also I only see one minute fruit. Not encouraging. You see top worked trees like Lamb Hass and Mexicola with lots of set fruit and makes you wonder. All trees are different some don't flower and set fruit the first year. Next year may be crucial with this variety.
March 30, 2013: Tree #2 still has flowers mostly in the lower half. Its pushing new buds. Seems like it could go on flowering for another 10 days or so. A long Flowering season. This tree has focused in growing rather than flowering, not unusual for a top worked tree.
April 14, 2013: Tree #2 still has some flowering left. Seems like its holding 3-4 fruit. Disappointing, it is the first flowering after top working but this tree is in full sun all the time and I was hoping for some more. Tree #1 now on its third season is about 7 feet tall and only set one fruit. It has no flowers left. Makes you wonder about this variety. Next year would be a crucial year for this variety.
April 27, 2013: Tree #2 has surprised me. It's still has some flowers. This tree had a 60 day flowering period. it seemed to be setting more fruit in this final stage so may be we get a few more than expected. At this point I have to add another tree? or branch may be. Back in December 2011 testing a new knife I grafted a piece of tree #1 into a huge Dupuis tree that shot a big water shoot. It took and I saw it today and seems to have about 8-10 fruit set. This will be tree #4. Picture in a few weeks when I can see the fruit better.
May 18, 2013: Tree #2 has the most fruit. Only 6-8, some has dropped. I do notice that the fruit has scab on them. It could be my location since I do have an early scab attack on the Monroes. I shows a propensity. Tree #1 has one fruit shows clean so far.
May 22, 2013: The Florida Hass is under "scab attack" see pictures. This is disappointing, but this is why one does research. This is from tree #2. 80% plus of the fruit has scab. This tree was sprayed with copper about two weeks ago. Most of the other trees in the immediate area does not have it. It seems this variety is very susceptible to scab. In a home environment where there are not many avocado trees around it may stay scab free, but in "avocado country" where the fungus is in the air it may be a problem, specially having had a very wet prior summer. The tree seems to be a scab magnet.
May 24 2013: There is good information from others in this thread I started in the Tropical fruit Forum
July 5, 2013: Tree no. 1 only set one fruit, it is clean and almost store size Hass by now, see picture. I hope I can get to taste it. Would it get larger? Would it turn dark on the tree?
The rest, in tree no 2 are badly scab damaged although there may be a couple that can be salvaged. The interesting thing about this trees is that they flower over a long time and set fruit over a long time. Depending to exposure, and location. As result the fruit probably will mature over a couple months. I see fruit all difference sizes. Tree no 4 that fruit are a lot smaller than no 1.
July 24, 2013. That big fruit still hanging on tree no 1. Tree #2 is holding some fruit. The Scab is under control after several copper sprays. May get to eat some fruit from #2. Branch called #4 is holding 4-5 clean fruit. a lot smaller than the one in #1. This is why I suspect this fruit can have a wide maturity range perhaps going into September and October.
August 4, 2013. Tree Number 1 is holding the one fruit and keeps getting larger, feels like a 12-14 oz fruit. Looks clean. See picture. There is some fruit in tree #2, 4-5 are clean, the rest have scab damage, they are a lot smaller than #1. Branch No 4 is doing well has 6-7 fruit, about 4-5 oz so far and growing, see picture. The interesting thing about this tree is the long range of fruit set which can provide fruit for several months. We are learning a lot about this tree.
August 15, 2013: Critical time and all fruit holding,
September 5, 2013: Fruit still holding nicely and growing. Unusual because the reports that I have gotten is that people were picking them in July-August in So. Florida. I'm please to see the fruit is holding. I picked a fruit from tree # 2, You will recall that this tree had a bad case of scab. This fruit has some healed scab damage but looks good. It came in at 11.4 oz, very nice for a Hass. I will now see how long it takes to mature and any color change during the process. See Pics with today's date.
September 11, 2013: Picked another fruit from tree # 2 around 10.7 oz The fruit picked in Sept 5 still is hard as a rock. I have been told that fruit that stays in the tree past October begins to deteriorate in the tree but will not drop off. I expect to pick more fruit next week. Should be tasting very soon.
September 14, 2013: Fruit picked on Sept 5, not ready . Picked two more from tree # 2 in the 10+oz. More of the same.
February 4, 2014: Tree number 1 is opening flowers and shooting out inflorescence in various location. Last year by this time the tree was in full bloom. Here we go again.......
First FLorida Hass from my own crop September 17, 2013
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September 17. 2013.
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Chicken Soup with avocado. One of my favorites.
We had some with chicken soup and the rest with the meal. On the average I would say it taste better than 80% of the summer fruit we have in the area. This was the first and a good experience. I would continue to grow this if not commercially, for family and friends.
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Stem root
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September 29, 2013
What a difference a few days makes. Today I tried to eat 3 different Florida Hass only to be disappointed in the fruit. They had mature unevenly, some parts over ripe, others still hard, other rotted (upper left).. The 16 oz fruit was a disaster. The pulp was attached to the skin in a really weird way.(Left lower Picture) Other (right upper) had black fibers running inside. Another very soft gel like spots. (lower right) I'm not sure who told me that Fl Hass needed to come off the tree by October 1 if not these type of problems would occur. I have a few more ripening in the Kitchen counter. Let's see what happens |
Dark fibers running inside the fruit
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October 1, 2013: Today was a better day. I opened a smaller fruit that was just lightly soft to the touch. It was not bad, a good taste, but nothing like the creaminess of a Hass. In some ways very much like a Florida fruit. Some areas were softer than others, a certain unevenness about it. The seed is large . Did not prevented me from eating it.
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October 7, 2013: I picked all the fruit left in the trees. They did not seem to be growing more and definitely they are not getting any better. They range from 5 to 8 oz. We'll see how this last group taste, but I have low expectations. I have some difficulties dealing with a variety that gets worst the longer it stays in the tree.
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November 17, 2013: I received a very good and comprehensive report form Tim who is growing the cultivar in Central Florida. On behalf of all who follow this page, thank's Tim. If you are considering this variety you need to read it. Identical problems have been experience by him. So the negative issues I found are happening there as well so the problems with this cultivar are not related to the So. Florida soil but instead with a defect in the variety. READ TIM"S REPORT
December 4, 2013: Hoping for a better or possible last season for this tree. It is building lower buds, seems like it could flower earlier than last year.
December 28, 2013: Looks like the trees are building flower buds for an early start, much like they did last year. See Picture.
February 18, 2014: Beginning to see open flowers in tree #2.
March 10, 2014: I will update the 3 trees and put pictures of the three in the album. The 3 trees are doing fine. All flushing inflorescence with flowers and leaves.
Tree # 1 has double in size, this is the one gal tree I purchased from Top Tropicals and the donor for trees 2 and 3..
Tree # 2, the largest tree is also in full bloom, have not seen fruit set as of today. Tree no 3. the last top worked tree is in the same condition with the exception that tree #2 seem to be shedding more leaves.
Branch #4 was cut since it was in a tree that was top worked.
March 24, 2014: All in full bloom, have not seen any fruit set. A bit concerned because my main body of B flower trees bloomed early and are nearly finished flowering.
April 2, 2014: Most if not all the flowering is over. I do not see any fruit set on tree No 2, the biggest tree I have, nearly 15 ft tall and 8 ft wide. Like if all the other issues were not enough, it now seems be a dramatic alternate bearer. Seems to be a define no for at least So. Florida. Ran into someone growing the tree in the Kendall Area and said "I experience all the problems you did on my tree, I'm getting rid of it" .
June 6, 2014: There may be a few fruit in tree No 2 but I have not seen any in the others. All of these tree will be cut in August to be top worked with new varieties. I would report any significant issue until then.
July 25, 2014: I think there is only one avocado in all my Florida Hass trees, in No 2 the largest only has one . The tree has the canopy to hold 50-60 fruits. Seems like all these trees will be cut and top worked with better varieties. This will end the coverage of Florida Hass.
August 9, 2014: I picked the only fruit visible in all 3 trees I have. These 3 trees combined could have carried 50-70 fruits. Buy only one is visible. I thought I check it out for the fungal issue. In a few days I will prepare these trees to be top worked with another variety, as I see no purpose in continuing coverage or further research on this variety. Is not worth the time and effort.
September 21, 2014: I was staring to cut down tree no 2. Cut some of the branches and these two avocados came down from the tree. Both over 10 OZ, no scab, very clean fruit. Since I'm a declared masochist I stopped the operation and took the two avocados and brought them home. Let's see how the mature. This summer has been a much dryer season than last year. Since this is my most visited page I felt like I should give this tree a third chance.
December 4, 2013: Hoping for a better or possible last season for this tree. It is building lower buds, seems like it could flower earlier than last year.
December 28, 2013: Looks like the trees are building flower buds for an early start, much like they did last year. See Picture.
February 18, 2014: Beginning to see open flowers in tree #2.
March 10, 2014: I will update the 3 trees and put pictures of the three in the album. The 3 trees are doing fine. All flushing inflorescence with flowers and leaves.
Tree # 1 has double in size, this is the one gal tree I purchased from Top Tropicals and the donor for trees 2 and 3..
Tree # 2, the largest tree is also in full bloom, have not seen fruit set as of today. Tree no 3. the last top worked tree is in the same condition with the exception that tree #2 seem to be shedding more leaves.
Branch #4 was cut since it was in a tree that was top worked.
March 24, 2014: All in full bloom, have not seen any fruit set. A bit concerned because my main body of B flower trees bloomed early and are nearly finished flowering.
April 2, 2014: Most if not all the flowering is over. I do not see any fruit set on tree No 2, the biggest tree I have, nearly 15 ft tall and 8 ft wide. Like if all the other issues were not enough, it now seems be a dramatic alternate bearer. Seems to be a define no for at least So. Florida. Ran into someone growing the tree in the Kendall Area and said "I experience all the problems you did on my tree, I'm getting rid of it" .
June 6, 2014: There may be a few fruit in tree No 2 but I have not seen any in the others. All of these tree will be cut in August to be top worked with new varieties. I would report any significant issue until then.
July 25, 2014: I think there is only one avocado in all my Florida Hass trees, in No 2 the largest only has one . The tree has the canopy to hold 50-60 fruits. Seems like all these trees will be cut and top worked with better varieties. This will end the coverage of Florida Hass.
August 9, 2014: I picked the only fruit visible in all 3 trees I have. These 3 trees combined could have carried 50-70 fruits. Buy only one is visible. I thought I check it out for the fungal issue. In a few days I will prepare these trees to be top worked with another variety, as I see no purpose in continuing coverage or further research on this variety. Is not worth the time and effort.
September 21, 2014: I was staring to cut down tree no 2. Cut some of the branches and these two avocados came down from the tree. Both over 10 OZ, no scab, very clean fruit. Since I'm a declared masochist I stopped the operation and took the two avocados and brought them home. Let's see how the mature. This summer has been a much dryer season than last year. Since this is my most visited page I felt like I should give this tree a third chance.
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September 28, 2014: The two avocados mentioned above "ripened". Really disappointing. Rather than describing the undesirable qualities and the disgusting flavor. More of the same. I will let the pictures and the short video speak for themselves. One thing I have to say in this final eulogy, the seed got smaller this year. This is the end for these 3 trees. The fact they do so poorly in our rocky soil and the fact they get worst as they hang longer on the tree.makes me wonder if they are worth cultivating anywhere.Tomorrow they will be cut down to graft other varieties. No more updates. For real this time!. Sorry for the 1500+ people who visit this page every month. Let me point you to the Holiday page. Exciting thing are coming.
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October 10, 2014: With this picture I end my coverage of the co called Florida Hass. The 3 trees will be top worked in spring.
August 8, 2015: I just got this report from someone in Fort Pierce. "My Fla. Haas is three years and is mirroring you results and will be top worked".
August 8, 2015: I just got this report from someone in Fort Pierce. "My Fla. Haas is three years and is mirroring you results and will be top worked".